The Bugle 23 February 2019
A fortnightly celebration of people and places on the Upper South Coast of NSW
Serving the communities of Kiama, Gerringong, Jamberoo, Kiama Downs, Minnamurra and Gerroa and now at www.thebugleonline.com
Boardwalk costs blow out to $9.5m Council’s General Manager Kerry McMurray has advised councillors that, based on an analysis of the available information, he estimates the cost of the Minnamurra River Boardwalk project at $9.5 million. This is more than double the $4.5 million allocated by the State Government in the 2017 Budget to fully fund the project. Over $600,000 has already been spent on the design and assessment stage of the project, headed by environmental consultants, Cardno. Councillors received news of the shock cost blow out just prior to the February Council Meeting. The design of Stage I (at
the northern end of the project) is 65 per cent complete and the design of Stage 2 is 35 per cent complete. Despite it adding weight to a Notice of Motion by Councillor Don Watson to pause the process to consider the costs and benefits, a decision was made to continue with the project. The decision came to a casting vote by the Acting Mayor, Councillor Andrew Sloan, who chaired the meeting. In casting his deciding vote, Deputy Mayor Andrew Sloan said there would be other opportunities to assess whether the project should go ahead. The $4.5 million grant was
essary before the area can be redeveloped. It’s early days, but it is expected that the future use of the whole site will include a combination of residential, employment, commercial and potentially tourism purposes. The rehabilitation work will utilise clean fill from tunnelling infrastructure projects in metro Sydney. The rock will be transported down to the site by rail and road. Crushing may
Battle to protect Kiama’s western border p3 Other coastal councils come to town p3 Kiama Bowlo marks Centenary p5 Introducing the Slow Food Snail of Approval p13
Cardno’s Project Manager James Olsen with Gino Belsito, Council’s Director of Engineering & Works at the announcement of Cardno being selected for the design and consult phase of the project
obtained on the basis of long been a dream of the concept designs drawn up Minnamurra Progress Assofor $30,000. The project has ciation and has been
Boral looks to quarry in reverse The scale of Bombo Quarry can be appreciated by learning that it will take at least five years to rehabilitate less than half of it with clean fill. That timing may stretch out to eight years depending on the quantity and timing of clean fill that can be secured. Having ceased quarrying on its 45ha holding, on the western side of the 109.4ha site, in 2014 Boral is soon to lodge a DA to allow it to begin the rehabilitation nec-
Inside this issue
The location of the Boral land is outlined in red
be required and the material will then need to be compacted to engineering standards. It is expected that some receipt and unloading of the
fill will be done at night, although it is proposed the placement and compaction will be restricted to between Continued on page 6
strongly championed by Councillor Mark Way. However, as Cllr Watson pointed out, when the grant was awarded it had not been formally endorsed by Council and its tourism, economic, social and environmental impact had not been assessed. He presented a petition with 2,256 signatures asking for the route of the southern end of the Boardwalk to be moved closer to the bank. In strongly defending the Boardwalk, Cllr Way pointed to the recent IRIS Resident Satisfaction Survey that showed 70 per cent support the Boardwalk, the highest approval rating for Continued on page 12
Find out what’s on at this year’s Kiama Jazz & Blues Festival Full program guide in our centre pages. There are over 70 gigs, all free! Plan your Festival now. Details of the artists available on the Festival website.