13 February 2016

A fortnightly celebration of A fortnightly celebration of A fortnightly celebration of A fortnightly celebration of

people and places on the people and places on the people and places on the people and places on the

Upper South Coast of NSWUpper South Coast of NSWUpper South Coast of NSWUpper South Coast of NSW

Serving the communities of Kiama,

Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs,

Minnamurra and Gerroa

and now at www.thebugleonline.com

Focus on the merger

p 6 and 7

Burnetts expand into

Mitre 10 vacuum p3

Kiama Sevens

almost here p 3

Lloyd Rees’ Legacy

needs your help p5

Concerns over

Manning St DA p8

Inside this issue

Phone: 42322757 Fax: 4232 2676 21B Barney Street, KIAMA ksmr@bigpond.com

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The BugleThe BugleThe BugleThe Bugle Public Inquiry into the merger: community presents united front In years to come, locals will

still be talking about the day

the NSW Government made

concerned residents spend

three hours in a tent in a

carpark if they wanted to

express their views on its

proposed merger of Kiama

and Shoalhaven councils.

Prepared as an overflow

venue for the expected large

crowd at the Leagues Club,

a last minute decision was

made to shepherd everyone

into the temporary structure.

The poor ventilation, no

easily accessible toilets,

inadequate audiovisual

screens and need for water

to be handed out was rightly

seen as an insult.

The Mayor Brian Petschler

said as much, while making

it clear the Delegate was not

responsible for the arrange-

ments. He let everyone

know that Council had

offered The Pavilion as a

venue, and the offer was still

open.

The lack of amenity added

to the passion of the event,

where eighty-five people

had registered to speak.

Only 63 people reached

the microphone, where they

were given three minutes to

speak rather than the five

minutes many had prepared.

One of those too far down

the speaking order was

eighty seven year old Elaine

Pratt. “My mum has lived in

Kiama since the Fifties and

wanted to speak against the

merger,” says Geoff Pratt.

“She waited patiently in a

stinking hot tent, no cooling,

no toilets, no water, lots of

guards, for 3 hours. Then

had to leave without getting

the opportunity to speak.

I felt very sorry for her.”

The Bugle attended all

three sessions of the Inquiry,

two in Kiama and one in

Nowra. The other two ses-

sions were held inside clubs,

not outside, so lacked the

undercurrent of the first

meeting.

In all, over 120 people

spoke, and all of them were

against the merger. Two

people at the morning meet-

ing who were unable to

speak before time ran out

said they were for the

merger, but they did not take

the opportunity to be given

priority to speak at the

evening session.

Speakers approached the

ten points under considera-

tion by the Delegate, Greg

Wright, in different ways.

Many addressed Kiama’s

sense of community and

common interest, the lack of

Lions’ plan to provide holiday respite for carers Council has given the green light to the Lions

Clubs of Kiama, Minnamurra and Jamberoo to

renovate a disused house on Shoalhaven St as a

respite centre for carers.

Councillors unanimously approved the project,

offering the house at a peppercorn rent, saying they

were pleased a currently unused and deteriorating

Council owned property will become an asset to

the wider community.

The ambitious undertaking will turn the former

gasworks’ manager’s cottage into a spacious

holiday house with three bedrooms (complete with

ensuites), where carers can come to ‘recharge their

batteries’. There is room for parking and disabled

access out the back, and for a deck out the front.

A number of local businesses, tradesmen and

suppliers have already expressed an interest in

assisting Lions with the refurbishment, which

is expected to take a year to complete, including

negotiating the lease and lodging a DA.

The first stage will be to clear the ground sur-

rounding the house and make it watertight.

Carers Association of NSW is very enthusiastic

about the project, as there are very few respite cen-

tres available for their members.

“We just can’t wait to start,” says Ray Redgrave.

“The house has good bones, and just needs some

TLC. It is a project for the whole community to

become involved with.” Anyone wishing to help

should contact Peter Scifleet on 0414 973 388.

Local Lions Peter Scifleet and Ray Redgrave

discuss the extent of the renovations with

Lions District Governor Sally Wilton.

Continued on page 6

2

What’s on?

The BugleThe BugleThe BugleThe Bugle Editorial:Editorial:Editorial:Editorial:

Cathy Law

t 0412 415 101

Sales:Sales:Sales:Sales:

Steve Law

t 0428 662 499

Ian MacDonald

t 0422 736 582

Or email us at

emailthebugle@

gmail.com

Disclaimer:

Every effort has been made

to ensure the accuracy of

the information

in this publication,

but we are only human.

4 Tingira Cres, Kiama 2533

Let us know if there’s an event you’re organising. Just email the details to emailthebugle@gmail.com or phone 0412 415 101 Listings are free, and at the editor’s discretion

Every Wednesday Kiama Farmers’ Market

Kiama Harbour 3-6pm

On weekends Live music at The Sebel,

Kiama Leagues Club,

The Mecure, Jamberoo

Pub and other venues.

12 February Summer Outdoor Movie:

Red Dog

Hindmarsh Park,

8 for 8.30pm, free

CMRI Movie Fundraiser

Screening of Brooklyn,

Greater Union Shellhar-

bour, 6.30 for 7pm. For

$20 tickets call Belinda

0421 349 505/4234 0224

14 February Kiama & District Histor-

ical Society Meeting

Christ Church, Kiama,

2pm. Keith Smith on the

history of the church.

