Municipality of Kiama

Municipality of Kiama New South Wales
Location of Kiama in New South Wales
Coordinates	34°39′S 150°51′E / 34.650°S 150.850°E / -34.650; 150.850Coordinates: 34°39′S 150°51′E / 34.650°S 150.850°E / -34.650; 150.850
Population	21,047 (2013)[1]
• Density	81.58/km2 (211.3/sq mi)
Established	1859
Area	258 km2 (99.6 sq mi)
Mayor	Mark Honey
Council seat	Kiama[2]
Region	Illawarra
State electorate(s)	Kiama
Federal Division(s)	Gilmore
Website	Municipality of Kiama
LGAs around Municipality of Kiama: Wingecarribee Shellharbour Tasman Sea Wingecarribee Municipality of Kiama Tasman Sea Shoalhaven Shoalhaven Tasman Sea

The Municipality of Kiama is a local government area in the Illawarra region of New South Wales, Australia. The area is situated south of Shellharbour and the City of Wollongong and is located adjacent to the Pacific Ocean, the Princes Highway and the South Coast railway line.

Towns and localities

The Municipality of Kiama contains the following towns and localities:

Municipal history

The municipality of Kiama was created in 1859. There were three wards: Kiama, Gerringong and Jamberoo. The first council comprised James Colley, John Sharpe and Joseph Pike (representing the Kiama Ward); John Hukins, John Colley and John Hanrahan (representing the Jamberoo Ward); and Joseph Blow, Robert Miller and James Robinson (representing the Gerringong Ward). The first mayor of Kiama was James Colley.

In 1871, Gerringong separated from the Kiama municipality and Jamberoo in 1892. In 1954, the Gerringong, Jamberoo and Kiama municipalities were amalgamated forming today's current municipal boundaries.

Kiama has had three female mayors: Ruth Devenney (1991 until 1992), Joyce Wheatley (1992 until 2000) and Sandra McCarthy (2000 until 2012).

A 2015 review of local government boundaries recommended that the Municipality of Kiama merge with the City of Shoalhaven to form a new council with an area of 4,825 square kilometres (1,863 sq mi) and support a population of approximately 120,000.^[3] The Kiama community along with the Shoalhaven community actively campaigned against any forced council amalgamation between the two councils. ^[4] Kiama council held a non-compulsory poll on the 7th of May, 2016 to grasp community attitudes to the proposal.^[5] The results of the poll concluded that 95% of the community supported remaining an independent council, with a 49.9% turnout.^[6] On the 12th of May 2016, the NSW State Government determined not to amalgamate Kiama and Shoalhaven council areas.^[7]

Demographics

At the 2011 census the total population of the Municipality was 20,806 people. The median age of the community was 48 years.

Almost 18% of the population was born outside of Australia, predominately migration from North-West Europe. The Indigenous Australian population is 2% of the total community population, in line with the New South Wales and Australian rate.

English is spoken as a first language by 96% of the population. The top response for language other than English spoken is Italian.

Council

Current composition and election method

The Council of the Municipality of Kiama is composed of nine Councillors elected proportionally as a single ward. All Councillors are elected for a fixed four-year term of office. The Mayor is elected by the Councillors at the first meeting of the Council. The most recent election was held on 10 September 2016 and the makeup of the Council is as follows:^[8]

The current Council, elected in 2016, in order of election, is:^[9]

See also

• Gainsborough Estate

References

External links

• Kiama Municipal Council Website