Council will charge residents $496 per annum to have access to the gate.

In a letter sent to residents dated July 27, Shoalhaven City Council said it had recently carried out an audit of council owned reserves and due to the large amount of traffic and noise in peak tourism months would be installing a gate at the entrance of Lively Street off Sutton Street.

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Frederick Street resident Maureen Knox said she was shocked when she receive the letter.

"I was quite taken aback because there has never been an issues with any of those things - with traffic or noise in the 17 years we've had the property," she said.

"It has come out of nowhere."

Maureen said the gate was installed without any consultation with residents, in fact some residents received the letter after the gate had been installed.

The $496 annual charge comes at a time when some residents are struggling financially.

"I'm on Jobkeeper and the moment, the resident next door to me is unemployed and he's in a really bad way - he can't afford it," she said.

"It's just a metal gate, what sort of upkeep are they going to do on it?"

It is also up to residents to ensure the gate is secure when not in use.

A number of residents along Frederick Street have very steep driveways, making it difficult to turn around, so they use the dirt track regularly for exiting their properties.

They are also concerned about the ease of exiting their properties during a bushfire.

"We back onto a national park. When we had fires at Chrismas time we were all very worried our houses would go.

"If we have to get out in a hurry, the gate is a complete impediment."

Shoalhaven City Council has been contacted for comment.