The long-running saga over Sims Road in Gerringong being opened up to local business operators is close to resolution after a major breakthrough at Tuesday night’s Kiama Council meeting.

Councillors voted 6-1 to consider the inclusion of the property into potential employment areas in its Employment Land Strategy. 

Sims Road landowner Derek McMahon was pleased with the debate and the level of understanding from councillors during the meeting.

“I’ve always said that with any development in our area there should be robust debate around it,” McMahon said.

“Now the draft will be altered, I am happy to see it go back on public display, so the community gets the chance to have their say.

“This is a very good part of the process, and it displays good process and transparency from this new council.”

Cr Yasmin Tatrai said following the previous meeting when the inclusion of Sims Road was voted down by Councillors, she went and viewed the land.

“I’m just asking everyone to allow this to go into the strategy,” Cr Tatrai said.

“We say we want all these things, but then when it comes to us, we say no. We have to start saying yes and getting things done.”

Mayor Cameron McDonald, who did not vote on this item due to a potential conflict of interest as McMahon was on his ticket at last year’s Council elections, told The Bugle that these decisions will have a lasting effect on the Kiama region.

“I think the idea is to identify what the appropriate land in the Local Government Area is for this type of development,” Cr McDonald said.

“Whether it is industrial, commercial, retail spaces – it is as important as the housing strategies for defining those areas for the next 20 or 30 years.

“It’s about planning for the future.”

For McMahon, his long-term view is a three-pronged approach: support local businesses, create employment and increase the circular economy.

“Sims Road is capable of potentially hosting 115 jobs,” McMahon said.

“Whilst the town grows, we’ve got to have sustainable growth in all areas, including retail, commercial, industrial, residential – the whole thing.”

McMahon said it has been an occasionally tedious process to get the land approved even though they are not quite there yet.

“After five years, the history shows that it has clearly been overwhelmingly supported by Council and Councillors historically,” McMahon said.

“It’s by far ‘not home yet’, we’ve got a way to go, but I think it’s a very big step in the right direction for local businesses. 

“We want to see the land facilitate pathways for young people to get into various industries.

“We really don’t want to see it become a storage facility because it doesn’t create any jobs.”