The new Kiah Hall.
3 October 2024
The Kiah community and its surrounding areas gathered this week at the newly rebuilt Kiah Hall to explore the complexities of the planning system affecting local land use.
The meeting aimed to help residents better understand what they can and cannot do on their properties, and how to navigate the often complex and evolving regulatory landscape.
Council's CEO, Anthony McMahon was invited to attend the meeting to provide clarity and answer questions.
"Firstly, community-led initiatives like this, where Council is invited to join discussions on matters of interest to residents, are an excellent way to foster open dialogue," Mr McMahon said.
"We can't always attend every event, but when we are invited, we make every effort to support where we can.
"During the meeting, it became evident that many residents were concerned about how rules have changed over time, particularly in planning, biodiversity, biosecurity and bushfire legislation.
"These shifts have made it challenging for the community to understand what is permissible on their land and which regulations take precedence.
"There are cases where the rules have evolved in ways that can be difficult to follow. Often the challenge is figuring out which rule overrides the others, especially when they seem to be at odds."
Mr McMahon emphasised that while Council can directly control some matters, its role is often one of advocacy, particularly when legislative changes originate from higher levels of government.
"The meeting was an important opportunity to explain the different pathways for the community to pursue changes that matter to them," he said.
"Events like the one in Kiah are incredibly valuable because they highlight recurring themes and real examples that we can take back to other governments to illustrate the real-world impacts of new regulations."
Approximately 35 people attended the meeting, and although there was a wide range of concerns and interests, the overall sentiment was positive. The event was seen as a productive step forward in addressing the community's needs.
