Kiama Council’s 20-year Employment Lands Strategy
Kiama Council at this month’s Ordinary Council Meeting endorsed placing its draft Kiama Employment Lands Strategy on exhibition. The Strategy is a high-level plan to guide the development of commercial and industrial land across the municipality for the next 20 years.
The Employment Lands Strategy sets out the principles and actions needed to manage employment lands sustainably within the Kiama Local Government Area (LGA). It identifies how much land should be set aside for commercial purposes, where it should be located, and how it can best support the local economy. The strategy links closely with Council’s Local Housing Strategy, drawing on the “non-negotiables” checklist for sustainable growth.
“Our Employment Lands Strategy takes into account where and how much land we will need for commercial and industrial purposes to support our growing population,” Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald said.
With housing targets of 900 new homes by 2029 and a projected population increase from 23,000 today up to 30,000 by 2041, the Strategy acts as a guide to ensure local growth is well-planned and balanced. This includes making sure there are enough local jobs, shops, and services close to where people live.
“Providing for and safeguarding employment opportunities and services such as shops, schools, and other commercial businesses is just as important as ensuring we have the right infrastructure — roads, transport, water and sewerage,” Mayor McDonald said. “They all come together to create the sorts of communities we all want to live in.”
The Strategy also recognises Kiama’s natural constraints and its proximity to larger employment centres in neighbouring LGAs, setting out strategies to strengthen connections with these regional hubs while fostering innovation and job creation in key sectors such as health, education, tourism, and technology.
The Strategy will provide Council with a strategic planning framework to guide decisions on employment lands through to 2044. It will ensure a range of developable land is available to meet projected demand, and that business precincts and commercial areas remain vibrant, accessible, and attractive to investors.
The Draft Strategy is on public exhibition for 28 days from Monday 25 August via Council’s Your Say section – we encourage our community to have your say.
https://www.kiama.nsw.gov.au/Council/News/Kiama-Council’s-20-year-Employment-Lands-Strategy