Meet the Kiama Council candidates

It will be a new-look Kiama Council after the 14 September local government election, with four current councillors and the mayor deciding not to run.

Mayor Neil Reilly and councillors Warren Steel, Kathy Rice, Jodi Keast and Karen Renkema-Lang are stepping down. A large field of 40 candidates are standing for the nine councillor seats. The mayor will be chosen by councillors at the first council meeting after the election.

Residents will also be asked to vote in a referendum to decide if, in future elections, they want to directly elect their mayor.

Here are the candidates.

GROUP A – Independent

Group A, led by Cameron McDonald, is community minded and business focused.

Platforms

1. Balancing the budget: pay down council debt to improve its credit rating; keep rates low and no special rates variation
2. Open and transparent council: prioritise customer service, engage better, listen more and follow up
3. Sensible development, local first services: maintain Kiama’s unique coastal and rural environment; keep development application processing in-house and reduce assessment times
4. Improve infrastructure: safe and reliable east–west road linkages; 21st century water and sewerage solutions
5. Business and employment for the community: revitalise the look, feel and offerings of main streets and town centres; pursue activation of a local night-time economy; support farmers and primary producers.

Candidates

Cameron McDonald: Cameron grew up in Kiama and is one of five partners in regional law firm Culleton Lawyers. Cameron is currently the president of the Kiama and District Business Chamber, a member of the Destination Kiama Tourism and Economic Advisory Committee, a committee member of the Kiama Show Society and founding member of the Kiama and District Stronger Community mental wellbeing group alongside Erica, Mark and Derek. In his spare time Cameron coaches the U11 Girls Kiama Power AFL team.

Erica Warren: Erica is a Jamberoo local and mum who has spent more than 35 years in the hospitality industry. She attended Kiama infants, primary and high schools. As licensee of Jamberoo Pub for 10 years, Erica was awarded several Australian Hotels Association Awards, along with the prestigious NSW South Coast Tourism Award. She is the general manager of The Co-Op Gerringong. Erica is a member of the Kiama and District Business Chamber and Destination Kiama and is involved in the Kiama and District Stronger Communities.

Melissa Matters: Born and raised in Gerringong, Melissa is a proud third-generation member of the Miller farming family. After attending Kiama High School, Melissa launched her own small business while raising her children. Melissa now owns and operates The Hill Bar and Kitchen in Gerringong with her husband Dean and their boys, employing 60 local residents. As cornerstones of the local community, Melissa’s businesses also proudly sponsor local football, soccer, and hockey clubs, underscoring her commitment to supporting local sports and youth development.

Mark Burns: Mark is a dedicated community member with a deep passion for purpose and contribution. With over 20 years of experience as an owner and clinician at Gerringong and Kiama Physiotherapy, Mark has honed his skills in caring for others and fostering wellbeing. Mark is the founder and CEO of The Man Walk Charity, a program designed to encourage men to engage in meaningful conversations and support one another. He serves as the lead facilitator of the Building Young Men rites of passage mentoring program, empowering Year 10 boys to navigate their journey into adulthood with confidence. As a director of the Kiama and District Stronger Community charity, he actively works towards enhancing the wellbeing of the local community.

Derek McMahon: Derek spent his childhood in Kiama before moving to Gerringong over 20 years ago, where he now raises his family. Derek is a second-generation business owner, currently operating two businesses, McMahons Transport (Gerringong) and Lumberjacks Firewood (Minnamurra). Derek is the chair of Gerringong Bowling Club, an active member of Gerringong All Sports, a founding member of Gezza Cares and the Kiama and District Stronger Community group. For his charity work with the Illawarra Convoy, Derek was awarded the Australia Day Award.

GROUP B – Independent

Group B, led by Alan Smith, is committed to enhancing the Kiama community and making it stronger, more vibrant and a place where everyone can thrive.

The team of independents envision a future where the community thrives on sustainability, local support and opportunities for everyone.

