Kiama Councillor Stuart Larkins (left), Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters and Mayor Cameron McDonald attended the LGNSW Annual Conference in Penrith. Photo: Kiama Municipal Council.
Kiama Council has been backed by other local governments in its push for change in the areas of both rock-fishing legislation and better management of election signage and materials, with two motions receiving support at an annual conference.
Hundreds of mayors and councillors from around the state worked through issues impacting their communities and broader statewide concerns at the Local Government New South Wales (LGNSW) annual conference in Penrith.
“These conferences are great to understand the pressures on other local governments and that there are definitely some shared issues across the sector,” Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said.
“Financial sustainability was the big recurring issue, and there was a motion to seek the Federal Government increase in funding for local government up to 1 per cent, which it currently sits at 0.5 per cent.
“I think there’s a real acknowledgment there that there is a significant financial burden and the ongoing sustainability of local government is very fraught.”
The event gave Kiama Council the chance to raise issues in the hope of gaining broader support and more power behind a push for change, with the LGA raising two of the more than 80 motions debated.
The room of councillors discussed Kiama’s proposal for LGNSW to call on the State Government to review the Rock Fishing Safety Act and consider an increased maximum penalty.
The motion was spurred by a series of rock-fishing tragedies in the Kiama, with almost a dozen of the area’s fatalities within the past 15 years linked to the activity.
The conversation grew into one about broader water safety, and the fact that these issues are not exclusive to the coast.
“There was recognition from some of the regional councils that they have their own safety issues with regard to waterways,” Cr McDonald said.
“Whereas this is rock-fishing-specific legislation, our waterways are well utilised and certainly we need to be making them safer.”
The other motion raised proposed LGNSW call on the NSW Electoral Commission and the Australian Electoral Commission for appropriate reforms to reduce and manage the level of signage and election materials during election periods at all levels of government.
“We all know sometimes that environment where you’re going to vote at local, state or federal election can be intimidating with all the signage and there’s a lot of waste that goes with that too,” Cr McDonald said.
Both motions were supported.
“As a body, as a cohort, you get that voice behind you,” Cr McDonald said.
“There’s that power of advocacy to be in that local government of NSW stratosphere as far as getting a motion through and supported by the board, and the team there is fantastic.”
Housing was an issue and was so widespread that it was the focus of the Premier’s address to the conference. It’s also something Kiama has been actively working to gain control over.
“[Premier Minns] reiterated that one of the key ticket items for the State Government at the moment is the housing crisis,” Cr McDonald said.
“I’m happy to say at the moment in Kiama we have the housing strategy and we’re doing our bit.
“It was the subject of two community consultations and essentially we’re very proud of that document — it’s the ability for some autonomy and direction of our local government to decide what housing is provided in our local community and where it’s located, whether it’s infill development or some strategically placed location otherwise.”
That housing strategy has just been endorsed by the State Government.
The successful motions from the conference are now actioned by LGNSW, with councils expected to be updated throughout the year.
