At the first ordinary meeting of the new Kiama council on September 27, it was resolved that several council committees be combined into one planning committee. 

“(Previously) we had an Akuna Street committee, a Collins Street committee, and we were going to form a CBD committee,” Kiama Mayor Mark Honey said. 

“What I wanted to do was get all the planning in together, even if we’ve got to direct some more funds at planning so that we can tighten up the planning.”

The committee wouldn’t be an authoritative body, but help guide planning. 

Cr Honey said he believed it was “not so much a streamlining, but coordinating” of planning processes.

“It’s so that you don’t have one type of plan for a particular area, and then a different type for that area. (This way) it’s all coordinated and it comes together, rather than… It’s been ad hoc sort of development in the Kiama area, a bit in Gerringong too. 

“Maybe the Gerringong Charette under this planning group can be reviewed. Also, there’s tension out at Jamberoo about what should be going on in Jamberoo.

“So if we can get the one body doing the whole of the planning, then at least it’s consistent throughout.”

Community members have disapproved of “boxy” buildings being green-lit in Kiama. Council have been criticised for a perceived lack of planning cohesion. 

“They’re going to look at what the expectations of the community are for Kiama to be in about 20 years’ time, and how do we get to that point,” Cr Honey said. 

“If we can leave a legacy that keeps a lot of the character of the town, that would be tremendous.

“I’d like to have a conversation with NSW State Planning too, who are putting pressure on Kiama for population growth. I would like to say, ‘can you hold off your demands on Kiama to grow to those levels that you want, until we’ve got the access to the quarry land at Bombo?’

“Then, any growth in population can easily be adopted in that area.”