Platforms

1. Build strong relationships: by collaborating with community members, businesses, and council staff to achieve shared goals
2. Boost the local economy: by promoting and supporting local businesses and farmers
3. Support people: by developing programs that help individuals gain practical skills and potentially start their own ventures
4. Promote sustainability: by implementing initiatives that meet the needs of the present while safeguarding the needs of future generations.

Candidates

Alan Smith: Alan has been actively involved in the community since moving to Jamberoo with his family. Alan spent many years in the corporate world with companies such as Hewlett Packard, Telstra, IBM, and Westpac, managing key customer relationships and overseeing large-scale projects. He owns and operates Jerrara Creek Farm and Amaki Cafe and his goal is to provide fresh produce to local people. As president of the Jamberoo Football Club, he has worked to bring back the Jamberoo Football Sevens tournament and support the growth of the sport.

Noel “Gaffa” Killmore: Noel owns Killmore Plant and Services, a business which has provided heavy duty mechanical services since 1992.

Belinda “Bindi” Camarda: Belinda is a strong advocate for conservation and the preservation of the area’s history. Bindi saved the historic Marks Cottage from a council demolition order.

John “Head” Trevenar: John is the driving force behind the renovations at Gerry Emery Reserve in Gerringong. He has secured over $800,000 in grants and donations to upgrade the popular community facility.

Narreda Grimley: Narreda is an experienced senior executive. Having recently retired from corporate life, Narreda volunteers at Ageing with Grace, a charity which supports elderly residents.

GROUP C – Independent

Group C is led by current Kiama councillor Matt Brown.

Matt says his team represents a blend of experience, dedication and vision for Kiama’s future.

From enhancing local amenities to ensuring fiscal responsibility and supporting sustainable development, the team is committed to making Kiama the best place to live, work and retire.

“I’m committed to keeping the council ‘Fit for the Future’ to prevent forced amalgamation, improving the lifestyle of residents, enhancing leisure facilities, and supporting sustainable housing and community-benefiting events,” he says.

Platforms

1. Support local jobs and business
2. Make Kiama a regional events capital
3. Promote projects with construction and design that enhances the character of our towns and villages.

Candidates

Matt Brown: Matt has deep roots in Kiama, from his days as Kiama High School captain to his roles as a council lifeguard and co-owner of Amigos Mexican Restaurant. A former corporate lawyer and Member of Parliament for 12 years, Matt has been an active volunteer surf lifesaver and a council member since 2016. He was the founding and current chair of Destination Kiama.

Danielle Steel: With extensive public administration experience, Danielle has a lifelong connection to Kiama, from her childhood and schooling at Kiama High School to her family’s long-standing businesses. Danielle’s vision focuses on fiscal responsibility and driving value for residents while ensuring the council operates efficiently.

Brendan Russell: Born and bred in Kiama, Brendan’s involvement in local sporting clubs highlights his active community participation. As a business owner of multiple small enterprises, including restaurants and a legal firm, Brendan is passionate about creating opportunities for young families. His commitment to sensible council decisions aims to provide value for ratepayers and residents.

Kane Presland: Kane is also a former Kiama High School student and is dedicated to improving mental health in the community. His involvement in the Veteran Surf Project and Waves of Thinking underscores his commitment. As the manager of Penny Whistlers, one of Kiama’s busiest cafes/restaurants, Kane understands the housing and employment challenges faced by his generation.

Joan Comber: A long-standing Kiama Downs resident and former optometry practice owner, Joan continues to serve the community in retirement. She is a scripture teacher and active member of the Kiama Anglican Church and Zonta Club of Wollongong. Her healthcare service positions her to effectively address the needs of local businesses and ageing residents.

GROUP D – Labor

Group D is the Labor Party ticket, led by sitting councillor and deputy mayor Imogen Draisma.

