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FREE WEEKLY COMMUNITY PAPER
19 June - 25 June 2026 Kiama Minnamurra Kiama Downs Jamberoo Gerringong Gerroa
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A lease on saving lives
Bang for buck? True cost of fireworks plan
Surf Life Saving Club appeals to Council for “a chance to do our jobs” Maria Lewis After 50 years of protecting and patrolling local beaches, Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club are fighting for “a chance to do our jobs” after facing first eviction and now a “convoluted” lease from Kiama Council to access their own surf club. In a dispute that has dragged out for over 18 months, garnered support from Werri Beach Boardriders and surrounding clubs, had 2228 local community members sign a petition, see a Code Of Conduct complaint made against a Kiama councillor and “taken a toll on many
volunteers”, Council this week continued their bid to control the surf club’s upstairs area, recently renovated in a $6.3 million development. “Our mindset the whole time has been on the impact this has on the community in terms of beach safety and our ability to save lives,” said Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club Vice President Richard Payne. “We’re volunteers, but we just want a chance to do our jobs and keep the surf club operating as a surf club.” The long-awaited redevelopment of Gerringong Surf Life Saving Club was completed in March, 2025 with majority of the funding - $5.5 million - coming from the Federal Government, with
an additional $490k from the NSW State Government and $370,000 from Kiama Council. In April 2025 - less than a month after the new clubhouse opened - CEO Jane Stroud sent a letter to the surf club advising that “the use of the upstairs is not permitted”, as Kiama Council would be taking over bookings and use of the space - “effective immediately” and requested “an urgent meeting with you as President, and the Acting Mayor and myself to discuss this letter and its contents”, with Councillor Melissa Matters serving as Acting Mayor at the time. The surf club was also advised that “the use of the upstairs is not permitted”, as Kiama Council
would be taking over bookings and use of the space - “effective immediately.” “There has been an ongoing want from Council to utilise the upstairs area, which started from the eviction notice we received informing us that they were going to take over operation of that space – which resulted in the surf club being forced to take legal action,” Payne told The Bugle. “That has now led to a situation with a proposed lease that is an anomaly compared to any other lease for a surf club in New South Wales, it’s an anomaly compared to any other emergency organisation, it’s an anomaly compared to any other sports club in the LGA and we’re yet to be told why. Continued on page 3
p5 CAINS CALLS IT QUITS
$200k to fill his spot
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Parking woes hit cafe culture