Local Government Week (4 to 10 August) is our annual opportunity to proudly remind everyone of the major role councils play in their everyday lives.
Our residents would know Kiama Council is responsible for local roads, rates and rubbish, but we also maintain: 1 waste and recycling centre, 2 libraries, 1 visitor centre, 1 leisure centre, 5 public pools, 137 parks, reserves and sports fields, 1 youth centre, 1 art gallery, 1 function centre, 32 toilet blocks, 6 boat ramps, 32 playgrounds, 64 car parks, 35 bus shelters and 4 cemeteries.
Our services include beach patrols, road safety education, swim schools, tourism promotion, tree management, lost animals, water quality testing, food safety, kids storybook sessions, gym classes, youth drop-in sessions, festivals and art exhibitions, public wi-fi, and of course road maintenance, toilet cleaning, rubbish collection and street sweeping.
Many of these services are provided for free, or at rates well below their commercial equivalents.
Then there's our advocacy for the interests of our community in planning matters and other issues that affect local liveability, sustainability, safety and amenity.
The collaboration of Council and our community in developing the new Kiama Local Housing Strategy is a great example of this.
Overall, the 128 councils in NSW play a critical part in the day-to-day lives of eight million people who call this state home.
NSW local council nearly 60,000 people, including planners, accountants, labourers, librarians, lifeguards, I.T. technicians, horticulturists, cleaners, carpenters, carers, electricians, engineers, educators, administration assistants, mechanics, boilermakers, fitness instructors and youth workers.
Here in Kiama, our hard-working council staff must be doing something right, after all we've been recognised as the NSW top town to visit (twice) and the best one to live in as well.
So, if you do spot one of our team out and about during Local Government Week (or any other week for that matter), why not give them a thumbs up, they deserve it.
