A local community member has just called out what many in the community have suspected – that Kiama’s Housing Strategy, despite its name, has little to do with genuine strategic planning.
In a blistering Facebook post, they point to the last-minute inclusion of land parcels not exhibited, a complete lack of proper studies, and a long pattern of bypassing community consultation. Their conclusion?
Council “sold out” on community input and called it strategy.
That’s not a fringe view. It’s a reflection of what happens when:
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Community consultation becomes a formality, not a process,
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“Strategic” means politically convenient, not evidence-based, and
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Council fears losing control more than it values collaboration.
This former councillor also backed something many of us have pushed for a community panel to help shape the strategy. It was voted down.
So again, we ask:
What is stopping Kiama Council from working with the talent in its own community?
We have planners, builders, policy experts, and everyday residents with deep local knowledge, and yet meaningful collaboration keeps getting shut down.
The real issue is what happens when decision-makers believe they’re the smartest people in the room. They stop listening, start defending, and shut the door on fresh ideas. That’s when consultation becomes performance, not process, and trust quietly walks out.
It’s not rocket science you build trust by inviting people in.
#KiamaCouncil #HousingStrategy #CommunityConsultation #StrategicPlanning
#LocalVoices #CallItOut #DryHumourDemocracy #PlanningWithPurpose
#WeDeserveBetter #TickTheBoxPolitics