Financial Responsibility and Accountability at KMC

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Kiama Municipal Council is currently operating under a Performance Improvement Order. That's not a footnote — it's the single biggest issue facing our council right now, and it should be front and centre in this by-election.

A Performance Improvement Order means the state government has identified serious concerns with how this council is being run. Ratepayers deserve to know their money is being managed responsibly, that decisions are transparent, and that council is meeting its obligations — not just ticking boxes to satisfy an external order, but genuinely rebuilding trust with the community.

I'm standing as an independent because I believe financial accountability shouldn't be a partisan issue — it's simply good governance. As a local small business owner in Kiama, I manage budgets, cash flow, and accountability to staff and customers every single day. I understand what it means to make responsible financial decisions under pressure, and to be answerable for the outcomes.

As a councillor, I would push for clear, plain-English reporting on council's finances so residents can actually understand where money is going — not just compliance documents written for auditors. I'd ask hard questions about spending priorities and insist that responding to the Performance Improvement Order is treated as a genuine opportunity to fix systemic issues, not just a box-ticking exercise.

Kiama ratepayers have every right to expect their council to be financially sound and transparent. That's the standard I'll hold myself to, and the standard I'll expect of council as a whole.

 

Community Health and Wellbeing in Kiama

Community wellbeing has always been at the heart of what I care about locally. I've walked this talk — as a volunteer with The Man Walk, and as a dads' group leader at Kiama Public School with The Fathering Project, I've seen firsthand how much our community benefits when people have safe spaces to connect and support each other.

One of my proudest achievements was lobbying the Federal Government, through our Federal Member Fiona Phillips, to bring a Headspace service to Kiama. That advocacy has now come to fruition, giving our young people access to mental health support right here at home.

But there's more to do — especially for youth who fall outside sport-focused activities. I've submitted a draft proposal to KMC for a youth-led café, smoothie and mocktail bar, operated out of Sentral in Hindmarsh Park. This builds on early groundwork I did years ago with Andrew Chatfield, when he managed the youth centre, trialling basic mocktail and barista training.

As a qualified trainer and assessor, I see the potential to partner with Kiama Community College or TAFE to offer real hospitality qualifications — hygiene, barista skills, RSA and RCG — giving our youth genuine, transferable skills. In the long run, this model has the potential to generate revenue and attract business sponsorship to help keep Sentral open. I've had encouraging early conversations with State MP Katelin McInerney and with Sonder Youth about supporting this vision, including live music and DJ nights down the track — giving our young people somewhere to go on Friday and Saturday nights.

 

Arts and Culture in Kiama

Kiama has always had a strong creative pulse — local artists, musicians, makers and performers who bring life and identity to our town. As a councillor, I want to make sure council is backing that energy, not standing in its way.

I've been working alongside an artists and creatives group, listening to what our creative community needs to thrive — more accessible spaces, better support navigating council processes, and genuine recognition that arts and culture aren't a "nice to have," they're core to what makes Kiama a place people want to live in and visit.

I've also been part of the Kiama Night-Time Economy Working Group, looking at how we build a safer, more vibrant evening economy that supports local business and gives musicians and performers real opportunities close to home. The recent approval of the Filmores DA for a live music venue is a credit to Morgan Lewis, who pushed the project through despite a long and drawn-out approval process. It shouldn't take that much persistence to bring a live music venue to life in Kiama — and it's exactly the kind of unnecessary red tape I want to see council address.

Building on this, I'm currently establishing HEAR Kiama — an incorporated association giving Hospitality, Entertainment, Arts and Recreation a single, credible voice in dealing with council and state government. These sectors share the same customers, seasons and challenges, and a unified voice means stronger advocacy on trading conditions, events, licensing and local infrastructure — while promoting Kiama as a genuine destination for all four.

A town with a strong arts and culture scene is a healthier, more connected, more economically vibrant town. I'll keep pushing council to recognise that and act on it.

 

Planning for a Growing Kiama

Kiama is growing, and that's a good thing — it means more people want to call this place home. But growth works best when we plan for it properly, and three issues residents raise with me again and again are parking, waste services and development.

Parking in town is already tight, and as our LGA continues to grow, it's only going to become more important to get ahead of it. I'd like to see council take a genuinely forward-looking approach — making smarter use of the space we already have, planning early for the areas that will feel the pressure first, and working closely with local business owners and residents who navigate this every day. There's real opportunity here to get this right before it becomes a bigger problem.

Waste services matter too. I want to work with council to find genuine solutions that reverse recent cuts and bring back a more regular collection schedule — because when changes are made, residents deserve clear, straightforward communication about why, and confidence that council is chasing the best outcome for the community, not just the easiest one. I want to see a council that explains its decisions and brings people along with it.

And when it comes to development, I believe it should be sensible, sustainable and balanced — growth that enhances our town and strengthens our services, rather than just adding pressure to them. That means thinking ahead, planning well, and making decisions with the whole community in mind.

I'll bring the same practical, positive approach to these everyday issues as I will to council's finances — because a well-run council gets the basics right, and builds a better Kiama in the process.