A grieving daughter from the Kiama LGA has shared her final moments with her mother, who completed the voluntary assisted dying (VAD) process last year.“The family had a lovely last day together, and my mum was in very good spirits considering everything — smiling and engaging, even laughing at times,” she recalls. “It was pre-decided by my mum that we would hug and say goodbye and then leave less than an hour before the VAD took place.”At that point, her mum was given a sedative before the final procedure was completed.“It was quite odd to see her alive and chatting, and then to know that less than an hour later she was gone,” she says. “The doctor came to the house afterwards and asked if we’d like to go back and see her. It was very confronting and sad, but she looked very peaceful, and it did provide some closure.”She believes much about the process is misunderstood — and that she had to set aside her own beliefs to support the wishes of her mother, who had cancer.“My late father, who was very religious, believed very strongly that VAD was against God’s law and that only God could decide such things,” she says. “I did have mixed feelings about it.”Seeing the experience up close has changed her perception, particularly in response to criticism that death is being made too “easy”. For her mother, the process involved a series of doctors’ visits, and multiple doctors had to assess her eligibility.The family were told that if their mum fell into a coma, the procedure could not go ahead. “She must be able to say yes, even if it’s a nod or a thumbs up,” she recalls. “One of the things I’m grateful for is that my mother, while in a lot of pain, went on her own terms and in her own time, with everything sorted out for her family and before things became too awful for her.”VAD has been legal in NSW since 28 November 2023.According to data from the NSW Voluntary Assisted Dying Board, 2295 people in the state made a first request in the 12 months between 1 July 2024 and 30 June 2025 and 2146 people had a first assessment, with 1028 patients completing the process.Of those who had a first assessment, the most common age bracket was 70–79 (33.5 per cent), with only 0.2 per cent in the youngest age bracket (18–29). In Regional NSW, 1449 patients had a first assessment for VAD during this period — a 128 per cent increase on data from the previous year.Doctors across the state have expressed concerns about the VAD laws, primarily around the complexity of the legislation, pressure on the medical profession, and the potential for coercion.Despite these concerns, many in the medical community support the framework as a compassionate option for patients experiencing extreme pain.As of 30 June 2025, a total of 316 medical practitioners met the qualifications to provide VAD in NSW, according to the board’s second annual report.A local medical practitioner told The Bugle it is vital that people in regional areas have access to end-of-life options. Despite offering VAD, they were unable to comment on the record.There are concerns about potential backlash against medical practitioners from anti-VAD campaigners — similar to the backlash faced by abortion clinics.Those who have watched a loved one die — either naturally or by choice — say stigma shuts down important conversations and adds to the pain of grieving families.Grief coach and former lawyer Stephanie Duran specialises in supporting families through VAD, drawing on her own life-altering experience. At 53, she was widowed when her husband, Jeff, chose to end his life during the final stages of cancer.“As someone who supported my husband Jeff in his decision to die with dignity, I understand how layered and complex this experience can be,” she told The Bugle.“Assisted dying is not just a medical decision; it’s emotional, relational, spiritual and deeply human.”In her new memoir, Because I Loved You, she chronicles the couple’s journey through terminal illness and Jeff’s end-of-life decision.She believes the biggest misconception about VAD is that it is an easy way out. “There is nothing easy about this decision. It is typically made after prolonged suffering and exhaustive treatment.”Her advice to loved ones?“There is no correct emotional response after assisted dying,” she says. “Grief is deeply personal and often complicated by the circumstances. Beforehand, the countdown can feel surreal and traumatic. Afterwards, there can be societal judgement or silence. Just remember grief and relief can live together, side by side.”Under the legislation, NSW Health is required to commence a review into the Voluntary Assisted Dying Act. To submit feedback, visit health.nsw.gov.au/voluntary-assisted-dying.

It was a case welcoming the new and recognising the old at the most recent Gerringong Lions dinner meeting at The Blue Goose Cafe in Gerringong, Jenni Hill was inducted into the club.She has been in town for a few years and had attended a couple of meetings - her sponsor, Peter Jeffrey and induction officer Steve Pottie, officially welcomed her to the club. Jenni Hill, new member, (left) with Steve Pottie (c) and Peter Jeffrey (r).Vice-president (and president elect for 2026-27) Terry Kirkpatrick presented long service certificates to a number of “older” Lions: Peter Jeffrey for 10 years; Ron Horner and Steve Pottie (15 years) and Karl Kunz and Dave Peade (20 years).Another feather in the Gerringong Lions cap came when the club was announced as the host club for the 2027 N2 Zone Conference at Worrigee Sports Club. The Zone covers Goulbourn, ACT and South Coast clubs. Gerringong secretary Peter Jeffries was appointed as the co-ordinator of the conference. Return and Earn has been a major success for the club. Initiated by Bruce Ray, the project has recently exceeded the milestone of 2 million items going into the Return and Earn machine at Michael Cronin Oval, earning $200,000 for Lions charities and other organisations while saving all those containers from landfill. Tomra, the overseer of the scheme is planning a special visit to Gerringong to celebrate the milestone.Ron Horner (L) Steve Pottie (c) Terry Kirkpatrick (R) with their 15-year certificatesFour local youths would be attending the Outward Bound course, courtesy of the Gerringong Lions. Previous club stalwart and a current bottle and can collector, Ray Worboys was given a recliner chair, donated by the Lions. Ray hasn’t been enjoying the best of health in recent times and the chair will make his life a little easier.The Lions Club of Gerringong brought energy and colour to the GLAM Community Hub event at the Gerringong Library on the weekend, hosting a recruitment desk and providing a free community BBQ that proved extremely popular with attendees.The event drew a crowd, with locals, regular supporters, and curious newcomers all stopping by to learn more about Lions. Former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern made an appearance, delighting attendees and adding a touch of global flair to the day. Later, while tallying the proceeds from the free BBQ, volunteers discovered a lone NZ$5 note in the donation tin. While the Lions are not drawing any firm conclusions, they admit they now have a “short list of suspects”.All proceeds from the BBQ have been donated directly to the Gerringong Library, supporting its ongoing programs and community services.

