Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald is calling on the NSW Government and Labor candidate Katelin McInerney to pledge more for the electorate, saying Council does not feel “our community’s needs are being heard”.

McInerney on Thursday announced the delivery of $3 million in accelerated funding to undertake “a road repair and pothole blitz” across the Kiama electorate alongside NSW Finance Minister Courtney Houssos.

On Friday, McInerney and Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib were in Gerringong to announce a fleet of 26 new rescue jet skis will soon be patrolling beaches across the state, including Kiama’s three surf life saving clubs.

Mayor McDonald said on Thursday to say that while investment in roads was always welcome, Kiama Council’s priority items in its State Government Advocacy Plan remain unanswered.

“We would welcome a sit-down with the Premier, the Treasurer, the Finance Minister and the candidate. But right now, we don’t feel our community’s needs are being heard,” he said.

“Our biggest game-changer is Spring Creek employment land. Removing the outdated covenant would cost the Government nothing, but it would transform Council’s financial sustainability, help us lift the Performance Improvement Order, and allow us to deliver more for our community.”

The Mayor also renewed calls for the State Government to take back responsibility for Jamberoo Mountain Road, a critical regional link.

“If the Government is serious about roads in our region, then taking back Jamberoo Mountain Road should be front and centre. It’s an essential route for safety and connectivity, yet it’s being ignored.”

He said that announcements, such as State Government funding for a Special Entertainment Precinct trial and the Liberal pledge of $26 million for Kiama Sports Precinct were positive, he was concerned about a lack of commitment to major advocacy priorities.

“Our community cannot continue to be overlooked. Kiama doesn’t want handouts. We want a hand up, through genuine partnerships that unlock our potential.”

A Government spokesperson said no formal request for a meeting between the Mayor, Minister for Finance, the Treasurer, and the Premier has been received outside of Council’s media release on Thursday.

“The Premier and Treasurer attended the Kiama Business Forum on Monday Morning with the Mayor. The Mayor was given a chance to ask questions and raise any issues at the forum and decided not to.

Councillors, local sports groups and Liberal politicans at the Kiama Sporting Complex announcement. Photo: The Bugle

“The Premier also called the Mayor the day Ms McInerney was announced as the Labor candidate.”

Minister for the South Coast and Illawarra, Ryan Park added: “We are working hard to rebuild the essential services in Kiama.

“We know there is still more to be done,” he added before pointing to the Government delivering a new primary school and public preschool in Calderwood, a major upgrade at Bomaderry High School, reducing local teacher vacancies by 96%, a new helipad for Shellharbour Hospital, the Bomaderry Build-to-Rent Program and a $40 million pledge for the Tripoli Way Extension at Albion Park.

“To say we are ignoring this community is just playing politics.”

Mayor McDonald responded by saying his statement was “never about politics”.

“It was about partnership over handouts - about unlocking the potential of places like Spring Creek, and addressing critical priorities like Jamberoo Mountain Road and infrastructure that remains close to home but far from being heard at the highest levels.

“I’m committed to keeping up the pressure and ensuring both major parties commit to our advocacy priorities before polling day.”

A Kiama Council spokesperson said they remained "open and willing to meet with the Premier, Treasurer, Finance Minister and all candidates to discuss the needs of our community. Advocating for our community’s priorities is part of Council’s core business.

"Council records confirm that the Mayor spoke by phone with Premier Minns on 14 August and extended an offer to meet. On the same day, Council sent the draft Advocacy Plan and an invitation to meet to both the Premier and the Opposition Leader.

"Following Council’s unanimous adoption of the Advocacy Plan at its 19 August meeting, the final plan was again sent, along with a renewed invitation to meet, to the Premier, the Opposition Leader, and all candidates in the by-election.

"That offer to meet remains open, and Council looks forward to constructive discussions about how we can deliver the priorities that matter most to the Kiama community."

McInerney did not say whether the Government would reclaim stewardship of Jamberoo Mountain Road but said Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison was “very well aware of the need for this important east-west link to be protected and if I'm fortunate enough to end up in parliament, this will be a matter that I'll be advocating on very strongly in the future.”

When asked about the Mayor's comments at Friday's ballot draw, she said: "I'm really proud of what I've been advocating for in the region that's been delivered.

"So I was a very loud advocate for Calderwood Public School, the Tripoli bypass funding, making sure that we do have a preschool going in down here in Bomaderry where it's so desperately needed.

"I can't go too further into details, it’s a lot over the past two years, since Labor came to office, that we have been doing - we've been rebuilding the essential services, rebuilding the infrastructure, and there's a lot of work still to go in that area.

"I really want to be that advocate out there speaking about that. We are a very broad electorate, we have very different issues. We're an electorate of many towns and villages.

"I think each of those towns has their concerns and I've been focused on getting out and listening to them."

The Liberal Party’s candidate for the 13 September by-election last Friday pledged $26m for the Kiama Sporting Complex upgrade which Opposition Leader Mark Speakman said would be delivered in the first term if they win government in early 2027.