In a small, beautiful cul-de-sac in western Kiama, with long drive-ways and million dollar views, a curb-side parking dispute has turned neighbour against neighbour.

Four Eastern View Place residents wanted to overturn a No Parking decision made by the Kiama council in September 2023, and allow curb-side parking on the days the garbage trucks didn’t empty the bins.

Eastern View Place from the air

This would have brought Eastern View Place in line with the residents of seven other cul-de-sacs and turning head streets in the Kiama LGA.

The four residents approached Councillor Stuart Larkins who lodged a Notice of Motion for the February Council meeting to allow parking except on ‘bin days’.

During the debate, it was discovered a resident had asked council to keep the No Parking signs indefinitely, as he was concerned emergency service vehicles couldn’t manoeuvre if curb-side parking was allowed.

Clr Larkins' motion passed 5-3.

In the March 2024 Council meeting, Councillors Rice, Renkema-Lang and Steele lodged a complete rescission motion of Clr Larkins' motion, and it was debated again.

Notices of Rescission seek to overturn a previous council resolution, and return to the status quo – as though that resolution had never been made.

The aggrieved residents who spoke to Council wanted Councillor Larkins' motion to stay in place. One other resident spoke in support of the rescission motion.

Clrs Rice and Renkema-Lang sent the matter back to the Kiama Traffic Committee, which meant the residents still can’t park in their cul-de-sac.

Not always easy when it comes to parking

Councillor Larkins said the four residents only wanted to see a review, a compromise and equitable parking management on their street.

“I am disappointed that a rescission motion was lodged on my original motion in February 2024, which was on behalf of a number of residents in Eastern View Place,” Clr Stuart says.”

“Out of the eight cul-de-sacs and turning heads across the LGA that have parking restrictions in place, only one (Eastern View Place) is in place indefinitely. This could end up being stretched both to the other seven sites,” Larkins says.