We had a wonderful time at the Gerringong Community Expo at Gerringong Library and Museum (GLaM) on Saturday, sharing the morning with more than 25 amazing local organisations.The Expo was a welcoming space for everyone to wander, chat, and discover what’s happening across our community. From gardening, craft and music groups to U3A, CWA, Probus, Lions and the Rural Fire Service, the sheer variety of groups on hand was a joyful reminder of how much our community offers — and of the many volunteers who keep local life buzzing behind the scenes.We spent the morning talking with locals, hearing stories, and sharing what we do as a volunteer-run, not-for-profit community station.“For us, being there is about listening first,” KCR’s Madeleine Scarfe said. “Community radio thrives when it grows out of real conversations and local voices.”The morning had a happy, easygoing buzz. Families and residents of all ages lingered over a free pancake breakfast and sizzling sausages, swapping laughs, stories and tips for getting involved. We captured some video of locals enjoying the fabulous Blowhole Buskers, plus a reel of photos from the day — you might just spot yourself having fun if you check out our Facebook page!Sing Australia Kiama performed later in the morning and were joined by a very special guest - former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. We were sad to have to leave before their performance, but loved hearing afterwards how magical the moment was for everyone who stayed. You can see the moment on Sing Australia Kiama’s Facebook page.We’re grateful to the organisers for putting together such a welcoming, well-run event, and to everyone who stopped by to chat. Audio from the Expo is now available as a podcast at kcr.org.au, and will also be broadcast on KCR this Saturday.Moments like these remind us why we do what we do — meeting people face-to-face, celebrating our community, and sharing the everyday stories that make life here so special.The event was made possible through funding from the Australian Library & Information Association’s Community Cohesion Programs grant.Please note: This is paid content

It’s the end of an era of more than 50 years with the announcement that the Gerringong Mayflower Nearly New Shop will close its doors.The Op Shop started in the early 1970s as one part of essential continuous fundraising in the early stages of the development of Mayflower Uniting Village in Gerringong. But with the current committee all in their 80s and Uniting needing to reclaim the land for the shop’s sorting shed, the tough decision was made by the Gerringong Mayflower Volunteers incorporated organisation’s executive to wind up operations in June.Trevor Hamblen, the retiring president of Mayflower Volunteers Inc, fellow committee members Lyn and John Rolfe, and Mena Sharpe and shop manager Jennifer James assembled for a photo outside the shop for The Bugle during the week, as did the dedicated volunteers at the sorting shed as they worked through the many donated items that needed to be arranged for sale or further distribution.The genesis of the shop came more than half a century ago when due to age and ill health, a parent of members of the Gerringong Congregational (now Uniting) church was in need of residential care. This man had lived in Gerringong all of his life and wanted to spend his final days near his family, but the nearest suitable option for him was in Sydney.The hard-working volunteers hold items at the sorting shed. Photo: The BugleReverend John Robinson, the church’s minister at the time, and his wife Helen, decided to organise the building of a nursing home in Gerringong. They were joined by enthusiastic parishioners in forming an organising committee with other churches and the whole Gerringong community getting involved.They held art exhibitions, rummage sales, coffee mornings, sold cookbooks and later, staged a major fete each year.The shop started in a local resident’s garage before moving to the current premises in Fern Street. Hamblen said the shop provided quality cheap items as well as funds for the continuing growth and support of the village.“The Nearly New Shop was and still is run entirely by volunteers, including the shop itself, the sorting shed where volunteers meet every Tuesday morning to sort, clean and price donated goods, and the drivers who transported the goods between the sorting shed and shop. “Seven years ago, the group running the Nearly New Shop became an incorporated organisation as we wanted to be sure we and the shop were fully covered by insurance.”He praised Uniting for its help over the decades.“Uniting have been very good to us, allowing use of their valuable large block of land on the corner of Belinda Street and Rowlins Road for many years for $1 a year. “They now need the land. Most reasonable people will understand that we couldn’t expect Uniting, at a time when finances are tight, and other Uniting buildings require the same upgrade as we got a few years ago, to continue to have this valuable land only used Tuesday mornings. “Attempts to find another suitable shed have so far come up with nothing definite.”Hamblen said that when the new Nursing Home was built, Mayflower no longer had the same urgent need for funds. In the past seven years, only around 37% of profits from the shop have gone to Mayflower Village, despite the fact our group spent $77,500 on initial equipment for the Mayflower Gym. After Mayflower needs were fulfilled, the committee was able to donate to other charities in the local area and beyond, includingSalt Care in Nowra, who provide care for the homeless.Homestead of Hope Kiama.KBECET for Kiama High School Breakfast program.Jacaranda Cottage for young mums needing shelter.A community mental health program in Gerringong for parents of children and teenagers.Light Home, a facility in India for destitute Darlic people, which is visited annually by members of the Gerringong community.The Nowra Town Band.Food and Friends program at West Wollongong Anglican Church.Lifeline.Dementia Awareness Group in Gerringong.“The Mayflower Auxiliary that used to coordinate all of the fundraising ceased many years ago. This left just the current “Mayflower Volunteers inc.” running the nearly new shop,” Hamblen explained.“It will be disappointing to many that, at least in the short term, the Nearly New Shop will close. “Any individual or group who is disappointed, or even angry about this current shutdown are welcome to get it going again. “Don’t be negative and blame the current ageing committee who want to retire after many years of service, in one case around 60 years of volunteering for Mayflower. “Don’t blame Uniting, who have to be good stewards of the land they own. Don’t blame the council, who tried to find us another shed. “Those who complain have the option to form a group, incorporate yourself to ensure you are legally formed, re-hire the shop, find a suitable sorting shed and get the shop going again.“The huge number of volunteers who have kept the shop going since the 1970s deserve our grateful thanks.”