20 February Gerringong Village

Markets

In and around Gerringong

Town Hall

20 February Outdoor Movie: Minions

Reid Park, Jamberoo,

from 8pm

19 February Movie at Library

(see below)

21 February Kiama Seaside Market

Kiama Harbour, 9-3pm

Chamber Philharmonia

Cologne Christ Church,

1 Terralong St, Kiama

25 February Business Information

Expo, The Pavilion

Kiama, 5.30-7.30pm

26 February The Green Day Out

Fundraiser golf day for

Gerringong Golf Club and

the Childrens’ Medical

Research Institute

Enquiries to Daryl Hobbs,

0417 471 800

27 February Kiama Rugby Sevens

(see p3)

28 February Last chance to make

a submission over the

proposed amalgamation

(see p7)

5 March Friends of Kiama

Library Talk (see below)

11-13 March

Jazz & Blues Festival

(see right)

11 March Australian Haydn

Ensemble with

Sara Macliver (see below)

To market, to market..

to buy seeds and plants.. Burnetts On Barney,

your local Landscape

and Garden Centre,

brings healthy veggie

seedlings, heirloom

seeds, organic gardening

additives and loads of

flowering colour to the

Kiama Farmers’ Market.

Visit us at our fortnightly stall at the

Kiama Farmers’ Market on Weds 17 February

Or drop into at 80 Barney St, Kiama t 4233 1322

Open 7.30-4.30 Mon-Fri 7-4 Saturdays

SHOP ONLINE

for regional and

local food

Greenbox is a non-profit, regional food co-op

based in Gerringong, run by a team of

passionate volunteers

www.greenbox.org.au

Order online every week

from 10am Fri to 7pm Mon for collection or delivery

Thurs from 2.30 to 6pm

AGM invite The Annual General

Meeting for Gerringong

Music Club will feature

entertainment from

keen violinist and local

MP Gareth Ward.

Most committee posi-

tions are spoken for but

the Club is always keen

to welcome new mem-

bers. Afternoon tea will

be provided.

Details: Sunday 21 Feb,

2pm in the Gerringong

Soldiers Memorial Hall.

Enquiries to Gillian

4237 8331 or 0422 543 928

Jazz & Blues Festival bigger than ever The 29th Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival is set to be

the biggest yet, with almost 80 free gigs on over

the three days, at over 30 local venues.

This year’s festival performers include acoustic

guitar virtuoso Michael Fix teaming up with his per-

cussionist son Adrian, to take his classic guitar rep-

ertoire in exhilarating new directions.

Also headlining is Doug Williams & the Mix, a five

piece hot funk soul and blues band set to turn the

Leagues Club into boogie wonderland, plus blues

legends Wards Express, along with the slick young

sound of Blue Eyes Cry (below).

For the jazz purists you can’t ask for more than

Balmain pub veterans Unity Hall Jazz Band.

Other acts include Paul Winn Band, Chris Harland

Blues Band, Tommy M and the Mastersounds, Pearl

Noire, Alex Hahn and the Blue Riders, Milena

Barrett, Stormcellar, Dr Don’s Double Dose, Lionel

Robinson, Paul Robert Burton & Andrew Toner,

James Vann, Frank Sultana, Out of Abingdon and

many more.

Details: 11-13 March, free at various locations around

town. Bookings may be needed at some venues.

Full program at www.kiamajazz.com

Baroque in Berry The Australian Haydn Ensemble is

visiting Berry with Aria award-winning

Sara Macliver, one of Australia’s

favourite and acclaimed sopranos.

An expert in baroque performance,

her pure and elegant style is ideal for

the works of Mozart and Boccherini.

Bocherinni’s work is characterised

by astounding optimism, colour and

warmth flavoured with Spanish folk

music.

Mozart’s operas are amongst his most loved works.

Sara will sing selections from The Magic Flute and Don

Giovanni, accompanied by a chamber ensemble of flute

and strings.

Details: Friday 11 March, 7pm, Berry Uniting Church Hall

Tickets $50 ($40 conc) from australianhaydn.com.au,

1800 334 388 or try your luck at the door.

Bushrangers in art & song Aileen Harland will be

the guest speaker of the

Friends of Kiama Library

in March.

Her talk will be on the

history of bushrangers,

with a focus on their depic-

tion through art and song,

including Tom Roberts’

iconic Bailed Up in the

current National Gallery

exhibition in Canberra.

Details: Saturday 5 March,

2.30pm,

Kiama Library Auditorium.

$5 members, $8 others.

Movies at the Library At the risk of

sounding Secret

Squirrel-like,

do you find it

difficult to get

into Shellharbour

or Nowra to watch

the latest movies?

Kiama Library will be holding monthly screenings

of recently released movies on Friday afternoons

from 3pm. If you are interested please take note of

the following dates: 19 February and 13 March.

Due to licensing restrictions, numbers are strictly

limited to 30, and they are also unable to advertise

the title of the movies. However staff can certainly

tell you details when you make a booking.

Sounds intriguing. Book soon.

3

Kerry McMurray took over

as Kiama Council’s new

Director of Finance,

Corporate and Commercial

Services at Kiama Council

in late January.

Kerry was formerly the

Acting General Manager

of Murrumbidgee Shire

Council and prior to that the

Group Manager Corporate

Strategy and Finance at Queanbeyan City Council, as well

as General Manager at Yass Valley Council.

He accepted the role the day before Kiama Council was

announced as a merger candidate, and says that his experi-

ence tells him the Council is in much better shape than

many others.

In his new role he is responsible for a wide and varied

portfolio of Council functions and business operations,

including finance, customer service, records, human

resources, IT, economic development, tourism, business

process analysis, Kiama Coast Holiday Parks, Kiama

Leisure Centre and The Pavilion Kiama.

