Kiama Council’s decision to increase parking patrols and the installation of boomgates at Kiama Shopping Village has sparked plenty of local debate.

Council has announced that two dedicated parking rangers are now in operation throughout the local government area with more parking infringements set to be issued in a bid to alleviate the problem of motorists disregarding the time limits for street parking.

The new parking system at the Shopping Village means motorists receive three hours of free parking but will be charged $10 for every subsequent hour.

Kiama’s community has expressed mixed feelings about the new measures. 

Some local workers and residents say the current parking limits make it difficult for employees and visitors to enjoy Kiama without worrying about fines, while others say it’s time to crack down on the issue.

Lau Amadeo, owner of Westend Coffee Lab, said more inspectors would help keep parking fair for everyone.

“I think more inspectors is definitely a good move from Council. It’s needed because the parking restrictions are not getting respected,” Amadeo said.

He touched on the new boomgates at the Shopping Village car park, located across the street from his cafe, saying they were also a reasonable change.

“They’re still allowing customers to park there for three hours for free, which is essentially what they do in other suburbs like Wollongong, but I don’t see a big issue

with that,” he said. 

“If you’re looking to park your car all day, you might have to find a side street. If you want to park on Terralong Street, you shouldn’t be leaving your car there all day.”

Amadeo said there is parking available nearby if people are willing to walk a short distance.

“Nobody was respecting time restrictions,” he said. “I park there daily, and my staff parks around the area too - just a bit further up. Obviously, it’s becoming an issue as more people live in and visit Kiama, but the boomgates and more parking inspectors aren’t a big problem. 

“It’s something that’s been done in many suburbs, and it works.”

At the other end of Terralong Street, KG Cafe owner Darren Ormsby expressed concern about the impact on workers and customers.

“I get here at five o’clock in the morning and won’t leave until about nine o’clock at night. So where do they expect us to park?” said Ormsby. 

“I believe every business owner should get some sort of parking exemption. I’d be happy to pay a couple of hundred dollars a year for it. We already pay for outdoor dining, so why can’t we as business owners pay for parking instead of getting fined?”

But there isn’t always a simple yes or no response. Another local business owner, who asked to remain anonymous, voiced their feelings of conflict.

“I think it’s probably a good idea, because some people do park in spots all day,” they said. “But we do want our customers to be able to park out front.”

Others fear the increased enforcement will drive visitors away from spending time in town.

“I think it discourages people from staying,” said Emily Markowski from Anglicare Op Shop.

“People will be in and out and that’s it. As a result, the whole local business district will suffer. I think visitors will suffer too.”

Kiama resident Evie Stein, who works on Terralong St, said parking and transport issues go beyond enforcement.

“There’s next to no public transport and minimal parking, so where do workers park? It’s fine to enforce rules, but the rules are wrong. There’s a lot that could be done to improve the situation. It’s a poor show for infrastructure,” she said.

More concerns arise as residents worry the changes could take away from Kiama’s small-town charm.

“The whole point of having people come down from Sydney is so they don’t have to pay for parking,” said another local worker, who asked to remain anonymous. 

“We’re a small community; we don’t need that. What’s next - they’re going to put traffic lights in?”

With the holidays around the corner, some local shop owners believe the increased presence of inspectors could discourage shoppers during the festive season.

“It puts people off Christmas shopping if there’s too much of [the inspectors’] presence. If Council had provided enough parking, then there would be no problem,” another business owner said.

Kaye Julian, of Coastal Fusion Kiama, said customers often worry about being fined while shopping.

“People come in here all the time asking if they’re going to get booked at the front or not,” Julian said. 

“They always ask that question because parking is only half an hour. People stay longer than that, but there’s nowhere else to park.”

While opinions vary, most agree that parking in Kiama has become a growing challenge - whether the solution lies in more enforcement, more space or simply more patience.