The 67th Annual General Meeting for Children’s Medical Research Institute Gerringong Committee was held at Gerringong Town Hall on 2 February.  After three years as president, Lucy Hill was congratulated for her hard work and commitment. A new president, Brenda Davy, was elected and she will be well supported in her new role by vice-president Karen Forsyth. Treasurer Sue Reid and assistant treasurer Rosalie Cronin were re-elected and will continue their roles with diligence and efficiency as always.Secretary Cathie Bax and assistant secretary Rhonda Bailey were also re-elected and they will keep members informed and connected as always.Two additional members on the executive team for 2026 are Sue Dmetreson and Lorraine Jolley. With such a long and successful history it was wonderful to have life members Margaret Weir OAM, Kate Quinn and Mena Sharpe at the meeting.Margaret and Kate served, respectively, as president and treasurer for 30 years. Mena was at the very first meeting of CMRI Gerringong back in 1959 when Dorothy Bailey was elected as the first president.  It will be another busy year for fundraising and socialising, cooking and hard work. Members were at the Community Expo last Saturday.On Saturday, 28 March, Sydney artist and long-term supporter of CMRI, Robyn Ross will run a Charcoal Drawing Workshop at Gerringong Surf Club from 10am-3pm. Tickets are $95 and this includes tuition, paper, charcoal and lunch. Tickets available from 2 March on Trybooking via https://www.trybooking.com/DJJOH. Brenda Davy and Karen Forsyth. All the favourite events will be coming up: Mother’s Day High Tea on 9 May Bunnings BBQ & Bake Stall on 7 June Jeans for Genes raffle & Trivia Night on 7 AugustRaffle at Gerringong Bowling Club every Sunday night in SeptemberBombo Clothing Fashion Show on 17 October Music Trivia Night on 14 November Christmas Cake Stall on 5 December Bunnings BBQ & Bake Stall on 6 December Keep track through the Gerringong Children’s Medical Research Facebook page, The Bugle and posters around town.The generous support of the local community has allowed us to raise $2,337,098 since 1959. All of this money has funded ground-breaking research into childhood diseases.Karen Forsyth, Margaret Weir, Mena Sharpe, Brenda Davy.

Berry residents now have one more way to turn their recyclables into cash (or good deeds) with the opening of a new Return and Earn machine at Berry Bowling Club.The machine, the 10th in the Shoalhaven City Council area, is located at 140 Queen Street and is open daily from 7am to 10pm.Locals can recycle eligible bottles, cans, and cartons for a 10‑cent refund, which can be redeemed for cash, a shopping discount at IGA Berry, or sent straight to a bank or PayPal account via the Return and Earn app.Community-minded recyclers can also donate their refunds to local causes.Berry Public School’s student representative council is one of over 500 donation partners, or donations can go to statewide charities like Jeans for Genes, supporting research into children’s genetic conditions.Since its launch in 2017, Return and Earn has raised more than $91 million for charities and community groups across NSW.Member for Kiama, Katelin McInerney, praised the community’s efforts:“We know our community are enthusiastic and diligent recyclers, returning over 265 million eligible containers through local return points. It’s fantastic to see Berry Public School among the donation partners, making it easy for locals to support their school while recycling.”For more information, visit returnandearn.org.au.

Kiama turned on a picture perfect Saturday for the 54th annual sevens tournament with Friday’s rain clearing to produce a great spectacle for the fans who flocked to the Showground at Chittick Oval.Sydney clubs Manly and Gordon emerged triumphant in the men’s and women’s divisions respectively with each side pocketing $6000 each in prizemoney.The men’s final was interrupted at half-time by a small bunch of male streakers who ran onto the field before disappearing towards Surf Beach.Manly drew first blood in the final with a superb interchange of passing leading to the opening try.After a scrappy restart, they regathered the ball and spun it wide for a 12-0 advantage.When Angus Bell broke free down the right edge and sprinted away for a 17-0 margin, the match looked all but over before half-time.They added another five-pointer as the siren sounded to take a 22-point lead into the break.With light rain starting to fall during the twilight decider, Easts’ hopes of throwing the ball around to get back into the contest were made even harder.They managed to open their account with a try after a Manly player was shown a yellow card for repeated infringements.Kiama advanced to the country final on home turf. Photo: Brian ScottMarlins speedster Will Hayes spilled the ball with the line wide open after a kick downfield but they added a converted try a short time later to put the result beyond doubt.Manly's Dally Bird was named the player of the tournament, receiving his award from Wallabies legend Glen Ella.In the women’s final, Sydney side Gordon took down the Hunter Wildfires from Newcastle 19-5.Gordon opened the scoring with a sweeping backline movement down the right flank for an early 7-0 lead. They extended their lead by five with a runaway try late in the first half. Hunter had a chance to narrow the gap early in the second stanza after a hopeful kick downfield but they fumbled the ball with the tryline beckoning.Young Yabbettes score a try against Forest RC. Photo: Brian ScottThe Novocastrians cut the deficit to seven with a try midway through the second stanza.Gordon looked to land the killer blow with a long-range try but desperate Wildfires defence kept them out but after earning a penalty, the Highlanders plunged over from close range for the match-winner.Kiama qualified for the final of the Men’s Country division but went down 21-5 to Northlakes United team from Budgewoi.They started the day with a 28-0 shut-out of the Orange Emus and backed that up with a 22-10 triumph over Molong. Kiama produced a 0-0 stalemate with Wagga Readies, a highly unusual scoreline in sevens rugby, in their third pool game to qualify for the final.In the women’s second division decider, Northlakes were way too strong for Young, winning 41-12 while Jindabyne edged out Bateman Bay 19-5 for the women’s country crown.Gunghalin Eagles downed Blue Mountains 31-7 to take out the Bowl final while Western Sydney Two Blues thumped NSW country outfit Leeton in the runners-up final at Chittick Oval.

