Kiama Shopping Village is on track to have boomgates installed before the summer season arrives.

Approved by Kiama Council in July, the boomgates will provide customers access to sufficient parking and greater security for shoppers.

“We’re in the process of installing a car park management system which is expected to be completed by mid-November,” a spokesperson for Woolworths, the owner of the centre, said.

“This will help ensure there’s enough parking available for customers to complete their shop, with parking remaining free for up to three hours.”

The installation follows what was an extensive process of consultation with not only the Kiama community, but also staff working at the Shopping Village, which included 24 topics of objection assessed by Council.

Concerns over traffic congestion and vehicle-pedestrian conflict were some of the objections raised and were referred to the Council’s development engineer, who stated that due to the system being ticketless, these matters will not affect traffic flow.

Kiama Council Director of Strategies and Communications Ed Paterson previously told The Bugle that “there is no impact on the existing street network” and that Woolworths is committed to keeping the flow of cars getting into the precinct.

Other objections were raised about low-income workers who potentially faced parking costs and the safety of parking off-site.

A source at the Kiama Shopping Village told The Bugle that team members who work at retailers within the centre will be exempt from parking fees.

At the Kiama Council meeting in July, Councillors voted 6-3 in favour of the installation of the boom gates with Councillors Imogen Draisma, Yasmin Tatrai and Stuart Larkins opposed.

Kiama Council did not provide further comment when contacted by The Bugle this week.

Kiama Shopping Village, which operates from 7am to 9pm daily, currently hosts 18 shops, cafes, and restaurants, with a new gym to open in the near future. 

Woolworths Group Limited, the owner of The Kiama Shopping Village was founded in Sydney in 1924 and its headquarters are in Bella Vista, Greater Sydney.