Watch WIN News and local experts and the community’s thoughts here
Johnny Greer is a local who always has his finger on the pulse and recently brought the latest very scary development on the Akuna St Kiama proposal by Level 33 who own the land in question to the community’s attention. See cut and paste of his Facebook post above
In September I wrote a blog post about the Level 33 current ( as of September 2025) DA proposal that was going to the Land and Environment Court in December See here to get your head around how this mess evolved
Note this dot point in the article
- 14 August 2024: The Federal Court matter Nicolas Daoud v Kiama Municipal Council was finalised. Under a Deed of Release, Council paid Daoud a settlement of $1 million. Council also disclosed legal costs of $3.73 million (excluding settlement), bringing the total cost of the case to $4.73 million, equal to 16.9 percent of the $28 million sale price (Kiama Council, Agenda of 20 November 2024, Item 14.1 p.146 and Item 15.8 p.604).
Yes you read it right we are still in the Land and Environment Court – what is it going to cost this time.? We cant afford to have working CCTV cameras but we can employ barrister after barrister.
Now to the big picture
After months of watching the decisions being made for Kiama and reading the growing frustration on social media, I’ve been thinking about what a strong Community-Led Democracy would actually look like here.
Many of these decisions aren’t local at all. They’re being shaped by people in Sydney working to meet targets, not by the people who live with the consequences. When planning becomes about numbers instead of neighbourhoods, it’s no wonder people feel ignored.
That’s why the idea of Community-Led Democracy matters more than ever. It’s about making sure decisions about Kiama are informed by the people who call it home, not handed down from somewhere else.
It’s easy to say we need a stronger voice in local democracy, but what would that take? Who would have the time, energy, and expertise to lead it?
Because this kind of engagement takes work. It needs people who understand that politics isn’t shouting from the sidelines; it’s the art of the possible. It means knowing where power sits, which levers matter, and which ones are simply there to wear you down.
A strong Community-Led Democracy would have residents who understand planning laws and how they shape what gets built and what doesn’t. It would have people who can connect the dots between local, state, and federal systems, who know when to push, when to partner, and when to walk away from a dead end.
It would need leaders who see consultation as the start of the process, not the box you tick at the end. It would need transparency that isn’t forced by public pressure but offered as standard practice.
And maybe most of all, it would need a council that recognises the value of the crowd, that understands the collective intelligence sitting in our community is its greatest asset, not a threat to be managed.
I’m curious. What do you think a strong Community-Led Democracy looks like in Kiama? Who are the people who could lead it, and how might the rest of us support them?
If this sparks a thought, I invite you to revisit my earlier post “When Advocacy Turns Dangerous: The Moment You Can’t Stay Silent” because real democracy often begins with the courage to question, even when it’s inconvenient.
Please Note: I believe elected councillors are essential. What I’m advocating for is a stronger partnership between council and community, not a replacement.
#Kiama #CommunityVoice #LocalDemocracy #CivicEngagement #PlanningMatters #Accountability #AkunaStreet #Level33 #CommunityLedDemocracy
For me, it starts with honesty. The only genuine pledge a councillor can make is to serve the whole community — not a faction, not donors, not just the loudest voices. That means making decisions based on facts, logic, and the public good, even when it upsets people who want outcomes that suit them personally.
We need candidates willing to say: “I’ll base my decisions on evidence, even if it’s unpopular.” That’s far more valuable than the bright slogans about fixing everything. Because the truth is, governing well often means saying no — or not yet — and explaining why.
If we want real accountability, councillors should publish the reasoning behind their votes on big issues. It’s the best way to build trust and show that decisions are grounded in evidence, not influence.
The ones to be cautious of are those who claim they can please everyone or promise a “new way of doing things.” Populism sounds nice, but it rarely survives contact with reality. Real democracy isn’t about giving everyone what they want — it’s about making fair, transparent decisions that serve the long-term interests of the community.
That’s what leadership in local government should look like. Not grandstanding, not spin — just integrity, evidence, and a willingness to tell the truth.
Thank you Stephen I couldn’t agree more. For me, honesty and transparency are at the heart of good local government. Evidence-based decisions and clear explanations build trust far more effectively than promises or slogans.
It’s also why I believe community involvement matters so much. When councillors are open about their reasoning and residents are well-informed, we get a healthier, more balanced democracy, one where leadership and participation work hand in hand.