Emma Young is buzzing around the recently renovated Kiama Golf Club bistro, offering cheese platters, share plates and a glass of bubbles to a group of hungry (and thirsty) golfers.The lucky bunch happened to walk into the club’s bistro at the end of a photo shoot to promote the club’s new menu and opening hours. Rather than have the food go to waste Emma urges the group to dig in. “You can be our Guinea pigs,” jokes the founder and former owner of beloved Kiama Downs coffee shop Stacks. Emma is now bringing her cafe expertise to the golf club, with the bistro open from 6.30am for “grab and go” coffee, bacon and egg rolls, yoghurt and granola bowls. It’s one of only a handful of licensed NSW venues open for the early morning brekky trade. It’s a project Emma and golf club general manager David Rootham have been working on to coincide with the completion of stage one of the large-scale renovation. Emma and her team have created a menu to match the club’s refined new look. The oak-lined walls, blackbutt timber fittings and crisp white tiles give the light-filled space warmth, while display cabinets filled with the Club’s historic golfing memorabilia provide a touch of nostalgia. “We’ve got a great club, and so we want the menu and the service to be in line with that as well,” says Emma.The Youngs successfully built up Stacks from scratch after moving to the area in 2018. Their successful business was beloved by the local community but after Emma’s husband became so unwell his airway collapsed, the pair knew it was time to sell Stacks. “It was quite a big thing with his health so we had to move on from Stacks at that point. “I’ve been speaking to the golf club for a little while about the opportunity to introduce a cafe breakfast menu. “So David got me onboard to help launch the space with a new menu and help train staff. “It’s the first time a club's really opened for a cafe sort of style service, so it is a new adjustment for members and the local community to get their head around.”Now golfers can come in before their round and grab a coffee on the way out to the golf course. “We want to focus on what cafes do well and that’s the grab and go sort of style. “So everyone who’s coming to the golf course, they don't actually have to go to another space first for their coffee,” says Emma.“They can come in, set up, get some nourishing food into their stomachs before they start their game.“We’ve got lots of healthy options like poached eggs, boiled eggs, yoghurt and granola, fruit bowls, that can still be grab and go and the kitchen can make from 6.30am.”The kitchen will then have table service from 8.30am and Emma is hopeful that the new menu and new opening hours will attract local residents looking for a relaxed breakfast option as well as golfers out in the course early. “It’s opening up the golf club to a whole new market that they haven't tapped into yet. “Then we’ve brought back the popular lunch and dinner service with a revamped menu.“There’s a new pizza section - everyone loves the pizzas here - and they’re made fresh each day.”Emma’s role has included helping to redevelop and streamline the kitchen so staff can have a faster and higher service turnover.She has been working closely with the team to source the best suppliers, highest quality stock and ensure the catering staff and kitchen team are focused on “quality of the service as well and the products”.“We also want to make sure in the coming weeks that everybody's aware of our new menu and opening hours,” says Emma.“It’s such a beautiful spot to sit on the balcony and we want locals to come and enjoy what we have to offer.“There are a lot of cafes in Kiama but a lot of them don't have a view like this, north facing where people can sit in the sun while enjoying their food.“We want to really engage our community and make sure that the golf club is their first choice if they want to go out for breakfast, lunch or dinner.”

Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald is getting on the front foot over beach closures and environmental concerns caused by the local sewerage infrastructure being under immense strain. With the LGA under pressure to meet long-term housing targets, Cr McDonald said the Bombo Water Resource Recovery Facility is in serious need of being upgraded or replaced altogether.Cr McDonald is worried that Sydney Water has not included Bombo in its Long Term Capital and Operational Plan which lists priority infrastructure projects over the next decade. He recently met with NSW Minister for Housing Rose Jackson and Kiama MP Katelin McInerney to air his concerns and will next month hold further discussions with the Minister and Sydney Water CEO Darren Cleary.Sydney Water has been in the news over the past week after it was issued with a Pollution Reduction Program by the NSW Environment Protection Authority.A range of significant works, including fat removal from the Malabar Deep Ocean Outfall bulkhead area, will be undertaken as part of the EPA order to reduce the likelihood of further debris balls washing up on the state’s beaches.These “fatbergs” have ended up on various parts of the state’s coastline, including beaches in Kiama and Nowra in late 2024 and again in 2025.“We've been asking Sydney Water to listen to our concerns about fatbergs and the overall capacity of the system for a long period of time,” Cr McDonald said.“The facility at Bombo is an old treatment plant and it's almost ‘end of life’. Lately they did some odour works, which is great to see. But it’s not enough to fix the real harder issues of age of the asset, overall system capacity, water quality treatment at discharge and ability to cope with growth.“The system we've long known is under strain locally and when you have round balls that have broken off from fatbergs washing up on the beaches it's an indication that the whole system is not where it should be.“So we wrote to Sydney Water on the last occurrence and said ‘what are they, what’s their origin and it's a public health issue’ because we don't want these fatballs washing up on our pristine beaches. “It took about 14 months of meetings and letters to confirm that it was small fatbergs round balls, formed from wastewater sewage and fats released in the ocean outfall, many kilometres away from Kiama.”Cr McDonald explained that Kiama was “at the end of the line” for Sydney Water geographically because the area south of Crooked River forms part of Shoalhaven Council’s water supply.“But that doesn't necessarily mean that we should be thought of as last in the line of potential upgrades and works on the system,” he added.“A lot of people come to the Kiama LGA to enjoy our beaches but with fatballs washing up and also after heavy rainfall, we’ve often got to close beaches because our local sewage system cannot meet the pressure that's put on it at that time.“Our system is under enormous capacity constraints and any rain or change to the environment really affects the system.“The system isn’t working at the moment and we’re wearing the environmental consequences of that. What I am after from Sydney Water is a plan, to be part of their long-term plan.”Cr McDonald wanted to know why Sydney Water’s “long-term capital plan for the next 10 years doesn't mention Kiama or the Bombo treatment plant”.“Being not on the 10-year plan is just not really acceptable for local people, especially with the questions about development that we're being asked to answer.“We're being asked to increase housing supply underneath the direction from the Minister for Planning and Public Spaces and from the state and federal governments, and so we have always said that without the upgrade and provision of associated infrastructure then for us to do what we're being asked to do is a near impossibility.” A population explosion on the horizon for Sydney and the Illawarra with Kiama looking to add 900 dwellings by 2029 and 3500 by 2040 as part of Council’s Housing Strategy.A spokesperson for Sydney Water told The Bugle that “significant growth has been identified in the Kiama LGA since the development of Sydney Water's Long Term Capital and Operational Plan, and as such, we have been working closely with Kiama Council on its growth planning, prompting a review into our servicing strategy for the area.“Sydney Water is now planning multiple growth projects in the wider Kiama area.“The capacity of the Bombo Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) is being assessed against the latest growth projections to determine when it will reach its capacity limits so that appropriate funding can be sought in a future price period.”McInerney was confident that the NSW Government would step up to deliver the infrastructure needed for the region.She was pleased that Sydney Water had committed to reviewing the Illawarra Regional Master Plan.“We can’t turn back the clock but we are putting in the investment needed to meet the existing challenges and ensure the infrastructure is ready at the same time new communities and homes are coming on line.”The Sydney Water spokesperson added that they would implement the Pollution Reduction Program measures in close collaboration with the EPA.“The PRP outlines a comprehensive set of short, medium, and long-term actions to address the build-up of fats, oils, and grease (FOG) in the system and particularly in the hard-to-access bulkhead area of the Malabar Deep Ocean Outfall.“These initiatives align with our broader $3 Billion Malabar System Investment Program, which involves significant infrastructure upgrades to support Sydney's growing population while enhancing environmental performance and reducing discharges via the deep ocean outfall.”

