The real challenge isn’t the lease. It’s the leadership.

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This blog unpacks the twists and turns of local democracy in the Kiama local government area. I’m not a councillor, not council staff, and not on any payroll. I’m a community member and former civics reporter for the local paper, and I care about transparency, process and public trust.

The post below is part of an ongoing series examining the drama around the new Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club building, and more specifically, the confusion over who runs what, who approves what, and why something as simple as a kiosk lease has become a political minefield.

If you care about good governance and strong communities, this one’s for you.

What would happen if we called time on the confusion and asked the one question that matters: What is the real stumbling block here?

That’s adaptive leadership. It’s when you stop pretending the issue is a line in the zoning code or the square footage of a kiosk and start talking about what’s actually going on.

Is it pride?

Because let’s be honest: Council is broke. Yet we’re sitting on millions of dollars’ worth of publicly owned assets and powered by thousands of volunteer hours – hours that, if costed, would amount to real economic value.

In Australia, volunteer work is valued at over $17 billion a year. That’s more than the national defence budget. It’s time to ask what that means when decisions are being made, when priorities are being set, and when access to facilities hinges on red tape and unclear communication.

And yet we treat some volunteers as politically convenient and others like they’re lucky to have a garage.

We’ve got Rural Fire Service crews operating out of mouldy sheds while surf lifesaving clubs are securing multimillion-dollar rebuilds and running coffee kiosks from beachfront locations.  If you can raise the money and deliver the outcome, well done. If your organisation has the profile and networks to attract support, use them.

But let’s not kid ourselves that this is just a lease issue.

It’s about communication, consistency, and the credibility of those in charge. When a council can’t give straight answers about its own buildings, we don’t get governance. We get guesswork.

Maybe Council is embarrassed. Maybe they feel like they lost control of a project they now have to own. Maybe the surf club knows it has strong public backing and uses that to its advantage. Maybe there’s a bit of “we save lives” moral authority that lets things slide.

But here’s the thing: no one’s sitting down to name it. No one’s saying, Here is the sticking point. Let’s stop spinning and start solving.

That’s the leadership we need. The kind that brings people to the table not to score points, but to actually get the thing sorted.

Because in the end, good governance isn’t about who holds the keys. It’s about who’s willing to ask the hard questions when the doors won’t open the way they should.

#KiamaCouncil #LocalDemocracy #GerringongSLSC #GoodGovernance #CommunityAccountability #CivicLeadership #VolunteerVoices #PublicAssets #CouncilTransparency #LocalPolitics

Author: Lynne Strong

I am a community advocate, storyteller and lifelong collaborator with a deep commitment to strengthening local democracy and amplifying regional voices. With roots in farming and decades of experience leading national initiatives like Action4Agriculture, I’ve dedicated my life to empowering the next generation and creating platforms where people feel seen, heard and valued. I believe in courage, kindness and the power of communities working together to shape their own future. These days, you’ll find me diving deep into the role of local media and civic engagement to explore how regional communities around the world are reclaiming their voice. View all posts by Lynne Strong