SCAN THE QR CODE Gerroa’s Open Arms speed for Army centenary p3 vets p8
Tributes after airport tragedy p2
THE BUGLE APP
Gabriele in the garden
p15
[ 18 October - 24 October 2025 ]
FREE COMMUNITY PAPER - NOW PRINTING WEEKLY!
Minnamurra Kiama Downs Jamberoo Bombo Kiama Kiama Heights Gerringong Gerroa
Katelin McInerney flanked by Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos and Police Minister Yasmin Catley and (inset), with local police officers. Photos: The Bugle
Police Station reopening a win for Kiama Paul Suttor
T
he historic Kiama Police Station has been officially reopened just in time for the busiest time of year. Minister for Police and Counter-terrorism Yasmin Catley, Kiama MP Katelin McInerney and Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos were on hand to announce the reopening on Monday following the temporary closure of the station from late April until last month. The 141-year-old station closed down for renovation works, including the replacement of roof sheets
and guttering, the removal of damaged skylights, mould remediation, repainting and new carpeting. Officers will be on duty at the station from 9am to 5pm Monday to Sunday and the Kiama local government area will continue to be serviced 24 hours a day by the Lake Illawarra Police District from its headquarters in Oak Flats with officers patrolling in fully equipped police vehicles that function as mobile police stations. McInerney was thrilled to see the station operational again. “The Kiama Police Station is part of the fabric of our town,
and it’s fantastic to see this historic building back open and serving the community," she said. “These works mean our local police have a safe and clean workplace, and our community continues to have a welcoming, accessible point of contact. “This was work that just needed to be done. Given the age of the police stations, it’s over 140 years old, it is a building with challenges and the NSW Government is getting on with the job of making sure our older police stations are safe for our police to work.” These patrols ensure round-
the-clock coverage for the community and surrounding areas, backed by specialist units and intelligence-based deployments as needed. “What this will mean for our upcoming summer is there'll be a police presence back in the town during the day,” McInerney added. “Most of the issues that police in the office here deal with are walk-in issues, like lost property, lost kids, concerns about noise complaints, etc and one that I'm hearing a lot about, which is e-bikes with regards to safety in the community. “It's really important that we do have a space in the
community where police can be stationed but also Lake Illawarra Command has been running a great policing service out of the Oak Flats station over the past seven months while it's been closed.” Catley said the Government was focused on delivering the resources, support and reforms needed to attract new recruits, retain experienced officers and give police the tools they need to keep communities safe. She added the Government was committed to backing police with "the safe workplaces, facilities and resources they need to keep communities right across the
South Coast safe”. NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Paul Pisanos said Lake Illawarra was a particularly busy command in regional operations. “The Kiama sector gets very busy during the weekends and the peak holiday periods so to have a police presence here and manning the police station is critically important,” he said. “The Lake Illawarra head station at Oak Flats is only 11 minutes away so we can get here very, very quickly if matters need that - 141 years this police station has been here so let’s hope it’s here for another 141 years.”