Two Rockdale businesses face closure following plans by Transport for NSW to resume a car park next to their premises for construction of the M6 Stage 1.
UFC Gym and pet supplies business PetO said resumption of the 52 space council car park at 466 West Botany Street by Transport for NSW for the C3 Construction site for the M6 Stage 1 (formerly referred to as the F6 Extension Stage 1) will kill-off attempts for their businesses to recover after being in lockdown.
"Neither of the owners of the businesses were consulted at any stage by Transport for NSW," UFC Gym director, John Price said.
"We never would have moved in if we had realised we would not have access to the car park," he said.
"It is a devastating decision. We have been closed for seven months of the last 15 months. Now two days after we open from lockdown they are going to resume the car park.
"Transport for NSW has offered to keep five spaces for our use. We can't see how the businesses will survive. When you remove accessibility for customers they will just go elsewhere.
"No-one is going to park half-a-kilometre away and walk to the gym at 5am or 7pm when it is dark."
PetO owner, David Rowe said the businesses have already struggled through the COVID-19 restrictions.
"Now we risk losing the lot as our customers will have nowhere to park," Mr Rowe said.
"About the time the State Government is predicting they will be lifting COVID restrictions to let us get back to business, they'll be taking away the parking essential to our ability to operate.
"The nearest alternative option to park is at least 300-metres away along an unpaved, grass verge which is completely impractical for people buying products like large bags of dog food."
Rockdale MP Steve Kamper wrote to NSW Transport Minister Andrew Constance asking him to organise an urgent meeting with TfNSW staff and the business owners to work out a way for the car park to be preserved during the construction program.
"The C3 construction site is very large and the car park is relatively small and I hope some reorganisation of the construction site would allow the car park to remain in use," Mr Kamper said.
"Both businesses need high levels of nearby customer parking to survive," he said.
"I fear these successful local businesses who desperately need to rebuild and recover from their economic loses suffered during the shutdown will not survive losing their customer parking at the exact moment they are allowed to reopen."
This week, Transport for NSW said it would attempt to adjust the plans for find additional parking for the businesses.
"Transport for NSW is working with its contractor to adjust plans to allow additional car spaces for UFC Gym and PetO customers' exclusive use over the four year construction period," a Transport for NSW spokesman said.
"The community will also have access to a free, untimed 183-space car park located just 100-metres south of the current car park on West Botany Street.
"Transport for NSW will continue to work closely with the project contractor and local businesses to explore options which will reduce parking impacts even further."
