Kiama business owner Judy Stephens is leading a campaign to brighten up one of Kiama’s most iconic areas – The Terrace Houses.
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With the support of other business owners Mrs Stephens, who set up her cafe on the strip 15 months ago, believes the area desperately needs a facelift and has enlisted the assistance of Kiama Municipal Council’s director of engineering and works Bryan Whittaker, and Member for Kiama Gareth Ward.
“At the moment we have little signage, no landscaping and next to no seating, while the place is in darkness at night,’’ Mrs Stephens said.
‘‘We want to enhance the area, create a sense of community and add some much-needed character.
“After all we are the gateway to Kiama but because we are below street level, it is easy to miss us.
“The Terraces are about to be repainted, which will freshen things up a bit, but if we could install some Victorian-style lighting to rekindle the heritage aspect of the area, put up a retaining wall that would allow us to do some much-needed landscaping, and put in some extra seating – [it] would make a huge difference to the area.
“We aren’t asking for millions of dollars – but this strip could really do with a facelift and could be a great boost to the whole town.”
Mrs Stephens said she appreciated the hearing she’d had from Mr Whittaker.
“Bryan was just so supportive and even after our meeting took time out to ring me afterwards.”
An idea to light up the trees along the front of The Terraces was also discussed, allowing businesses to have a special promotion entitled Lighting up the Terraces.
She said the Terraces would reach their 130th anniversary next year, and she hoped the anniversary could be something of a rebirth of the area if funding could be found and the work completed.
“Gareth Ward said there was funding available for projects like ours and he would be delighted to lend his support.”