But a council spokeswoman said the parking issue was taken into account when the pathway was designed.

The pathway is being built in Galvin Park – the stretch of parkland east of Stuart Park.

It is being constructed along the edge of the car parking spaces that run along the road down to The Lagoon restaurant.

Resident Ian Young is concerned about the fact that cars parking legally on the eastern side will partially project out over the path, limiting access for pedestrians – in some cases by almost a metre.

Mr Young has written to both Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery and council’s general manager David Farmer outlining his concerns and calling for the work to be halted.

Mr Young said last Saturday he spotted a number of vehicles partially protruding over the planned paved area.

“This indicates the parking bays, as they now stand, are too short for the range of vehicles using the park even when parked up against the kerb,” Mr Young wrote.

Injuries and liability are key concerns for Mr Young.

“The probability of injury to individuals using the pathway and damage to vehicles is very high,” he said.

“Should any injury or damage occur Wollongong City Council would most likely be held responsible.”

A council spokeswoman said the pathway was being built to cater to the large numbers of people who use the area.

She said council was aware of the parking issue.

“The issue of overhang from vehicles was taken into account when designing this pathway, and its width allows for space taken up by overhanging cars,” the spokeswoman said.

“Council research showed a SUV, if parked nose-in with wheels against the kerb, may overhang by 60 centimetres and a vehicle with a bull bar could overhang by 1 metre.

“Given the path behind the kerb is 2.5 metres wide, this would still allow a minimum of 1.5 metres for pedestrians and cyclists.”

The spokeswoman said parking would be restricted to nose-in only once the path was completed and vehicle overhang would be monitored.