The long-running saga over the installation of boomgates at Kiama Village shopping centre has taken another turn. 

After the issue was deferred at a meeting in April, then voted down in the June, Kiama Council passed a motion on Tuesday night to allow Woolworths to install boomgates to help manage parking in the precinct. 

Woolworths Group property development state manager Wesley Dose had addressed the Councillors at Monday’s public access meeting to let them know that the boomgates would not be used for revenue-raising purposes.

Under the system that was proposed, the limit on free parking for motorists at the shopping centre was raised from two to three hours while staff members will be given passes so they do not have to pay.

After being put to a vote at Tuesday night’s meeting, it was passed 6-3 with Councillors Imogen Draisma, Yasmin Tatrai and Stuart Larkins opposed.

Local residents had raised concerns over the impact on traffic in the area and off-street parking.

“They've done a survey and determined that of the users of the car park, that only be less than about 3% of people would be staying beyond three hours,” Cr Draisma said in her response to the motion. 

“So they’re a seeking to manage an issue that really isn't an existing issue at the centre. 

“They're seeking to put forward some possible amendments to the consents that currently exist. So I just can't support something that just seems to be wasting a lot of people's time. 

“It's cost a lot of money for them to put in a boomgate to stop people who are definitely not parking beyond three hours from parking at the centre.

“It just seems quite ridiculous. And I think it sets a pretty negative precedent for the community about how we manage parking matters at the centre and elsewhere in the LGA.”

Kiama Council director of strategies and communities Ed Paterson said one boomgate will be placed at the exit for the Click and Collect section with the other one at the roundabout on Terralong Street. 

Previous concerns centred around the impact on the broader traffic network,but it was approved by the traffic committee because it's not stopping people entering the site - motorists will pause briefly as they go in, while their licence plates are checked.

“There is no impact on the existing street network,” Paterson said. 

He added that Woolworths, as the owners of the centre, is committed to keeping the flow of cars getting into the precinct “so that people can go up there, expect to get a park, go about their shopping and then get out there”.