At a meeting chaired by Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown at NSW Parliament House on Thursday 7 May 2026, Kiama Mayor Cameron McDonald joined fellow Mayors and Council representatives from the LG8 Strategic Regional Partnership to discuss a range of issues.
The LG8 was formed last August with Kiama Municipal Council joining Wollongong City, Shellharbour City, Shoalhaven City, Wollondilly Shire, Camden, Campbelltown City and Wingecarribee Shire Councils to form a united voice to represent the region.
More than 10% of the NSW population lives in these eight local government areas with a projected population growth to reach 12% by 2041.
The Gross Regional Product of the LG8 Councils is a combined $54.2 billion with the current number of jobs (343,393) expected to rise to more than 465,000 by 2046.
This was the LG8’s first meeting with the NSW Government with representatives from each Council taking the opportunity to meet Government Ministers, members of the Opposition, policy advisors and key government officials.
The LG8 Mayors and CEOs have been collaborating for several months on key priority areas that will maximise regional impact and deliver meaningful outcomes for the communities they collectively serve, including strengthening connectivity, enabling housing and supporting communities, growing the visitor economy and clinical health services.
