From Thursday 2 February, customers will no longer be able to access Kiama Village Shopping Centre via the Terralong Street roundabout.

Construction of a temporary entrance further west has begun, and this will provide access to the reduced parking area until May, when Stage 1 works are expected to be completed.

This will mean that many cars wishing to enter the complex will have to navigate the small Havilah Place roundabout due to the median strip.

Stage 1 work involves building a new access road and rear carpark. In addition to these two areas, the work zone covers the furtherest bay of parking parallel to Terralong St, the parking where the return and earn was, and the seven carparks on the street. This will leave 60 carparks onsite for the duration of the redevelopment.

The existing pedestrian access will be maintained during the work, but the path fronting the site will be closed for safety reasons for the duration of the work.

While these changes have required planning approvals rather than being matters for the Traffic Committee, Councillor Stuart Larkins says, “I'll certainly be monitoring the traffic conditions in Kiama and always welcome people to contact me about Council issues including traffic and parking.”

Woolworths expects the whole project to be completed in December. Workers and Village staff are being asked to use the Leisure Centre carpark during the entire construction period.