At the December meeting, Kiama councillors resolved that council establish a task force to investigate the potential benefit in terms of residential and commercial revenue to council of Bombo Quarry.

It was moved that the task force be comprised of the mayor and two councillors, two staff and up to two independent volunteer experts.

It was also resolved the task force should develop terms of reference and questions it wishes to have answered (including a property ownership and interest register) and submit this information to council for approval by no later than the March meeting.

The motion also included that this group bring back a report to council no later than September 2017, at which time the task force would dissolve.

Cr Neil Reilly, who moved the motion believed it was “very obvious that we have a lot of planning decisions that are made almost on the fly”.

“Little areas of land are being sold off, and I think inch by inch we’re kind of losing the character of the place,” he said.

“I think we owe it to ourselves to look at Bombo Quarry.

“It’s an enormous area; I believe there are 52 hectares of land out there (referring to the western side of the highway). 

“I think that we have to look with some vision.”

Cr Reilly said it was vital that council determine clear ownership of this area, and “determine how we might partner with those owners to bring benefit to the community”. 

He believed the area had an “enormous amount of unlocked potential”.

This included potential for residential and/or light industrial use. 

Kiama Mayor Mark Honey said council staff were aiming to meet with various government departments and stakeholders regarding the site in February. 

Kiama council is a trustee of the Bombo Headland Quarry, a heritage-listed site owned by the Department of Planning.