Meet the new Chris Quigley $10,000 for Illawarra RDA Illawarra Riding for the

Disabled Association,

based at Jerrara, has re-

ceived $10,000 from the

NSW Government to help

upgrade their facilities.

“I was very pleased to be

able to secure this $10,000

funding which will go to-

wards replacing the roof on

their recreation shed which

houses the lawn mowers

and tractors,” says Gareth

Ward MP. He also pre-

sented a desktop computer

to provide as an additional

office resource.

“Illawarra Riding for the

Disabled does a really fan-

tastic job providing recrea-

tion and support for people

with a disability,” he says.

Kiama’s landscape supplier

and nursery, Burnetts On

Barney, is preparing to

expand into trade and DIY

lines now that Mitre 10 is

preparing to close its doors.

Despite being hamstrung

by rules associated with the

proposed amalgamation that

allow only short-term lease

extensions, Council moved

unanimously to extend

Burnett’s lease on the old

quarry site in Barney Street

for another three years.

A longer term lease is

expected to be considered

once the amalgamation issue

has been finalised.

The locally-owned and

operated business will now

take over the front section

of the site currently used as

a Council storage area,

allowing room to renovate

and stock new product lines,

including building materials.

“Mitre 10 has been an

iconic Kiama business for a

long time and their closure

will leave a big gap when it

comes to trade and home

owners buying building and

landscape products in

Kiama,” Burnetts On

Barney owner Elizabeth

Burnett says.

“Customers as well as

other local businesses will

all suffer if the only alterna-

tive is to leave town for

these products.

“There is a strong ‘buy

local’ sentiment around here

and it is up to local business

to try to fill the need so peo-

ple aren’t forced to go out of

town.”

The Mitre 10 site was pur-

chased by Kiama Council

when the Simmons family

put it up for sale last year.

Council sees it as a key

strategic site in the town

centre’s future development,

giving access to Akuna and

Collins streets.

Andrew and Elizabeth

Burnett of Jamberoo have

leased the Barney Street

quarry site for the past three

and a half years, operating

their established tree care

business Burnett Trees and

more recently establishing a

landscape and nursery cen-

tre, Burnetts On Barney.

The businesses currently

employ 15 local staff and

they expect to fill two more

positions this month specifi-

cally for the hardware-

related business.

“It won’t all happen over-

night but now that we have

Council approval we will be

able to stock some of the

most often used lines in

landscape and building re-

lated hardware and other

product lines as customer

demand determines,” says

Elizabeth.

“There are plenty of every

day landscape hardware

products which we haven’t

carried to-date because

Mitre 10 has met that

demand. Then there are the

odd things like key-cutting,

pool supplies and fly-screen

mesh, which would be a

pain to have to travel all the

way to Shellharbour to buy.

“Since we opened the

nursery a year ago we have

been encouraged by local

support and people are again

telling us they want to shop

locally and don’t want to

leave town for their land-

scape and building hard-

ware.

“The good thing is there’s

never a problem finding a

car park at our site in

Barney Street so they won’t

need to drive around the

block twice and we can

load product straight into

customer vehicles which

will save them time and

money.”

The initiative is warmly

supported by the Economic

Development Committee.

Council will soon be

actively seeking a new com-

mercial tenant for the Mitre

10 site, as it will be some

time before it is ready for

redevelopment.

Burnetts expanding into vacuum left by Mitre 10

The presence of the new Australian

Sevens coach, Andy Friend, at the

44th annual Kiama Sevens is sure to

produce some stellar performances

as players vie for his attention.

“Tournaments such as the Kiama

Sevens are critical as we seek to

unearth the next generation of Rugby

Sevens talent in pursuit of future

Olympic gold,” says Australian Rugby

Union CEO, Bill Pulvers.

Coming a long way from its early

origins, the 2016 tournament will see

40 high quality teams competing for a

range of trophies including the Kiama

Sevens Cup, the Women’s Vase, Coun-

try Cup and the Bowl Competition.

Teams representing the cream of

Sydney first division sides will compete

against Sydney subdistricts, NSW Coun-

try, the ACT and Queensland. Kiama

Sevens is a partner tournament to the

HSBC Sydney 7's that was played on

the weekend, only much bigger and

with more prize money (a total value

of $25,000). It has long been Austra-

lia’s premier one day Sevens tourna-

ment.

Sydney Shute sides attending are

Parramatta, Gordon, Warringah,

Southern Districts and defending

champions Manly.

Continuing with tradition, HMAS

Albatross, Squadron 723, will be heli-

coptering in the trophies around 3pm

(weather dependant).

Details: Saturday 27 February, Kiama

Showground. $10 entry. Games from

8.30am, with finals from 5.15pm.

Kiama Sevens attracts the best

4

New blood for Economic Development Committee Tass Schmidt, Michael Hatfield and Geoff Pratt are the

new members of Council’s Economic Development

Committee, volunteering their expertise to the body.

They join on-going community members (Sandy

Rendel, Stephen Thomas and Andrew Waugh), council-

lors and staff, and nominees from Kiama Tourism and

the Kiama Business Chamber on the Committee.

Tass has more than 25 years’ experience in corporate

roles in telecommunications and retail finance marketing.

She has worked closely with government departments

and major advertising agencies both in Australia and in-

ternationally, before moving into her own entrepreneurial

projects. She has been general manager at Jamberoo

Valley Farm since 2012, and is a founding committee

member of the Kiama Farmers’ Market Inc.