Are you looking at waging the war on weeds? Now is the perfect time to do so. We’ve had some decent rain, and the ground is really soft, which means pulling weeds can be relatively simple. But if we let things go, we can end up with all sorts of problems. Take ornamental agapanthus, for example - if it goes to seed, it needs to be removed promptly before it becomes problematic and starts to germinate.Another weed that can get out of hand is the cat’s ear. It looks similar to a dandelion, though there’s a difference: the cat’s ear has a branched stem, while a dandelion has a solitary stem. Both have yellow, daisy-like flowers. Once they start to seed, children often enjoy blowing on the seed heads, but this spreads the seeds into your lawn, leading to broadleaf weeds taking over if the lawn isn’t properly managed.There are many weeds that need attention in our gardens, and allowing them to grow can quickly create serious problems. One example is the annual fleabane, also known as Canadian fleabane. It can grow to about a metre tall and produces flower heads that are ready to set seed. If a plant snaps off when pulled from the ground, it can regenerate from the root system, so early control is essential. Remember: one year of seeding can lead to seven years of weeding. Fleabane can produce up to 30,000 seeds per plant, making it critical to remove them before they reach this stage.Flatweeds are another common problem. They grow strong taproots and compete with your lawn. Plantain is also a flatweed that can appear alongside others. The best way to control these is by maintaining a slightly higher lawn height — around 35 to 50 millimetres — which prevents flatweeds from competing. Selective herbicides can also help, but make sure you choose the right one for your lawn type, particularly for buffalo grass. If in doubt, consult your local nursery or horticulturist.Manual removal is another effective option. Using a sharp knife or a small hand tool, you can remove weeds entirely, which is good for the environment and can be surprisingly relaxing.Some annual weeds, like pitchforks or farmer’s friend (also called hitchhiker), spread easily because their seeds stick to clothing and get carried to other areas. Weeds are clever at dispersing themselves and often use us as their vehicle.Ornamental plants such as agapanthus or dietes can also become problematic if seed heads aren’t removed. Dietes, for instance, form clumping, grass-like foliage that is low maintenance but still requires deadheading to prevent germination in mulch.The key to successful weed management is early action. Remove weeds before they flower, when they are still small “threads”. You can hand-pull them or use chemical treatments. Glyphosate 360 is a strong non-selective herbicide but must be used carefully to avoid harming desirable plants.Softer options include pelarganic acid, which desiccates foliage without spreading through the plant. Trigger pack sprays and path weeders with pre-emergent chemicals can also prevent weeds from germinating in pathways, gaps, and around pavers for up to a year.Once you’ve removed weeds, the next step is to prevent them from returning.Mulching is essential. Apply mulch to moist soil to cover the weeded area, or consider sheet mulching by laying down layers of cardboard or newspaper topped with decorative mulch. This creates a barrier between the soil and seeds, reducing germination.Regular observation is crucial. Remove weeds when they are small threads, then apply mulch to protect the area. With consistent effort, weed management becomes far easier, and your garden stays healthy and attractive.

We now have two more fantastic Bugle news stands in the community made by the crafty fellows at the Kiama Men’s Shed.If you drop by Khan's IGA in Gerringong or the Fredericks IGA in Jamberoo, you can pick up your weekly copy of The Bugle from one of these brilliantly designed custom-built news stands.Three long-serving members of the Shed – Greg Brown, Steve Dalton, and Eddie Lyon – were commissioned to design and build six custom news stands so that we can continue to spread the word about all the local news that matters.Our new stand in Jamberoo. Two of the news stands were recently placed in Kiama Shopping Village and another one on Terralong Street. Stay tuned for details of where the sixth one ends up.The purpose of Kiama Men’s Shed is to promote the wellbeing of men within the community, to help with camaraderie, social interaction and the swapping of ideas. The 'Shed' has many members with differing professional and trade skills, all of which helps with the safe running and safe working environment.The Kiama Men’s Shed continues to welcome new faces. Those interested in joining the team or seeing their work firsthand can make an in-person inquiry at the Shed at 20 Eddy Street to receive an application or log onto https://kiamamensshed.com.

Kiama’s Seniors Festival is back from 2–15 March, and behind the scenes is a whole lot of community effort.“At Kiama Council, we’re really honoured to celebrate our seniors,” said Community Development Coordinator Lance Barrie. “We’ve run the Seniors Festival for many, many years now and always look forward to putting on events, activities, workshops and information sessions that promote wellbeing and connecting in community.”This year’s theme, Live life in colour, encourages seniors to stay creative, connected and active – celebrating the experiences that have shaped them and the adventures still ahead.The program is a collaboration between Council’s libraries, cultural development, community development and the Kiama Leisure Centre – along with a long list of local groups.A highlight this year is the free live music and barbecue in Hindmarsh Park on 6 March, featuring the Alchemy Choir, Kiama Sing Australia and the Blowhole Buskers, with Rotary providing the barbecue. “Come down to Hindmarsh Park, listen to some great music from local groups, enjoy the barbecue, and have a chat with friends and neighbours” Barrie said. No bookings required.Creative workshops are also expected to fill quickly.“Our art workshops are really popular amongst seniors – they often sell out,” he said. Sketching in Nature, seascape painting and mixed media sessions all feature, alongside Yoga in the Park, tech help at the library and other activities designed to get people “out and about and really connecting with others.”Barrie said the festival is also about recognising the role older residents play in Kiama’s cultural life. “We’re fortunate here to have a really high volunteer rate and lots of community groups we enjoy working with. "It’s a good opportunity to acknowledge their really important contribution.”Most events require registration via Council’s website, and in recent years many have booked out – so organisers are encouraging people to get in early!The NSW Seniors Festival is the largest celebration of older people in the Southern Hemisphere, recognising the contributions of people aged 60 and over (50 and over for Aboriginal people and those with a lifelong disability). Grab a brush, yoga mat, or just a coffee and celebrate seniors as a reminder of just how much they keep the South Coast’s spirit alive. And if you think a local senior deserves extra recognition, Kiama MP Katelin McInerney is on the lookout for the unsung heroes of the community - who volunteer, lead, mentor, or just quietly make life better for everyone around them.Categories cover everything from leadership and volunteering to sports, arts, heritage, community health and wellbeing, and enriching the lives of other older residents.“Our seniors touch lives in ways big and small," McInerney said."They don’t always seek the spotlight, so I’m asking friends, family, and neighbours to sing their praises. If someone you know has made a lasting impact, nominate them - let’s celebrate their contribution.”Nominations are open for the NSW Seniors Festival Local Senior of the Year Awards and close at midday next Friday. Email [email protected] for a nomination form.

