Residents are again being encouraged to participate in the process of developing a 20 year strategic vision for the Kiama Local Government Area.

As reported in earlier editions, all NSW councils are now required to develop their inaugural Local Strategic Planning Statement (LSPS) to guide their direction over the next 20 years.

The LSPS are required to set out:

• the 20 year vision for land use in the local area
• the special characteristics which contribute to local identity
• shared community values to be maintained and enhanced
• how growth and change will be managed into the future.

“The LSPS will be our highest strategic planning document, with the Local Environment Plan and Development Control Plan enforcing its vision,” says Council’s General Manager Kerry McMurray.

“We have openly engaged with the community on this important strategic document, so that the outcome truely reflects the feelings and sentiments, and visions and aspirations, of our community, in a very succinct manner.”

Council’s Manager Strategic Planning, Ed Paterson

Council’s Manager Strategic Planning, Ed Paterson, welcomes the contribution of people who haven’t previously been involved in the process so far.

“We started working on this back in 2018 with background research and a series of community workshops.

“It would be good to have the perspective of new people.

“At this stage we are particularly looking at whether we have correctly identified the vision and planning priorities.”

He says that some of the characteristics, such as the important role of volunteering and the welcoming nature of the community have never been put in a planning document before.

“From a planning point of view it is hard to encourage that sort of behaviour, but we wanted to make the point of acknowledging the strong community sentiment behind it, to try and build places that achieve that.”

Mr Paterson says the fear the community has that over development will detract from character and heritage is backed up by research from outside the area.

“It shows the more development there is the less people will want to move here.”

It is hoped that early completion of the LSPS by June will enable it to be considered by, and incorporated into, the current unexpected review of the Illawarra Regional Plan.

The draft LSPS is already on Council’s website, with the formal submissions welcome from 23 March to 20 April.

Details of the community information sessions:

Kiama
Saturday 14 March
Joyce Wheatley Centre, 9.30-11.30am
Wednesday 8 April
Blue Haven Bonaira,
5.30-7.30pm

Gerringong
Tuesday 24 March
Gerringong Town Hall,
5.30-7.30pm

Jamberoo
Tuesday 31 March
Jamberoo School of Arts, 5.30-7.30pm

Kiama Downs
Wednesday 1 April
Kiama Downs Surf Club, 5.30-7.30pm

Book at kiama.nsw.gov.au or phone 4232 0444.
Refreshments provided.