Cr Warren Steel wants council to investigate an option to bulldoze a six-metre high rock and surrounding bushland to make way for a five-star hotel and car park.

“We’ve got all this area, about 6800 square metres not being used,” he said.

“The two biggest problems we have in town is parking and lack of accommodation. 

“Knock the rock down and put 100 car parks and sell it as a five-star hotel along Terralong Street – it’s got everything going for it.

“I’ve checked it out and there is no heritage order on it. What’s important is the netball and soccer kids and their parents get parking.”

Many drivers have found themselves struggling to claim a car spot at the leisure centre, particularly on Saturday mornings, when the centre is at its busiest.

Nicole Paramanis described the car park as a mess. 

“The car park is a safety issue and I'm surprised no one, especially a child, hasn’t been injured,” she said.

“There is also a severe lack of disabled parking, two spaces outside the centre is not enough at peak times and there aren't any else in the car park, so for my family it is a real issue.”

Mrs Paramanis has a four-year-old child living with a disability. 

“When we are up there for football on Saturday, we have real access problems,” she said.

“There needs to be some disabled spaces at the football pitch entrance not just the leisure centre. Those two spots are usually gone anyway with swimmers, etc. by the time we get there at 8am.

“Kiama has grown so much over the past 10 years and the facilities just haven't kept up. It's great to have a healthy active community but we have to support them being active with adequate facilities.”

Council’s director of engineering and works Gino Belsito has devised an interim solution to the congestion.

“We have identified 22 car spots on the western end of the leisure centre building, next to the current laneway,” he said.

“It has been discussed with the netball association and they are happy about it.”