After much debate, a majority of councillors voted in favour of council applying to rezone the land through the NSW Planning and Environment department in preparation for development.

However, the rescission motion has stalled the application for at least a month.

Cr Warren Steel wants the development to go ahead.

”Kiama council, the way we operate, we have to be entrepreneurial,”  he said.

“I believe that this is a win-win, in that we have nine blocks. I think we’ll get a lot more than two million dollars out of it, and there’s a park there which doesn’t get used. I don’t care what anybody says, I live a kilometre from it, this way we’ll get a place where people walk their dogs that people use.”

Cr Reilly, strongly against development on the council-owned recreational land, hopes he’ll have the numbers to shut down the plans at the next meeting in a month with Cr Matt Brown, absent on Tuesday, in attendance.

He suggested council’s argument to rezone the land for development was flawed.

Council’s reasons to rezone the land are – Iluka Reserve is not heavily used in its current form and if sold, it would provide income for capital needs and/or assist in long-term financial stability. 

“That’s the reasons we gave to steal the community land and turn it into real estate development,” Cr Reilly said.

“We have a plan, given to the state government that was very ready to abolish us, that’s deemed us fit for the future, that doesn’t mention the need for Iluka Reserve.

“So where’s the council’s argument?

“We say the reserve’s not heavily used, my observations say more people use Iluka Reserve than Bland Street and Peace Park, are you gonna have a go at that?

“We don’t have a reason to do what we’re doing, if we ask someone like Warren, he’ll say there’s a need, there’s a need alright, a need for greed.”