Michael is studied law at the University of Wollongong

and became a partner at Kells in 2007. Michael now

owns a small business employing 60 people, specializing

in small business law and commercial law. He has lived

in Kiama for eight years.

Born and raised in Kiama, Geoff retired from his

management role with Department of Education in

Sydney in 2015 to return to the family home in Kiama.

Gerringong School of Arts: keeping the history alive Janelle Lumsden was just a Brownie in 1954 when the

old Gerringong School of Arts was officially reopened

as the Gerringong Scout and Guide Hall. She remembers

the occasion well, because

she saw her father, builder

Wal Lumsden, walk up the

front steps, dressed in a suit,

to receive a Certificate of

Appreciation from the Scout

Commissioner for the work

he’d done renovating the

building.

So she was delighted to

be invited to the launch of a

new history of Gerringong

School of Arts which was

held in Gerringong Museum recently.

Tony Butz, a member of Gerringong and District His-

torical Society, has worked tirelessly with others to pro-

duce a new publication which follows on from the late

Clive Emery’s earlier booklet on the School of Arts.

That publication celebrated the centenary, 1883-1983,

and this booklet seeks to provide more narrative and con-

tinue the story. The project was supported by Arts NSW’s

Cultural Grant program in conjunction with the Royal

Australian Historical Society.

At the launch President Helen McDermott introduced

Emeritus Mayor Sandra McCarthy, who spoke of the im-

portant role the School of Arts had played in Gerringong’s

community and social life over many years.

Others present were able to recall events which had

taken place in the building. Margaret Lumsden, Janelle’s

cousin, remembered her mother talking about roller skat-

ing and euchre nights, balls and dances, and telling her

that her father, Bruce, often played the piano and acted as

MC for social functions. It is this social history that the

book seeks to record.

Kiama Council is seeking Federal regional funding for

an upgrade of the building to provide a combined library,

museum and community hub for Gerringong, but as yet its

efforts have not been successful despite election pledges.

Members of the Society hope this plan will not be jeop-

ardised by the proposed merger of Kiama Council with

Shoalhaven Council.

Details: Copies of the Booklet are available at

Gerringong Museum for a small price.

The Museum is behind the School of Arts

in Blackwood Street, and is open

Saturdays and Sundays between 1 and 4 pm.

Plans to redevelop the

Kiama Hospital site into a

Blue Haven Centre of Aged

Care Excellence have re-

ceived formal approval by

the Southern Joint Regional

Planning Panel (JRPP)

after minor modifications

to improve privacy.

Council is now looking for

an external project manager

and an architect to progress

the $73 million project to

the construction stage.

“The appointed architect

will prepare detailed draw-

ings required for a construc-

tion certificate, and Council

is planning to commence

construction later this year,”

said Clare Rogers, Kiama

Council’s Director of

Community Services.

The first stage of the rede-

velopment includes the

demolition of existing build-

ings (except the heritage-

listed Barroul House) and

remediation of the site.

This stage will also in-

clude the development of

a 134 bed residential aged

care facility, 16 assisted

living units, a community

centre and community care

office, and the restoration

and adaptive reuse of Bar-

roul House.

The second stage of the

redevelopment will build 51

seniors’ living units.

The completion of the first

stage is anticipated by late

2018 with the units com-

pleted by the end of 2020.

The hospital site has been

subdivided, with the Illa-

warra Shoalhaven Local

Health District (ISLHD)

retaining a section of the

land to build a new commu-

nity health facility on the

site.

This site will continue to

provide outpatient services

for all of the community.

The DA for these facilities

has yet to be approved.

Completion of this project

will be necessary before the

hospital can be demolished.

Hospital redevelopment approved

5

Learner driver in the family? Learners and their

supervisors are

encouraged to take

advantage of a free

opportunity to

experience a series

of practical demon-

strations whilst gaining extra log book hours.

They will be taken on a planned route through a variety

of driving conditions, experience RBT/RDT, visit a Driver

Reviver station, meet a Fire Rescue team, hear road safety

personal experiences, understand crash investigation

methods and receive reverse parking tuition.

In addition to being given a road safety resource folder,

participants will go in the draw to win a fuel voucher.

Learner drivers must have a minimum of 40 log book

hours to participate.

Date: Sunday 20 March, 9-1.30pm, Lake Illawarra PCYC.

The morning is free (including driver reviver stop snacks

and Pizza for lunch on completion).

Bookings are essential as places are limited.

Contact Kiama Municipal Council’s Road Safety Officer

on 4232 0444 or council@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Research into Gerringong flood plain $90,000 is to be spent on

a flood study of the Ooaree

Creek catchment area in

Gerringong and the Werri

Lagoon thanks to $60,000

in funding from the NSW

Floodplain Risk Manage-

ment Grants Scheme and

a top up from Council.

The catchment includes

more than 100 residential

and rural properties and the

area is prone to frequent

flooding.

Architect sought for new arts centre The initiative to create a central home for Kiama’s arts

community are edging forward, with Council calling for

expressions of interest from an architect to develop plans

for the new facility based in existing buildings.

In 2014 a report commissioned by the Council found

that both the Joyce Wheatley Community Centre and the

Old Fire Station Community Arts Centre would be suit-

able sites for a Kiama arts precinct.

The reconfiguration of the Joyce Wheatley Community

Centre and the Old Fire Station Community Arts Centre in

Hindmarsh Park will include gallery, workshop and per-

formance space.

