To the Editor,I am writing in relation to the recent discussions that have opened up around Council’s decision to cancel the New Year’s Eve fireworks. This decision seems to have sparked some debate across the community. While it is understandable that some people in our community would be disappointed with the decision, it is equally understandable that Council had to make this tough call given the financial situation Kiama Council has been in over the past few years, a decision that wouldn’t havebeen taken lightly I would suspect.Personally, I am not a fan of the fireworks, not just here but anywhere across the country. As beautiful and entertaining as they are to look at there are a lot of negative impacts to take into consideration. Fireworks release particulate matter, emit gases such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide which creates smog, reduces air quality and contributes to climate change. In addition to this, the colourful effects are often created using heavy metals such as barium, strontium and copper and can remain in the air as toxic particles. After fireworks explode the casing, ash and unburned chemicals fall back down to the earth and get into our waterways and oceans, plus the heavy metals can contaminate soil and water, harming aquatic life and ecosystems. Not to mention the poor dogs, other animals and wildlife that are distressed whilst the fireworks are on.Anyway, enough of the negative stuff, how can we as a community turn this decision that may be considered by some as a negative, how can we turn it into a positive.There were several posts that kept popping up on the community pages on social media. Some informative, some people upset and angry about the decision and others in favour of the decision and I had to weigh in on the debate.I suggested perhaps we think about activating other areas instead of down by the harbour (of course, the harbour could be included) and perhaps having smaller street festivals or activating places like Terralong St and Hindmarsh Park. Further to this though, activating other locations outside of central Kiama. Perhaps activating Jones Beach shops, the park in Jamberoo, Gerringong main street, Tingira Crescent shops and the list goes on. Some areas could have street closures, partial street closures or move celebrations into some of the bigger parks as previously mentioned, where street closures aren’t possible.This way the people in our community would have more options of where they might want to see the new year in and maybe not this year but in future years we could have a shuttle service that connects all of the activated areas and people could move from one area to another if they wantedto.As a local hospitality business owner and someone that has worked in the hospitality industry for over 28 years, and at least 15 of those years in venues around the Kiama LGA, I can say without a doubt that the fireworks don’t stimulate the nighttime economy as much as we could with a bit ofstreet activation. Many would argue my point and say that the fireworks do stimulate the nighttime economy, but I can assure you as I have also been down to the fireworks with my own family over the years that this is not the case.People bring their own drinks, snacks and food, they plonk themselves down somewhere quite early in the evening to get a good vantage point and do not leave their vantage point to support local businesses, nor can they probably afford to with the current cost of living crisis, so I do understand.By getting there early they take up valuable car spaces that locals revellers or holiday makers that are not so interested in the fireworks could use to go out for dinner in some of our great bars and restaurants in town. Then there is the traffic chaos and gridlock for up to two hours after the event is over with everyone making a dash for it to see if they can be the first ones out of town. This traffic chaos also impacts other transport services such as our pub and club courtesy bus services, would have impacted taxi services in the past, and would now probably impact Uber services also.Imagine several street or park festivals all going on at once on New Year's Eve where our hospitality venues could spill out onto the streets, where people could buy food and drinks from these local businesses and the party could go on to the sounds of a live band or DJ on the main stage inHindmarsh Park or any of the other locations previously mentioned, and other forms of entertainment and market stalls scattered across the LGA. I think we can work on this as a community project, get business owners on board, get Kiama Council, Destination Kiama and Kiama Business Network on board.I understand funding is the contentious issue but I’m sure if we do this well enough and the main focus is on local businesses then we might be able to attract sponsorship from the businesses and people may be willing to make a small contribution where kids' entry is free. Plus, I’m currently working on a project called HEAR Kiama (hospitality, entertainment, arts and recreation Kiama), a cooperative of the above-mentioned industries working together to enhance and create a vibrant nighttime economy across our LGA. This cooperative could fundraise by running several events in the lead-up to the main event at the end of the year and attract sponsorship to put the main event on. This might be the first official project for HEAR Kiama to embark on. Let’s work on this as a community, and let’s create something great, yes, a little different to what we’re used to, but let’s do something that we’re all going to remember… and you never know if it works he idea may stick for years to come.Yours sincerely,Michael BowdenOwner/ManagerCin Cin Wine Bar
