Kiama Council includes “Springside Hill” in its new draft Local Housing Strategy as a “Potential New Greenfield Opportunity” 

At its meeting to be held on 17 February 2025 Kiama Council will consider whether to endorse for public exhibition Version 2 of its draft Local Housing Strategy

Concerningly, despite earlier drafts of the Strategy not including Springside Hill as an option, and Council’s resolution of 16 April 2024 rejecting the Springside Hill rezoning proposal, the new version now includes Springside Hill as what is being called a “Potential New Greenfield Opportunity”.

The inclusion of the 7 “Potential New Greenfield Opportunities” in the Strategy will put Councillors in a difficult position when considering the strategic merit of future planning proposals relating to these developments and will unduly influence decisions of the State Regional Planning Panel (SRPP). It will be very challenging for the SRPP to determine that a planning proposal lacks strategic merit when it is specifically included in the strategy as a “Potential New Greenfield Opportunity”.

We ask you to contact Councillors prior to the meeting on 17 Feb requesting the removal of the “Potential New Greenfield Opportunities” from the draft strategy.If this resolution is passed, the new draft will be placed on exhibition for public consultation. We encourage you to engage in this process.

Kiama Councillors:

Mayor Cameron McDonald - cameron.mcdonald@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Deputy Mayor Melissa Matters - melissa.matters@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Erica Warren - erica.warren@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Mike Cains - mike.cains@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Matt Brown - matt.brown@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Imogen Draisma - imogen.draisma@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Stuart Larkins - stuart.larkins@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Melinda Lawton - melinda.lawton@kiama.nsw.gov.au

Councillor Yasmin Tatrai - yasmin.tatrai@kiama.nsw.gov.au