The plans for the Old Fire Station will be staged to in-

corporate the adjacent ambulance cottage and station sites

when they become available for council use. Last year the

state government announced plans to invest about

$5 million to relocate and upgrade the ambulance station.

You should have gone to Melbourne In news sure to disappoint

many, the exhibition

Orry-Kelly: Dressing

Hollywood will not be

coming to NSW.

It had been hoped that

the exhibition would move

to either the Powerhouse

Museum or the Wollon-

gong Art Gallery once

its run was over at the

Centre for Moving Image

in Melbourne’s Federation

Square. The exhibition

attracted 70,000 visitors

during its time there.

It featured letters, clip-

pings, paintings, drawings,

his Oscars, archival footage

and photographs, as well as

some of the original spec-

tacular costumes, on loan

from prestigious archives

and private collections.

A chance comment by Lloyd Rees’ son

Alan has led to the rediscovery of a treasure

trove of paintings in a Kiama High store-

room.

They date back to 1962 when his father,

acknowledged as one of Australia’s finest

artists, was asked to organise a mural for

the School’s then new assembly hall. He

hand selected a group of his fifth year ar-

chitecture students for the project.

In the intervening time, the students have

forged reputations for themselves. For ex-

ample, Lawrence Nield was the 2012 Aus-

tralian Institute of Architects Gold Medal-

list and is a Professor of Architecture at the

University of Newcastle. He was founding

principal of Bligh Voller Nield where he

was responsible for many award winning

buildings including the Overseas Passenger

Terminal in Sydney, St Vincent’s Hospital,

the Olympic Tennis Centre, and Questacon

in Canberra; and headed up the master

planning team for the Sydney Olympic

Games, designing major venues in the Syd-

ney, Athens, Beijing and London Olympic

Games. His work is shown above.

The large landscape paintings (2m x

1.5m) need cleaning and TLC before they

can again take pride of place. The Lloyd

Rees Legacy Project is being led by Penny

Sadubin and Bobbie Miller from Gerrin-

gong and Andrea Hope from Kiama.

The work has already started, and $6000

needs to be raised for the restoration and re-

framing of the artworks. Over $1000 has

already been donated.

An exhibition of the restored paintings

will be held at the Old Fire Station Gallery,

Kiama from 10-15 May. Kiama Library

will then display the paintings for local

residents and visitors to enjoy, before they

are returned to the school library.

Details: You can donate via lloydreesle-

gacy.wordpress.com or contact the organ-

iser on lloydreesfestival2013@gmail.com

to arrange a direct donation.

Donations sought to restore Lloyd Ree’s legacy to Kiama

6

The submission lodged by the

Friends of Kiama Library

raised many points of which

people might not be aware:

I am writing on behalf of the

Friends of Kiama Library to ex-

press our opposition to the NSW

Government's proposed amalga-

mation of the Kiama Municipal

Council with the Shoalhaven City

Council.

The Friends of the Library is a

long-standing community organi-

sation dedicated to providing fi-

nancial assistance and other forms

of support to benefit our Library

programs and services, while of-

fering monthly literary and other

general interest and cultural

speaker events for its members.

There are currently 198 paid-up

members, and we also welcome

numbers of visitors for our events.

There is no equivalent "friends

group" in the Shoalhaven.

In summary, we are concerned

because the merger with the Shoal-

haven Council will lead to reduc-

tion in the levels of service and

popular targeted programs that are

currently provided to Kiama Coun-

cil residents.

In the event of a merger, Kiama

Library would become a branch of

Shoalhaven Library. (The model

will follow branch library arrange-

ments adopted in larger Councils

such as Wollongong and Shellhar-

bour with staffing in branch librar-

ies primarily involved in service at

the counter, with resource alloca-

tion and programme development

and administration determined by

the central Library.) Our commu-

nity would lose professional staff

that develop programs and services

for local residents and who have

an understanding of our local area

and the community that lives here.

As an example of Shoalhaven

arrangements, the library in Ulla-

dulla, servicing a population of

approximately 15,000 is staffed by

a full-time branch librarian, 2 full-

time and 2 part-time customer ser-

vice officers providing counter

services. This staff also services

the town Tourism Centre (which in

Kiama always operates with at

least two staff!).

In contrast, the Kiama Library

service operates with a Manager

and two other full-time Librarians,

3 library officers working an

equivalent of 11 days a week, and

a Family History Officer, plus 4

part-time and casual Library assis-

tants.

The Kiama Library operates an

enviable range of programmes:

• distribution of baby kits (library

bag, board book, early literary

information) to each new-born

• an early literacy "lap sit" pro-

gramme for parents and carers

of babies

• weekly storytime sessions

for young children at Kiama

Library, and monthly sessions

at Gerringong Library

• school holiday programmes

including craft, computer and

Lego activities

• monthly movies both for

children and adults

• HSC study events for Year 12

students and a quiet study time

outside Library hours just

before exams

• an annual photography competi-

tion

• information sessions throughout

the year on legal, drug and

mental health issues

• a home delivery service with

individually selected items for

customers with disabilities and

the frail aged

• a highly regarded Family

History Centre providing resi-

dents with family, social and

local history information and

assistance.

As a Digital Hub for the National

Broadband Network project the

Library also delivered 993

one-to-one training sessions and

236 group training sessions.

The evaluation indicated that

substantial improvement resulted

in skills in engaging online, espe-

cially important for job-seekers as

well as older residents.

Kiama Council has DA approved

plans to building a centre in

Gerringong to replace a current

one-day-a-week Library service,

to provide expanded Library and

other community services to a

growing Council area with limited

transport links with Kiama.