Imogen said it was important the new council remained focused on its financial sustainability and governance into the future.

“Within the next term of council we will still have the Performance Improvement Order for two years,” she said.

“During our term, Cr [Stuart] Larkins and I pushed hard for transparency and financial accountability as we believe the leaders of our community should be trustworthy, open and honest with constituents.

“I am seeking re-election, along with Cr Larkins, as we believe there needs to be a mixture of returning and new councillors to ensure local decision-making stays in local hands and that our council remains a non-amalgamated entity.”

Candidates

Imogen Draisma: Imogen, who has served as deputy mayor for the past four years, has lived in the Kiama area since a young age, attending Kiama and Minnamurra public schools. She completed her school education at Wollongong High School of the Performing Arts and completed a double degree, Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws at the University of Wollongong.

Stuart Larkins: Stuart has lived in the Kiama area all his life. His family has a long connection to Kiama and the South Coast and he identifies as a Wodi Wodi man. He attended Minnamurra Primary School and Kiama High School and has completed a double degree in law and arts. He also has a graduate diploma in legal practice. Stuart has served on council for the past four years.

Lucy Abood: Lucy has a background in town planning and brings a passion for sustainable development, affordable housing and early childhood education. As a mother of two young children, she believes a quality early childhood education, affordable housing options and a liveable environment for families are extremely important.

Harrison Ledger: At just 19, Harry is one of the youngest candidates to nominate for council. He is currently studying law, politics, philosophy and economics at the University of NSW.

Clare McInerney: Clare has lived in Kiama for 35 years. As a retired high school teacher and deputy principal, she is a strong advocate for public education and has taught students in the region for many years.

GROUP E – The Greens

Kiama Greens has a rich, 30-year history of representation on Kiama Council.

The candidates, led by Melissa Lawton, believe the next term of council requires a viable, long-term financial plan to be developed, the achievement of the Performance Improvement Order tasks and starting the Growth and Housing Strategy.

They say for these programs to succeed, councillors and staff must work together respectfully to avoid the internal division recently seen. The community should feel it is trusted and heard throughout the change process.

Platforms

1. Reconnect council with its community: reintroduce community consultative bodies
2. Save community assets: keep community-owned assets for future generations; find ways to use assets to produce income for council rather than being sold
3. Promote cooperation: reduce conflict and increase trust by promoting council processes and decisions that are transparent, consistent, professional and accountable
4. Support a housing strategy that protects farmlands and scenery while meeting community needs
5. Protect Kiama’s environment, cultural heritage and climate

Candidates

Melinda Lawton leads this diverse and committed group. She is an accomplished executive leader and design specialist with a wealth of experience in project management, design and construction sectors. She is a team player, specialising in finding creative solutions to complex problems. Melinda is working with Waminda, a dedicated Aboriginal female-led organisation ensuring services and wraparound support for their Shoalhaven community.

Jordan Casson-Jones: Jordan, the 2021 Kiama Young Citizen of the Year, brings youth to the team as the youngest candidate to be endorsed by the Greens. He is acutely aware of the impact of the cost of living and lack of housing options for young people and has been involved in the campaign for more mental health services in the Kiama local government area.

Mark Whalan: Mark has grown up in Kiama. His experiences in local journalism and social media, gives him an astute awareness of the concerns of the local community. With a keen knowledge of local heritage and character, he sees preserving the best of the old with the best of the new is important as Kiama experiences the impacts of growth and change.

Andrew Sloan: Andrew is well known and respected as a previous councillor and deputy mayor. He is a civil engineer specialising in water infrastructure. He has a passion for the expansion of renewable energy into powering local communities as they switch to an electric future.

Stuart Hall: Stuart is a retired schoolteacher from Werri Beach, well loved by the many local kids who have been under his care. Stuart has specialised in integrating the natural world with his work and has qualifications in permaculture, horticulture and “Green” education.

