A row between Shoalhaven Mayor Joanna Gash and Cr Andrew Guile over council’s pitch for funds from the lease of Port Kembla has revealed that the car park, which was all but ruled out two weeks ago, is again being considered.

Cr Guile criticised Cr Gash for not submitting the car park plan for the Restart Illawarra $100 million infrastructure fund at the extraordinary meeting on Tuesday.

Cr Gash denied this was the case. She said council had dropped its Egans Lane car park proposal but would be replacing it with another car park pitch before the submission closing date on Friday, July 12.

“I find it a bit outrageous for [Cr Guile] to comment. He was not at the meeting, so he didn’t hear the discussion,” Cr Gash said.

“There is definitely a car park proposal going in, depending on the reports we receive for the Stewart Place car park and the Berry-Worrigee streets car park.

“At this stage we may put both in; we have time to do so. But regardless we are definitely putting one, if not both in,” she said.

Cr Guile said council was now left without any real options for submitting a proposal for a car park project, which he said would boost local employment

“It is time council admitted it is incapable of delivering these large infrastructure projects and lobbied the NSW government for the establishment of a South Coast Development Corporation,” Cr Guile said.

“Nowra business owners back the car park, thousands of people have signed a petition to build this car park and all the evidence is that shoppers are driving right past Nowra because parking is just too hard to come by.

“To play politics by moving the location from Berry and Worrigee streets to the Stewart Place car park without following a proper process has left us with nothing to put forward,” he said.

Cr Gash said council has asked for a report establishing why the site was the preferred location from the previous council.

“Once we receive the reports we will know where we are,” said Cr Gash.

“I think a multi-storey car park will generate employment as far as building goes. 

“It will stop escape spending because at the moment we are competing with Shellharbour, Wollongong and Batemans Bay shopping centres.”