Between the cats, dogs and sad-looking rabbits are the snakes, skinks, turtles, lizards, rats, wild birds and reptiles of all kinds. Even geckos.Who knew that the South Coast harboured a vet specialising in reptiles?Well, one person who did was the representative for the wildlife rescue group WIRES, Jamberoo-based Hugh Marriott. For the endless roll call of snakes and reptiles damaged by cars or rescued from neighbourhood backyards, he has relied for years on the services of Kiama Downs Veterinary Clinic’s Dr Amanda Brett.Whether he’s carrying a blue-tongue lizard hit by a passing car or an escaped pet Centralian python that people have found in their back shed, Hugh makes the trek to Kiama Downs several times a month.While your stricken cat or ailing dog won’t be turned away, the clinic particularly specialises in exotic wildlife on Mondays and Fridays each week.Dr Amanda has a lifelong passion for reptiles, including her pet Cunningham’s skink, affectionately known as Pretzel. Their personalities are a subject of eternal fascination.“Pretzel is a really friendly lizard,” she says. “He has really soulful eyes. He loves cuddles.”Hugh is particularly fond of blue-tongue lizards, which are breeding at this time of year and a common visitor to his cages in Jamberoo, where injured wildlife can spend months before being released back into the wild.“They have a personality, most definitely,” he says. “They are amazing, really curious critters. And placid. “They are normally chill. They are outstanding Illawarra residents. They take out snails, like strawberries and eat mice. They are an all-round addition to your garden.“We are getting lots of baby blue-tongues at the moment. They are born alive and are independent at birth.”For Amanda and Hugh, their fascination with reptiles began early in life.“I have always liked the weird and wonderful,” Amanda says. “I grew up around the Australian bush. I was catching lizards and snakes when I was young. My grandparents had a farm on Cambewarra Mountain.“We are lucky in Australia - we have such a variety of really interesting creatures, and they deserve to be preserved.”She says many of her customers bringing in reptiles became acquainted with them because of their children.“One of the major things I have learnt is that when people first decide to get lizards as pets, usually for their kids, they then absolutely fall in love with them,” she says. “The lizards like to sit and watch TV; they want to be part of the family.“They will tap on the glass to be let out. They want to be out there with you.“We grow up fearing reptiles; we are taught snakes are scary, but if you take the time to get to know them it will change the way you feel. They have wonderful personalities and make great pets.”Hugh agrees. “The main thing to remember is reptiles are not out to get you.”That said, if you find an unwelcome visitor in your backyard, he advises to steer clear and ring WIRES.Most lizards can be cheerfully left to their own devices. But if you really have a blue-tongue you want rid of, give them a call. Don’t kill them.Snakes, too, are active at this time of year.“As we move into the cooler weather snakes are looking around for somewhere to spend the winter, and building up on food.”While diamond pythons, native to the Illawarra, are not venomous, others can be deadly or make you very sick. Of particular concern are red-bellied black snakes, which can be lethal.But there are others to be avoided, including golden-crowned snakes and small-eyed snakes.To contact Hugh directly, phone 0401 394 444. Known as the Snake Catcher of Jamberoo, he is also the reptile coordinator for WIRES for the Illawarra. For any other wildlife rescue, ring WIRES on 1300 094 737.

A Native Title claim covering the NSW South Coast from southern Sydney to the Victorian border is edging closer to formal recognition, with local leaders gathering in Kiama and Gerringong last week to prepare for its impact.The Kiarama Southeastern Seaboard Native Title Partnership Symposium, hosted by Kiama Council and the Gerringong Aboriginal Housing Corporation on February 18 and 19, brought together Traditional Custodians, councils, state agencies and Aboriginal organisations ahead of the pending South Coast Aboriginal Peoples’ consent determination.Aboriginal Elder Uncle Stan Jarrett, the chair of the Kiarama Southeastern Seaboard Native Title Partnership Symposium, said the claim has been nearly a decade in progress.“It goes back about eight, nearly nine years,” he said. “The claim’s just about to be rubber-stamped, probably about another year and a half, I reckon.“It’s not an actual court decision – it is a consent determination.”A consent determination means the NSW Government agrees to recognise Native Title rights without a contested court trial.Uncle Stan said the process had involved extensive genealogical research and years of negotiation.“We had to go back and find all the lineages,” he said.The claim spans coastal land and sea country from Bundeena in southern Sydney to the Victorian border, extending three nautical miles offshore – a component that could carry significant implications.Kiama Councillor Stuart Larkins described it as “quite a significant Native Title claim”.“It’s been on for some years. These things take a lot of time, and we’re probably still a couple more years away, but we’re getting closer to determination,” Cr Larkins said.“The biggest thing for government, whether it’s local, state or federal, is understanding what that claim is going to be and how that works, particularly for local government, which owns or manages Crown Land.”He said the inclusion of sea country rights makes the claim especially important.“One of the biggest things about this claim is that it not just focuses on traditional native title aspects, but it’s also about sea country,” he said.“The big question for the last 30 years hasn’t been so much about land – it’s been about water rights … Once a determination is made on this claim, particularly around sea country, it could have national significance.”Jarrett said the symposium was designed as an information and preparedness forum for councils along the coast.“It was a great information day for local governments from Sutherland Shire to Bega Valley – all the councils in between,” he said.“A lot of people got a lot of great information about what a Native Title claim is and what implications it has for local governments.”He said a key outcome was the beginning of a co-designed framework for how councils and Aboriginal communities will work together once the determination is made.“Part of the aim was to start a dialogue with local government and the Aboriginal communities of the South Coast and to form a network of Native Title officers,” he said.“We’ve started a framework of how government could work with Aboriginal communities up and down the coast. That’s going to be co-designed by councils and communities together.”Uncle Stan said the framework would allow for place-specific relationships, acknowledging that Aboriginal communities along the coast are culturally diverse.“All the communities are different up and down the coast,” he said. “What we’re trying to do is provide a framework where they can initiate local relationships in their own areas.”He noted that only three of a minimum of six councils represented at the forum indicated they had a Reconciliation Action Plan in place – which he found surprising.“You’d think they’d all start a reconciliation action plan,” he said.The symposium also addressed environmental concerns linked to sea country, including the decline of kelp forests along the Great Southern Reef due to sea urchin overpopulation.“Our Great Southern Reef is under threat,” Jarrett said.He described underwater areas once covered in kelp forests now reduced to “white rock, an undersea desert”.Speakers discussed sea country plans developed along the coast and the recent formation of the NSW Aboriginal Sea Country Alliance, which Jarrett said underpins the broader Native Title claim.“Sea country and country – nowadays, it’s everybody’s business,” he said. “We all have to live together and we have to work together.”Kiama Council highlighted its ongoing reconciliation work, including an Aboriginal Advisory Group and a Reconciliation Action Plan nearing final endorsement.“We’re in such a really good place with our community through years and years of open and frank dialogue and relationship building,” Cr Larkins said.The symposium, funded by NSW Aboriginal Affairs, included speakers from Crown Lands, Aboriginal Affairs, Native Title Services and the Native Title Claimant Group, as well as workshops focused on governance, land management and cultural heritage.“It’s a step in the right direction,” Jarrett said.Organisers hope similar forums will be held across the coast as the determination approaches, ensuring councils and communities are ready to work together once Native Title is formally recognised.

