Kogarah businesses have sent out an SOS - Save Our Shops - after Georges River Council decided to sell-off its car park behind their premises on Rocky Point Road.
Last week, the For Sale sign went up for the council's 14-space car park at 2 Shaw Street, Kogarah.
The 344 square-metre site is zoned R2 and is advertised as a "development opportunity".
The car park is one of a number of sites the council has described as surplus and has decided to sell.
But the Kogarah shopkeepers said any sale of the site will damage their businesses which are already impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
They have written to the council asking them not to sell the car park.
"If council was to sell the car park it would impact on businesses and in Rocky Point Road and resident parking," the residents said in their letter.
"With clearway conditions out the front of each business, customers have to use the car park before 10am and after 3pm. Kogarah already lacks parking spades and removal of the car park would only exacerbate the problem."
Business-owners and residents met with their ward councillors, Stephen Agius, Nick Katris and Leesha Payor this morning.
The Leader saw that the car park was already full at 8am.
Joan O'Brien of O'Brien Burrell and Co Accountants has had her business in the area for 28 years and said parking has always been a problem.
"We had no notice that the car park was for sale. I came to work one day last week and the sign was up," she said.
"Recently there has been talk of extending clearway conditions on Rocky Point Road and if that happens then we are really in trouble," she said.
Mrs O'Brien has eight staff who need to use the car park or surrounding streets.
She said that many nurses from St George Hospital use the car park and surrounding streets and walk to work.
"St George Hospital needs to allocate parking for their staff," she said.
Mrs O'Brien said local businesses would be happy to lease the parking from the council.
"The council could still make money and we could keep our car park," she said.
Terry Dowd of Headlines hair salon said that years ago IGA wanted to open on the site adjacent to the car park but the council refused as there was not enough parking.
"I heard the land was left to the council as long as it remained as a car park," she said.
Gray Street resident Roger Dummett said it is impossible to get parking in the area particularly when the local restaurants are open.
"People double park and park near the corner," he said. "We have mothers who park in our area and walk their children up to St Patrick's School up in Chapel Street."
Stav of Lady Gnarvo Florist said because of the number of businesses in the area people are always looking for a quick parking spot to duck in and out of shops. This would no longer be possible if the car park goes.
Suzanna of Salon Reborn said businesses had already taken a hit from COVID.
"We have already had a hard time and we don't need another spinning wheel thrown into things by taking away our parking," she said.
Councillor Payor said, "Council unanimously adopted the Georges River Car Parking Strategy in April of this year. This was an extensive study; the consultants were engaged in 2017, and it was publicly exhibited from July to September 2019.
"It recommended the retention of the three car parks now included in Stage 1 for disposal. I believe this Strategy to be the most important material consideration in deciding the future of car parks, so I voted against the motion to proceed with the sales," she said.
Councillor Nick Katris said the sale was part of the stage one sell-off of surplus council properties to help the budget.
It is only 344 square-metres. I can't see it being of interest to a developer," he said.
"I will be doing everything I can to convince councillors to eliminate the car park from the list of properties to be sold," he said.
Deputy mayor Stephen Aguis said, "The council does have a lot of surplus land but I'd say a car park that supports businesses shouldn't be one of them.
"While surplus land should be sold, car parks should not be part of it.
"Another option is to lease the car park to the businesses," he said.