GROUP F – Independent

Group F – A Fresh Start Kiama – is led by Mike Cains. Mike says his experience in corporate Australia and in small business will help him to bring people together, solve problems and get things done. If elected he will work with other councillors to create a more productive council.

Platforms

1. Delivering a collaborative and professional council that gets things done
2. Improving the liveability of our towns
3. Ensuring that only sustainable development is approved to set us up for the future

Candidates

Mike Cains: Mike is a farmer, owner of Pecora Dairy, a 2021 Nuffield Scholar and 2024 Royal Agriculture Show Presidents Medal recipient. He is on the board of the Kiama and District Business Chamber and a founding member of the Wednesday Kiama Farmers Market. Married to Cressida and father of two adult children, Mike has held senior executive roles at companies including Fairfax Media and CoreLogic.

Marcus Hewitt: Marcus is a cattle farmer who has lived in the Kiama area for more than 15 years. He is an accomplished small businessman with more than 30 years’ experience running fitness centres throughout Sydney. He is a father of three who wants to see a greater focus on building more functional amenities in Kiama’s growing towns. He sees the opportunity for farmers to build modest functional accommodation to house their staff and for the workers of businesses of our growing towns. He is an avid fisherman and is passionate about preserving the area’s natural beauty.

Eric McAuley: Eric is a 20-year Bombo resident. His career encompasses environmental remediation and he runs his own business recycling batteries and other materials. He is an exponent of the circular economy and its benefits to society. Eric is deeply passionate about the future of the Bombo Quarry. He believes that we have the perfect opportunity to promote a world-class urban design to create a new state-of-the-art community close to beaches, electrified trains and the highway.

Cressida Cains: Cressida has a passion for supporting women in rural and regional Australia. She was the 2020 Agrifutures Rural Women’s Award winner for NSW and ACT and national runner-up. She is on the board of Australian Women in Agriculture and is a fierce advocate for helping rural and regional women achieve positions of influence. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Business. Together with husband Mike she founded Pecora Dairy and has been on the organising committee of the Wednesday Kiama Farmers market.

James Cahill: Jim has lived in Kiama for the past 43 years, raising a family. His career has included information technology and communications at a senior management level working for multinational corporates. Jim is a keen Christian and surfer, with community volunteering experience including previous lengthy involvement with junior football as coach.

More information can be found on Facebook and Instagram.

GROUP G

Group G is led by Kiama Downs’ Yasmin Tatrai.

Yasmin says her team of locals is committed to making the Kiama Municipality a great place to live by getting council back on track.

“Kiama is a great place to live, work and raise a family, but poor leadership has meant that our council has lost its way, and we need a team of people with energy and experience to get council back on track. My team is that team,” she says.

“I want to be up-front and transparent about our political beliefs. Whilst we are all members of the Liberal Party, we are not running an official Liberal Party ticket so we can respond to local issues, but we want to be up-front about the values we represent.”

Platforms

1. Fixing the budget: we need people with real life experience who know how to read a balance sheet and ensure our council finances are run like any household or business.
2. Keeping rates low: we are committed to ensuring we run an efficient council, so ratepayers don’t pick up the bill for bad decisions.
3. Supporting balanced and sustainable development: we want to work with Gareth Ward and the NSW Government to progress the Bombo Quarry redevelopment and oppose development that will change the character of our community.

Candidates

Yasmin Tatrai: Yasmine and her husband Roger live at Kiama Downs. She has run a large-scale event production business which has included organising events at venues all over the country. Yasmin has worked in NSW Health for over 10 years with a specific focus on working with people with disabilities and their carers. Her business, government and corporate experience provides a diverse background and she will bring these skills to the council chamber.

Gail Morgan: Gail is a long-term Kiama resident, poet and acclaimed author. She has lived and worked all over the world, including Sydney, Alice Springs, London, France and New Guinea. Gail is a lover of music and is passionate about seeing more live music in the Kiama CBD.

