Tuesday, November 5, 2024

Kiama Mayor says art centre not in the picture

Kiama Mayor, Neil Reilly, has today issued a clarification in relation to a Council-owned block of land currently being sold by tender, after local residents asked Council to consider repurposing part of the site as an arts centre.

In October last year, Council resolved to proceed to open tender for the sale of land located in Akuna Street, Shoalhaven Street and Terralong Street in Kiama – the land houses the former Kiama Independent newspaper office.

“Since the Council resolution, we have appointed an agent – Savills Sydney – who are currently seeking Expressions of Interest (EOI) to tender for the sale,” the Mayor said in a statement today.

“The Akuna Street landholdings were purchased as part of Council’s investment strategy. Council is now realising that investment by selling the block by an open tender process, which is currently well underway,” he said.

“Land prices in Kiama have never been higher and this is fortunate, as Council is certainly in need of funds right now.”

“I am aware that some community members are calling for the former ‘Kiama Independent’ building to be saved and converted to an arts centre. This is not going to happen. The deadline for a recision motion has long passed. We are following the resolution of Council and the sale process is in progress.”

The Mayor said that while he was “a huge supporter of the arts”, the block and the building on it was never under consideration as a location for an arts centre.

“I would be very happy to meet with any members of the community to discuss their needs for an arts centre, so we can include this in our future plans and budgets,” Mayor Reilly said.

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