The disparity between the levels

of funding and services between

the the existing Councils is clear.

For example latest figures avail-

able, for 2013/14, show annual

library services expenditure per

capita for Kiama of $61 compared

to $35 in Shoalhaven (and a NSW

average of $51); and the propor-

tion of the population who are

registered Library members is 80%

in Kiama compared to 39% in

Shoalhaven.

These distinctions are indicative

of clear differentiation in the

community of interest in the two

Council areas. A merger with

Shoalhaven Council will result in

a reduction in Kiama's current

quality Library services to a lower

common denominator.

Steve Spooner, Secretary,

Friends of Kiama Library

common interest with Shoalhaven

communities, the contribution that

Council makes to the everyday life

of the community, the value they

placed on having access to their

councillors, the initiatives in place to

share decision-making and contrib-

ute to planning, and more.

Peter Moggs, a local government

planning lawyer with an investment

property in Vincentia, said

“Shoalhaven Council is already too

big and to make it bigger would be a

disaster.”

John Jennings, who has worked as

an engineer for Shoalhaven Council,

explained that the distances that

needed to be travelled to do work

severely cut into the productivity of

council staff. “You cannot ignore the

diseconomies of scale that will come

from the merged entity,” he said.

Chris Forbes decried the “diluted

democracy” that would result from a

merger.

Many raised concerns about the

fate of Blue Haven Care under a

merged structure, given Shoal-

haven’s lack of expertise in that area.

In Nowra, the focus was largely on

the proposal’s silence on the issue of

Shoalhaven Water and the implica-

tions of the rate freeze that would

accompany any merger. Their Coun-

cil is proposing a 20% rate increase

over the next two years. “Mergers do

not fix the financial challenges,” said

Shoalhaven General Manager Russ

Pugg. He said the rate freeze would

ensure the merged council was unfit

for the future.

Long term councillor and former

mayor Greg Watson said “The full

cost of te transition has not been

factored in.”

Taking a different approach, a for-

mer policewoman from England

turned Kiama resident said that the

CCTV operating procedures operat-

ing in Kiama would not translate to

the new structure, if Kiama was no

longer part of the Illawarra Com-

mand. Response times would be se-

verely compromised.

Emeritis Mayor Sandra McCarthy

said “Kiama Council has already

achieved what the state government

is trying to achieve with its reforms.”

Others, experts in their fields,

warned against differences as diverse

as tree policies and the approach to

providing youth services. It seems

that Kiama is home to many people

who have had senior roles in the

public service, town planning and

urban design, and they all had im-

pressive points to make.

Near the end of the last session,

artist Becky Guggisberg suggested to

the Delegate that he probably wants

to move here, seeing he had heard so

much what a special place Kiama is.

Public Inquiry continued from page 1

Friends of the Library oppose the merger

7

Drivers

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transport business

requires Casual Drivers

across all departments.

Taxi Drivers, Hire Car

Drivers, Casual Bus Driv-

ers and Special Education

Drivers are all required.

Applicants with a driver’s

authority preferred, with

immediate start consid-

ered, however those that

will need to obtain this

will also be considered.

Applicants must be able

to work some weekends

and some night shifts as

required. Local applicants

preferred.

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email kiamatransport@

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Enjoy your weekly shop in the great outdoors, buying direct

from farmers and makers

Every Wednesday

Black Beach 3 - 6pm

Frustration at flawed process Council’s General Manager

Michael Forsyth openly

admits that he is frustrated

with the flaws and incon-

sistencies in the Govern-

ment’s approach to local

government reform, that

unexpectedly resulted in

Kiama facing a merger.

“There has been a lack of

attention in the whole proc-

ess, leading to flaws and

inconsistencies,” he says.

“We've always been

sustainable, and we are a

lot fitter than a lot of other

councils who passed the

test.

“Inconsistent application

of depreciation around

the state has had a major

impact on those financial

indicators.

“The Morrison Low

work that we have done

has shown that we were

over conservative in our

depreciation figures and

we have been penalised for

that. There are other coun-

cils that are going to be

found out in years to come

and are going to have real

problems because they

have underestimated their

depreciation.

“Similarly other councils

are proposing major rate

rises to pass the test.

Wingecarribee, next door

to us, is raising their rates

by 40% over the next two

years. Going through the

IPART report, it is interest-

ing how many councils

have got 30-40% rate rises

proposed to get them fit for

the future. Ours rise is

much lower and in a couple

of years hence, because we

wanted to get extra effi-

ciencies in place instead.

Yet we have been penal-

ised for that.

“The whole process just

seems absurd. From the

results of various reports,

saying there was no need

for us to amalgamate, to

the 180 degree backflip

saying we have to merge.

“We are one of those

councils caught up in the

inconsistent decision mak-

ing by the Government.”

He regrets the time that

has been taken up by the

process, which could have

been spent more produc-

tively for the community.

Tellingly, the proposed

merged entity would only

meet three of the seven Fit

for the Future criteria.

Kiama’s situation is gaining attention in Macquarie St, bringing opposition poli-

ticians down to have their say. Labor leader Luke Foley visited Kiama recently

to meet with the Mayor and members of Keep Kiama Council Independent.

He was also treated to a stirring rendition of We Shall Not Be Merged (above).

Greens MP and Local Government spokesperson David Shoebridge is coming to

town next week.

News just in: A protest trip up to Parliament House planned for 16 February

has been cancelled, with the focus now firmly on getting as many people as

possible to present written submissions before the 28 February deadline.

