Terralong Street retailers want the Council to start fining people who overstay in the one and two hour car parks, as they are driving customers away.

Zink surf shop owner Darren Longbottom says there is no street parking policy and issues are managed ad hoc by the council compliance team.

“I’ve been sending emails back and forth to the council for the last seven months and it has been a drama since Covid. They’ve stopped policing parking on Terralong Street,” Mr Longbottom says.

“It’s not just me screaming about this. It’s the locals too. If we don’t have customers, stores close down and Kiama loses. You’ll have no stores in town because they don’t have the ability to trade. It’s killing small business.

“I reckon we are losing up to 25 percent of our revenue because potential customers can’t find a park. That’s a significant number and one that puts us on the precipice.

“Council needs to police the existing parking time limit, which has been in place for decades. We open our doors and pay the rent in this area as the parking rules were set and we have a fair and orderly flow of traffic.

“I’m not asking for people to be fined, I’m asking for council to monitor the spaces to at least keep everyone, me included, honest.”

Truck consuming four parking spaces outside Zink surf shop in Terralong Street Credit Darren Longbottom

Mark Foster, who owns Premier Barbers in Terralong Street, says he is being bombarded with texts from people who are going around and around the block, looking for a park.

“I just had a chap in, who arrived late for his appointment. He had to go around the block 10 times to find a park. There was nowhere to park at 2.30pm on a Friday,” Mark says.

“We are losing customers and money. Council must remember people come to Kiama to shop. Without small business, it’s just a suburb.”

Kiama retailers are not immune from the cold recessionary winds blowing through the Australian economy.

Recent Australian Bureau of Statistics data shows retail sales across Australia have flatlined since January.

After declining by 0.4 per cent in March, retail trade figures showed spending rose by just 0.1 per cent in April – a sign that people are holding off on making non-essential purchases as cost of living pressures squeeze households.

In March 2024, The Bugle reported developers Level 33 were going to build 344 basement car park spaces at the new Akuna street residence.

Unfortunately, 163 of those parking spaces will be reserved for residents and another 181 will be set aside for supermarket and retail shoppers and workers.

Council is aware of the impact the Akuna Street construction will have.

“Council staff are working with Level 33 on options for parking, park and ride, and further solutions to minimise the impact on residents and businesses,” says Jessica Rippon, Director of Planning, Environment and Communities.

Terralong street full of cars, credit Raine & Horne

A recent Blow your Bugle opinion piece (May 15, 2024), recorded that the Akuna street car park was the last substantial parking facility in town.

“With the proposed development taking over this space, we will have no parking-specific spaces left in the main CBD of town. There are approximately 60 businesses from Tory’s Corner to the Red Rooster corner. That’s 60 car spaces required for the workers at a minimum, without even considering our customers, clients, patients and tourists,” the writer said. 

“One significant option would be the construction of a large parking facility behind the old fire station and ambulance station. It’s reasonably flat, and would provide access to the new park, as well as many of our CBD businesses. I have approached the council in the past, with very little outcome.”

Councillor Stuart Larkins and chair of the Local Traffic Committee, says parking issues are frequently raised by business owners and residents.

“I know it can be frustrating for some during peak times,” Clr Larkins says.

“Until such time that a Parking Management Strategy, and a Local Road Network Safety Plan are developed, a number of the issues raised by the community will be managed on a sporadic basis. We need to make sure we have the bigger picture in front of us.”

Council employs one part time parking patrol officer and three compliance officers who cover all aspects of compliance, including car parking.

Level 33 did not reply to questions by the deadline.