The Kiama Rugby Sevens will not just deliver nearly 12 hours of high-octane sporting action on Saturday but a seven-figure windfall for the local economy.Despite the wet weather, Kiama Council on Friday gave tournament organisers the go-ahead despite forecast of more wet weather possibly being on the way on Saturday. Running for the 54th year, the iconic annual event kicks off at Kiama Showground and Chittick Oval at 8am on Saturday with matches running on both fields throughout the day.A helicopter will deliver the trophies late in the afternoon before the semis and finals are held for the men’s and women’s country divisions, as well as the Bowl and Plate categories leading into the women’s final at 6.30pm and the premier men’s decider at 6.50pm.The winning teams in the two main finals receive $6000 each with the runners-up pocketing $3500.Tournament director Mark Bryant said Saturday’s event was shaping up to be one not to be missed.“Everything is done preparation wise, we've filled 44 teams back in November and then we had a few teams pull out and we've had to adjust.“The grounds are coming up quite well. You can't get a room in town because of all the teams - everything is full.“The weather is looking like it's gonna be about 23 degrees and overcast which is actually perfect weather for rugby. You don’t want it too hot.”It’s not just a sporting event but a driver of economic benefit to Kiama.“Through Destination Kiama, we do a post-event report and we bring in $1 million to the town for the weekend. For all the licensed outlets, this is the biggest night of year for them,” Bryant added.And the standard of play is set to be sky high with Shute Shield teams and a squad from the Brisbane GPS lining up.“Manly won the Hamilton Sevens, Warringah Rats are always up there, UTS Gordon will be really strong. Southern Districts are coached by Kiama’s own former Wallabies player Scott Fava so they will go well.“GPS Brisbane are not going to travel all this way and not give it a shake.“In the women’s, Manly and UTS Gordon are always up there and one of the dark horses this year will be Hunter Wildfires from up in Newcastle.”Illawarra premiers Kiama will be taking part in the country division with Wagga Wagga Reddies, Orange Emus and Northlakes likely to be their main competition.“The good thing about the country cup is that it’s pretty even and it could come down to a ref’s call or a bounce of the ball,” Bryant said.Tickets are still available from kiamasevens.com.

It has been 15 years since Kiama Council adopted its Local Environmental Plan and Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters says it’s high time it had a thorough overhaul.Cr Matters successfully moved a motion at last week’s Council meeting to systematically review the LEP from 2011 and Kiama’s Development Control Plan (DCP) from 2020 with a view to removing any inconsistencies and to facilitate good outcomes for our community.Whether the LEP is reviewed or replaced altogether with an updated version remains to be seen and will depend on Council finances in the near future.“That will come down to where Council can find money from because money is extremely tight,” Cr Matters told The Bugle, expressing her own views on the subject.“But at least we've brought it to the fore because with all the other strategies in place - the employment lands, the housing strategy, the vegetation study and rural lands - unless they all overlap and intertwine, things will still be outdated.”She added that Councillors had been put in a situation where they had to vote against several submissions because “the LEP being outdated, left us with no choice at times”.“We're short on housing so we can’t be restricting people on their own property if they comply with the new housing strategy or the urban strategy but it doesn't fit the box because of the outdated LEP - that doesn't make sense.“They all have to be aligned for us to move forward.”Cr Matters said there had been a 15-year period where there has been a lack of progress in the amount of housing in the LGA and Council is now under significant pressure from the NSW Government to accelerate supply.“Council is now in a position, and so is the government, about rushing housing through when there's been 15 years of basically nothing in our area,” she said.“What worries me is when you do it in a hurry, it becomes a little bit of hodgepodge here and there, whereas I don't want our community to become like that.“I want all strategies to overlay and be aligned. If we don't have a guideline and a criteria for what we meet, there will be no control on how we expand and how we still keep our rolling green hills.”Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said CEO Jane Stroud and Council’s planning department will investigate what can be done to overhaul the LEP.“We've had the housing strategy, we're doing the employment land strategy, we're hoping to be looking at a rural land strategy later in the year - these are all putting blueprints around our LGA for future development, and not just now for the next 20 or 30 years.“Rather than piecemeal adjustments, we've acknowledged as a group that we need to do a significant review of the LEP.“With all these things, they come with the cost. As a community, we've got to update that document and it will involve significant community consultation to ensure that it is how we want to develop as a community for the next 20 or 30 years.”