Kiama’s anti-merger push attracting attention

In his presentation to the Delegate, Gareth

Ward, MP for Kiama, made the argument

that the burden of proof as to whether the

proposal should proceed should rest with

the NSW Government.

“There is no doubt that the Government

has attempted to address this [the financial

advantages and disadvantages] criteria in its

merger proposal public document,” he said.

“There are however another nine criteria on

which the Government has been virtually

silent. If the community is required to re-

spond to the ten heads of consideration,

why isn’t the Government?

He continued, “A case which completely

ignores nine of the ten criteria required to

be considered by the Boundaries Commis-

sion is strategically, factually and com-

pletely deficient... the onus is clearly on the

Government to prove its case, and the role

of the delegate and the Boundaries Com-

mission is to assess all ten aspects of this

case on the basis of available evidence.”

With respect to the published merger pro-

posal from the Government, Mr Ward said

“It’s interesting to note that this evidence

has already once been withdrawn, amended

and updated without any notification to the

public or me as the local MP. If the Gov-

ernment doesn’t have confidence in its own

facts and contentions, how can the public

have any confidence in the claims con-

tained therein? Will there be more changes,

more amendments, new questions, new

facts? Or is this really the final draft?”

He went on to say that the Government

had erred in providing procedural fairness

and natural justice with respect to Kiama

Council and its finances and called for a

plebiscite to be held.

Strong words from Gareth Ward

Last chance to have your say You have until 5pm on 28 February to lodge your

submission to the Delegate. Submissions to the Council

Boundary Review should be typed and can be in the form

of a letter, a short document or a longer paper. They can

include appendices and supporting documentation.

Your submission should refer directly to the Kiama/

Shoalhaven merger proposal and focus on the areas that

the Delegate will be considering, previously listed in

The Bugle and available online at the address below.

Lodge your submission online at

www.councilboundaryreview.nsw.gov.au or post to

Council Boundary Review, GPO Box 5341 Sydney 2001

A decision by the Minister is expected by the end of the

financial year.

8

Applications open for cultural grants The summer funding

round of Kiama

Council’s Cultural

Grants will close on

Friday 26 February.

Cultural Grants of up

to $3000 per application

are available to local

artists for artistic en-

deavours that expand

the range of arts pro-

jects within the Kiama

Local Government Area.

Youth Arts Scholar-

ships of up $1000 are

available to young peo-

ple aged between 12

and 21.

Some previously suc-

cessful projects include

the Kiama Arts Trail,

the Kiama High School

Band Tour to Tasmania,

the Kingsford Smith 80th

Anniversary Community

Celebrations and the

community concert

celebrating the 25th

Anniversary of the

Probus Men’s Choir.

Find full details on

www.kiama.nsw.gov.au

Rock musical for Roo Roo Theatre’s latest production is 13 - The Musical,

a show about fitting, and more importantly standing out.

It follows Evan Goldman, who is plucked from his fast

paced, preteen New York City life and plopped into a

sleepy Indiana town following his parents’ divorce. Sur-

rounded by an array of simpleminded middle school stu-

dents, he needs to establish his place in the popularity

pecking order. Can he situate himself on a comfortable

link of the food chain or will he dangle at the end with the

outcasts?

The show marks the directorial debut of Hannah Garbo,

who has been involved with theatre for as long as she can

remember. After working on stage and behind the scenes

in numerous shows, Hannah has loved every challenge

this production has thrown at her.

The owner of the Telstra site

in Manning St, between the

Westpac building and the

former CBC bank chambers,

has lodged a DA with Coun-

cil to build a shop and five

units, at an estimated cost of

$2.5 million.

Kiama locals Robynne and

Greg Mills, who are both

experts in heritage conserva-

tion management and town

planning are encouraging all

groups and individuals with

an interest in the conserva-

tion and preservation of

Kiama’s heritage streetscape

to view the proposed devel-

opment plans and make sub-

missions by the deadline of

17 February.

“We believe that because

of the high heritage signifi-

cance of this section of Man-

ning St (Terralong St to Bong Bong St),

it is vital that in its assessment of the DA

Council reviews the appropriateness of the

proposed development within its heritage

setting and its potential to impact upon the

heritage significance of the whole Manning

Street Heritage Area,” says Robynne.

“Prior to accepting a Heritage Impact As-

sessment from the developer for this DA,

Council should commit to the preparation of

a Heritage Management Plan for the area.

This document would identify the heritage

significance of the area which could be im-

pacted by the development.”

These include the ANZ Bank, stables, rear

garden and fences; the old Council Cham-

bers and pine tree at rear; the Grand Hotel;

the Post Office, grounds and pine trees; and

the Uniting Church, front lawn and pine

trees.

Late last year, the Economic Development

Committee signalled its intention to hold a

design competition protect the heritage of

this area. Details of the competition brief

are still to be released.

Experts concerned over Manning Street DA

The site in question, and some of the lodged plans

Details: Various dates and times from 5-13 February.

See www.roo-theatre.com.au for details

or call 4297 2891. Tickets $25 Adults; $20 Concession

9

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Appliance repairs CVC Appliances: Repairs to washing machines,

stoves, dishwashers, dryers etc. t 0401 294 810

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Licensed builder. Contact Geoff on 0407 958 087

Horticultural services Burnett Trees: Kiama Municipality’s own tree

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tree care, pruning, removal, stump grinding and

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trades & services is designed as a handy

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Need work done? Use a local

The Bugle Crossword Across

1. Unplayable tennis serve

2. Where one sleeps

4. Mountain behing Kiama

9. Hume & ------ walked

overland to Port Phillip

11.Utensil in which the Eng-

lish have their weekly wash

12.Home of submarine

HMAS Otway on the Hume

Highway

13. Language most people

speak in Australia

16. A bookmaker gives

these

17. How many legs does a

tripod have?

