Kiama Council
Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald joined fellow Mayors and Council representatives from the LG8 Strategic Regional Partnership to discuss a range of issues at a meeting chaired by Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown at NSW Parliament House on Thursday.
The LG8 was formed last August with Kiama Municipal Council joining Wollongong City, Shellharbour City, Shoalhaven City, Wollondilly Shire, Camden, Campbelltown City and Wingecarribee Shire Councils to form a united voice to represent the region.
More than 10% of the NSW population lives in these eight local government areas with a projected population growth to reach 12% by 2021.
The Gross Regional Product of the LG8 Councils is a combined $54.2 billion with the current number of jobs (343,393) expected to rise to more than 465,000 by 2046.
This was the LG8's first meeting with the NSW Government with representatives from each Council taking the opportunity to meet Government Ministers, members of the Opposition, policy advisors and key government officials.
The LG8 Mayors and CEOs have been collaborating for several months on key priority areas that will maximise regional impact and deliver meaningful outcomes for the communities they collectively serve, including strengthening connectivity, enabling housing and supporting communities, growing the visitor economy and clinical health services.
Mayor McDonald and Kiama Council CEO Jane Stroud welcomed the opportunity to participate in the roundtable discussion with NSW Cabinet Ministers, including Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Ryan Park, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully, Minister for Roads and Regional Transport Jenny Aitchison and Minister for Industry and Trade Anoulack Chanthivong.
"For the first time we presented our united voice to Parliament and we were fortunate to have time to talk directly with decision makers,," Mayor McDonald said.
"This is just the start. We, as a collective, are here to partner and work with the governments. We are committed to advancing our region, showcasing its strengths and championing its needs and investment opportunities.
"I'd like to acknowledge the great work and collective effort of all of the mayors, but make special mention of Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown for chairing the meeting, strong advocacy and leadership."
Kiama Council is working towards the completion of the Performance Improvement Order by the end of the 2026-27 financial year and Mayor McDonald was encouraged by his discussion with Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig about their progress.
"It was great to have an opportunity for a one-on-one chat with Minister Hoenig to stress the positive work and efforts that we have made to date and pursue available options regarding the PIO," he added.
"I'm confident of a positive outcome arising from those discussions."
Kiama MP Katelin McInerney also attended the event after the formal ministerial meetings, along with Member for South Coast Liza Butler, Member for Leppington Nathan Hagarty, Member for Wollondilly Judy Hannan, Member for Shellharbour Anna Watson and Shadow Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast Chris Rath.
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