Businesses in Bulli are concerned Transport for NSW is using the COVID lockdown to rush through contentious traffic changes in the CBD.
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Kim Hinds is one of the sisters behind the cafe Two Sisters Garage on the corner of the Princes Highway and Park Road, and also a representative of Save Bulli Heritage Village.
Read more: Police fine Wollongong lockdown protesters
As part of a proposed Transport for NSW plan to improve traffic flow through the Bulli CBD, clearways will be extended during the week and on Saturdays.
Also some parking along the south side of Park Road will be removed.
Ms Hinds said businesses were concerned because it would "kill our village" and see the loss of parking space for customers.
"It's just going to turn it into Parramatta Road," Ms Hinds said.
"I think the only people who benefit from this are people travelling through Bulli."
While Transport for NSW is going through a period of community consultation on the proposed changes, Ms Hinds felt it was "an exercise in ticking boxes"
The consultation period is due to end next week and Ms Hinds felt it was unfair to carry it out during a COVID lockdown.
"We're really struggling at the moment - we don't really have the headspace or the energy to focus on this fight when we're trying to keep our businesses going," she said.
"It feels like they're using a lockdown and the fact of us not being able to do anything to publicly campaign so they can push this through without a proper consultation."
The group is carrying around a letterbox drop to get people to provide feedback to Transport for NSW about the proposals.
A Transport for NSW spokeswoman said community feedback would be used to "inform the final scope" of the changes.
"Transport for NSW has received a lot of feedback from the community asking for progress on the proposed traffic improvements to continue as traffic efficiency in the area continues to be a concern," the spokeswoman said.
"Community consultation opened on Monday, June 7, and from Friday, July 9, the consultation period was extended by three weeks to ensure all members of the community get the chance to have their say on this project."
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Glen Humphries
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
I'm an award-winning senior journalist with the Illawarra Mercury and have well over two decades' worth of experience in newspapers. I cover the three local councils in the Illawarra for the Mercury, state and federal politics, as well as writing for the TV guide. If I'm not writing, I'm reading.