19. Tub in which clothes

are washed

20 Dutch mild cheese

21. State flower of NSW

23. Evil. Left handed

24. Weight of truck without

load or fuel

25. The last month in the

year

26. Premier of NSW

28. Member of the Beat

Generation (1950s)

30. Loosing the plot. In

one's ------

33. Boiling point of water is

212 degrees ------------

35. Legal dissolution of

marriage

37. They want us to do this

with Shoalhaven Council

38. Modern term for extra-

galactic nebule. The Milky

Way is one of these

39. 36 inches

Down

1. Residue that remains

after a fire

3. Snakelike marine crea-

ture

5. Where one milks cows

6. American spelling for

work. Australian ----- Party.

7. Nature’s church in Kiama

8. Opposite to Nadir

10. Australia’s favourite

style of coffee

14. Town on the Shoalhaven

15. Name of Harbour Basin

at Black Beach

18. To surround with a

hedge

21. Ducks have ------ feet

22. Cools the coolant in

your engine

27. Sea cow

29. High ranking naval

officer

31. Terminus of the electric

train line in the Illawarra

32. NSW Opposition Leader

33. Canine tooth of of

carniverous animal 34. Male clothing in ancient

Rome

Last week’s solution

From the Editor: The Bugle would like to apologise for

the errors and omissions in our last crossword. We are

trying to break-in a new crossword compiler, and some-

how the wheels fell off last issue. We apologise for the

frustration it caused. Hopefully this issue is back to par.

10

Out & about

J.D.'s Haircare Proudly celebrating 25 years For the month of February we will be giving everyone

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There will also be weekly specials, so keep an eye

on the blackboard out the front of salon

Rosebank Arcade, 122 Terralong St, Kiama

Open six days 4232 2845

Alice, Eamon and Alice were there to wave their flags Robert Spencer made his point

Shanti Pillai, Amber Wilson and Magdalena Pillai came to show

their support

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At the Concert for Kiama

Wendy Reilly with Jim and Jen Overend

At least a thousand people rallied against the

proposed merger at the Concert for Kiama held

on 31 January.

The crowd wisely sought refuge from the sun in

the shade around Hindmarsh Park while they were

entertained by local performers and listened

to a variety of speakers.

The protest song Keep Kiama Independent by

John Littrich and the Water Runners of Gerringong

(left) became an instant hit with the crowd.

Branching into multi-media reporting, The Bugle

filmed them performing the song on the day.

You can find it at facebook,com/TheBugleknows

Like our page while you are there to keep in touch.

Photos: David Finlay (apart from bottom left)

11

12

Postcard home If you’d like to share your travel

experiences, send your postcard home

to emailthebugle@gmail.com

Back row left two right- Jake Reay, Jamie Reay, Jett Preston,

Connor Hughs, Jake Jefferys

Front row Left to right- Darcy Bond (captain) Ethan Harvey and

Harrison Jones

Kiama Golf Club’s Junior Pennant Team have won their

first State Title. They played Avondale Golf Club at The

Ridge course at Sutherland, and won four matches to two.

“It was a tight round with two of our players going down

on the 19th and 20th holes. Darcy Bond hit a great driver

down the 19th hole and made an outstanding up and down

for birdie to win his match and take the win for Kiama

GC,” says coach Shaun O’Toole.

“This is the first time win for our Juniors, and we hope

to make it through to the final again this year.”

The Juniors have already played two matches in the

Illawarra pennant this year and have won both matches.

“You couldn't take the grins off their faces,” says

Shaun. Nor his, at a guess.

Junior golfers bring home state title Kreuzberg is one of the

more edgy and creative

districts of Berlin, noted

for its kebab shops and

punk bars, its graffiti and

retro shops.

This is where we decided

to base ourselves during

a week-long stay in Berlin

in late January, just across

the river from one of the

remaining stretches of

the Wall, now known as

the East Side Gallery, the

segment with the famous

image of Gorbochov and

Honecker kissing.

We found our apartment

on the internet and it's up

four flights of stairs, no

lift, above a trendy burger

restaurant. Despite the

rough exterior and chilly

foyer, the apartment was

decorated in a groovy way

and warmed to a sub-

tropical 26 degrees. When

we ask our German host/

landlord whether the

heating needs to be turned

off when we leave the

apartment, he looks at

us as though we are mad.

No need, he says.

The next morning we

awake to a beautiful sight.

Pulling back the curtains

we are greeted by a white

vista - snow has frosted

the branches of the street

trees and covered the

parked cars like protective

cotton covers. White ice is

crusting the railing edges

of the balconies opposite

like salted margarita

glasses. I cannot contain

my eagerness to get out

into it.

Just before we crossed

the bridge over the Spree

River, which has partially

frozen over in a jagged

jigsaw pattern, I spotted

these bikes, fallen over

haphazardly under their

load. It certainly wasn’t

a good day for cycling in

Berlin, but it was a great

day for walking the streets

of this fascinating city.

By the end of the week

the novelty of cold

weather had started to

wear off, as my shoes

were permanently damp

and too tight from the

thick socks and I had de-

veloped an aversion to my

heavy overcoat. The snow

was no longer so charming,

compacted to a slippery

brown surface on the

streets.

But even so, I really love

Berlin in the winter. It's a

lovely time to visit.

Cindy Lord