Henry Streamer: Henry is a life-long Kiama resident. He attended local schools and graduated from Wollongong University with a Bachelor of Economics and Finance. Henry works for the banking and finance industry in Wollongong and previously in a local bank branch in Kiama. He is keen to use his experience and expertise to help fix Kiama Council’s finances. Henry has also previously worked for Surf Life Saving Australia, assisting with the aerial patrol of Surf Beach and Kendalls Beach.

Suzanne Mansfield: Having lived in Kiama for more than 60 years, Sue is passionate about the community. A local business owner, mortgage broker and bank manager by trade, Sue has the experience to help get Kiama’s finances back on track. An active member of the Kiama community, Sue has taught Sunday school at local churches. Married to Allan, Sue has six children including twins who attended Kiama High.

Dan Hill: Dan Hill is a long-term Kiama Downs resident and teacher. He has a young family and understands the cost-of-living pressures facing the community. Dan cares deeply about the local environment and is strongly opposed to the offshore wind farm proposal.

Andrew Prosser: Owner of Gerringong small business Stoic Brewery, Andrew wants to see council run efficiently like any business. Andrew wants to see council cut red tape and encourage more locals to go into business in the Kiama area. Andrew is a passionate believer that people with skills and real-life experience are required as part of the leadership of Kiama Council.

GROUP H

Group H – Your Community Candidates – is led by incumbent councillor Mark Croxford.

“Kiama deserves a council that prioritises the essentials: roads, rates, rubbish and recreation,” he said.

“Our focus is simple – getting Kiama back to basics. ‘Back to Basics’ isn’t just a slogan, it’s a commitment to refocusing on the core services that keep Kiama thriving.

“We need a council that listens and delivers on the basics. We’re committed to ensuring reliable roads, fair rates, efficient waste management, and vibrant recreational spaces. These are the fundamental services that make our community strong.

“Party political agendas have no place in our council. We’re here to serve our community, not external interests.”

Platforms

1. Roads: prioritising well maintained, smooth roads, better parking, and safer crossings, especially for seniors, families, and people with disabilities
2. Rates: keeping rates affordable through sensible budgeting, promoting responsible development, and proposing differential rates to address the population surge during holiday periods
3. Rubbish: enhancing waste management by improving rubbish collection, promoting recycling, and implementing innovative strategies to meet community needs
4. Recreation: investing in parks, playgrounds, sports facilities, and programs that promote healthy lifestyles and community engagement.

Candidates

Mark Croxford: Mark is a 62-year-old incumbent councillor, a semi-retired corporate and public affairs consultant, and a mental health advocate for veterans and first responders. Before being elected to Kiama Council in 2021, he had served as chair of Kiama’s Combined Community Advocacy Group, North Precinct, and as president of the Kiama High School P&C Association.

Robert Bartlett: Rob is a chartered accountant and local business owner dedicated to boosting tourism and hospitality. Rob, 31, moved to the South Coast in 2021 to take over the operations of his family business, a role that has allowed him to engage deeply with the local community. Passionate about enhancing tourism and hospitality in the region, Rob collaborates with local businesses to drive growth and prosperity for the entire area.

Darren Ormsby: Darren, 59, is a small business owner in Kiama and the country manager for an international company supplying one of the world’s largest retailers. His career includes five years as a logistics manager and several years as general manager for leading rugby clubs in Sydney. He has lived in Kiama for the past five years with his family, where he is a strong advocate for the NDIS program, driven by his personal experience as a parent of children on the spectrum.

Michael O’Toole: Mick is a former superintendent in the NSW Police Force, with a career spanning nearly four decades. He began his working life at the Bank of NSW before transitioning to local government with Wollongong City Council. In 1990, he joined the NSW Police Force, serving in various locations until his retirement in 2019. His strong community ties include the Gerringong Lions Club, Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club, and the Kiama Blowhards rugby team.