“I’m so sorry, ladies. I have some bad news,” Slow Dough co-owner Lucy King tells the group who have just arrived at the seaside bakery for coffee. “We’ve sold out of treats.” It’s 11.30am on a Friday and there’s not a spare seat in the house. Only a handful of choc-chip biscuits and focaccia slices topped with seasonal ingredients are left after a busy morning of trade. When Lucy and her husband Richard opened the doors of their artisan bakery two years ago, this is exactly what they hoped to achieve - a community coming together to enjoy baked goods, coffee and each other’s company and empty shelves at the end of the day.“Running a business is really hard work,” says Lucy. “Our team works long hours, everyone’s on their feet all day, it’s very hot in the bakery.“But one of the things that brings us all a lot of joy is when we get a spare minute to look out the window and catch moments where people are biting into their sweet treat. “Seeing the happiness on their face makes all the hard work worth it.”The couple, who moved from South Africa to Melbourne where they worked in high-powered corporate jobs, settled in Gerringong when Victoria’s borders were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. While working from home, Richard, who has always loved baking, dabbled in making sourdough like many during the pandemic.Soon they were baking loaves of sourdough out of their garage and delivering to family and friends throughout the lockdown. Demand was high and they eventually opened a shopfront in Kiama in early 2024.Lucy and Richard King at Slow Dough. “When we decided to leave our corporate careers and do this, it was not only because Richard enjoyed baking and making a really good product, but we saw the impact of coming together around good sourdough in our garage,” explains Lucy.“Introducing neighbours to each other and the sense of community that was created in our garage was the reason we did this, ultimately everything we do comes back to that, bringing people together around good food.”Such good food that Slow Dough was recently rated among the state’s top regional bakeries on popular websites Broadsheet and Delicious. With word quickly spreading among food lovers, and Kiama already a popular destination for travellers and day trippers, the Kings found themselves busier than ever.But an increase in customers brings with it new obstacles to overcome. Namely how much product to make to remain financially and environmentally sustainable while also ensuring local customers don’t miss out on their beloved bread.Richard says knowing exactly how much to bake for each trading day “is the bane of my existence”.“Getting the balance right is challenging,” says Richard. “There are so many factors to consider. “It’s one of the hardest things to get right but I feel like we're getting it right more often now. But there are still days where we don't produce enough or have too much left over.”The Kings use the highest quality ingredients to produce their baked goods and with prices increasing across the board any leftover product is a financial hit. “We use very expensive ingredients so we don't want to be throwing money down the drain,” says Richard. “We go through up to 500 free range eggs and 40kg of butter each weekend,” adds Lucy. “So when we sit down to plan our menu each week we look at not only what’s in season but also our production capacity to make sure we’re not putting undue pressure on our team of three bakers.”“And we look at the weather,” says Richard. “Weather plays a huge role in getting the balance right of meeting customer demand.” The pair are also mindful of their environmental footprint and each week send around 500 litres of kitchen waste and compostable customer packaging to feed a local permaculture garden in a partnership with The Passion Project.Lucy and Richard, perfectionists at heart, are constantly striving to improve their products and sustainability, while ensuring local customers don’t miss out on bread or treats during peak times.“One of the things we're really focusing on this year is creating more experiences for our local customers because we love that we have a consistent group of supporters who get joy out of picking up their bread and having a coffee and connecting with one another on the grass,” says Lucy.The pair briefly considered throwing a birthday party at the seaside store to celebrate two years in business, but finding time in their busy schedules proved difficult. Then an opportunity arose to have local DJ Clay Comber host a Bread and Beats party on Valentines Day.It was a way for the Kings to show their love for the local community who had wholeheartedly embraced them, their business and their ethos - a quality product, created sustainably, which brings people joy.“We want to create experiences that give back to the community, and Bread and Beats was fantastic, we had so many people turn out,” says Lucy.They will hold another community event on 20 March, from 9-11am, in partnership with local artist Amy Kinzett. The event is free and Amy will teach kids and adults how to create a masterpiece using just paper and glue. For more information visit @amykinzett_art on Instagram and Facebook.Local customers can also pre-order their bread and treats to make sure they don’t miss out by visiting www.slowdough.com.au.

This week's edition of The Bugle is filled with a range of local news and views from our South Coast community.Our main story is about local environmental concerns caused by waste matter being washed down the coast from Sydney as well as the need to upgrade the Bombo wastewater treatment plant.CLICK HERE TO READ OUR DIGITAL EDITIONWe also bring you the story of the volunteers in Gerringong who have made the difficult decision to wind up the Nearly New Op Shop after more than 50 years serving the community.There is also all the reaction from Jacinda Ardern's surprise visit to Gerringong on the weekend, local cafe Slow Dough getting national recognition and a feature on the rise of voluntary assisted dying in regional areas.You can also read plenty of other community stories about the impact of YouTube on teenagers, the Kiama Golf Club's bistro upgrade and the Native Title Symposium which was held in Kiama and Gerringong.In sport, we bring you the latest on South Coast cricket, the windsurfing event at Gerroa, the upcoming beach tag tournament and the build-up to the 54th Kiama Rugby Sevens this Saturday.And don't miss John Gabriele's gardening column with the best advice on how to get rid of weeds and stop them coming back.The paper is available from all the usual outlets around the Kiama local government area - grab yours before it's too late.

Akuna Street and Caliope Street might have looked like just two more lines on last week’s meeting agenda, but Kiama Council’s decision for them both to proceed marks a quiet turning point for our community and its future.A Council long branded as anti‑development is now, cautiously, putting its stamp on growth. For years, Akuna Street has been shorthand for everything locals feared about overdevelopment, height, bulk and developers trying to remake the town centre for scale the community were not prepared for and did not support. The 14‑storey proposal at the carpark site has become a veritable lightning rod, prompting legal manoeuvres, community outrage and a council that is still seemingly in the dark as to what is happening. Now, with that project declared State Significant and much of the final say shifted to Macquarie Street, Council’s recommendation to progress proposal for a smaller site to the south of the controversial carpark site is less a surrender than a strategic recalibration. By engaging with the process instead of stonewalling it, Councillors are signalling they would rather shape the inevitable than stage another symbolic, losing fight. This is despite a 13% variation to the height limit and a 25% increase to floor space for the apartment building. Caliope Street tells a different, but complementary story: a green light for new homes in a town that has spent years agonising over a housing strategy it desperately needs but struggles to embrace. The planning work already done for Kiama’s urban release and key catalyst sites and the recognition that Council must help meet state housing targets hangs over this decision. Endorsing Caliope to move forward is an admission that saying “no” to density in the centre and “no” to greenfield supply on the edges is no longer an option if locals want their kids to have somewhere to live. The contrast with past terms is stark. Previous Councils often defined success by what they could stop: towers cut down to size, rezonings stalled, strategies sent back for another round of “community reassurance”. This Council, by recommending Akuna and Caliope progress in the same week, is edging toward a different test: how to secure design quality, infrastructure and housing supply from developments that are coming anyway. That won’t silence critics who still see every crane as a crack in Kiama’s character. And if our social media pages are anything to go by, there are a number of locals that are up in arms regarding last Tuesday’s decision and are expecting the four storeys at Akuna Street to become 14. However, this cynicism distracts from the step change happening within Council and through parts of the community who see more housing as a positive move.Kiama is moving from a defensive politics of protection to a more mature politics of negotiation still protective but finally prepared to let some projects through the gate in return for a better, fairer town that is preparing for a future.