The newly elected Kiama Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters and Mayor Cameron McDonald. Photo: Kiama Council.
First-time councillor Cameron McDonald has been elected unopposed as the new Kiama Mayor.
At Kiama Council’s first meeting since the 14 September local government elections, Cr McDonald was the only candidate for the city’s top job. He replaces former long-running mayor Neil Reilly, who retired at the election.
Crs Imogen Draisma and Melissa Matters nominated for the position of Deputy Mayor – which Cr Draisma held in the previous council – and Cr Matters was voted in.
The new-look council, which met for the first time on Tuesday (15 October), contains just three previous councillors: Crs Draisma, Stuart Larkins and Matt Brown.
Crs McDonald and Matters will serve two years in their positions.
Cr McDonald, a partner at Culleton Lawyers and a former president of Kiama Chamber of Commerce, was easily elected to council, along with two of the five candidates who ran on his ticket, including Cr Matters and Erica Warren.
He said it was a “great honour” to be elected Mayor by his fellow councillors.
“Great progress was made, in difficult circumstances, by the previous councillors, and I am absolutely determined to ensure we not only continue that work, but realise the goal of financial sustainability,” Cr McDonald said.
“I’m confident with the quality of the people in my fellow councillors, and the dedicated council staff, we can deliver this for our community.”
Cr Matters was born and raised in Gerringong and is a third-generation member of the Miller farming family.
She owns and operates The Hill Bar and Kitchen in Gerringong with her husband Dean and their sons, employing 60 local residents.
Chief executive officer Jane Stroud congratulated Crs McDonald and Matters and said she looked forward to working with all the councillors during a critical time for Kiama Council.
“Council’s primary obligation remains achieving long-term financial sustainability and addressing the requirements of the performance improvement order,” Ms Stroud said.
“Once the councillors have completed their inductions and have developed an understanding of the business, we’ll then be able to support them to establish their priorities for this term.”
Visit Kiama Council’s website for more information on the councillors.
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