So divisive is the issue that supporters of the parklets this week vowed to start up their own petition to retain the outdoor structures to counteract an existing petition - which has to date gathered in excess of 600 signatures - calling for their removal.

Leading the fight to have the parklets removed is Shoal Bay business owner Helen Love, who described the parklets as being unsafe, ugly and unnecessary.

"We have requested a meeting with the council so that they can hear about the negative impact the parklets have had on so many locals and businesses. It would be great for the planning engineer to attend so he can hear the plight of business owners," she said.

On the other hand, Dave Harding from the La Dolce Vita cafe, located adjacent to the parklets, said that the outdoor seating had help build business.

"They are very popular with local swimmers, pet owners and people wanting to enjoy the water views, and are a great addition to the ambience of the streetscape. We have strong support so we are planning to start our own petition to keep them here," he said.

The Shoal Bay parklets, funded by the NSW government's Streets as Shared Spaces initiative, were originally earmarked for Nelson Bay's Magnus Street but were rejected by the business community.

A council spokesperson said that there had been mixed reaction from businesses and residents.

"Some prefer the parking convenience, others have commented on how great the space is, the new seating and improved access with the wider pedestrian area. We have also heard that some people dislike the construction materials and appearance of the parklets due to their temporary nature."

Ms Love said that many Shoal Bay shoppers were elderly who required easy access to shops.

"The parking spots in the main street make it easier for the fragile and the weak. This is having such a negative impact on businesses, especially those that are recovering after COVID," she said.

She claimed the council consultation had been poor.

"I rent two shops in the Shoal Bay Village and I was not approached for consultation until our Examiner article rejecting the parklets," she said. "Then I had two representatives from council telling me what they were going to do - they did not seem to be interested in any feedback. I estimate that less than 30 per cent of the business owners were consulted prior to the parklets ending up in our main street."

The Shoal Bay village cafe owners, known in the community as Dave and Dave, told the Examiner that their business had been severely impacted since the parking spaces were taken away.

"We are concerned about the extra walk for particularly elderly people who are being forced to park further away."

Sara Murdock has only recently purchased the pharmacy in Shoal Bay and said that when first introduced she was open to the idea.

"But I no longer approve of them. Many of my customers are elderly or have disabilities and they have been telling me that they would rather drive to Salamander Bay than walk across Government Road," she said.

"We are the only pharmacy servicing both Fingal and Shoal Bay and to reduce the number of parking spaces out the front here has been devastating. We don't even have a disabled parking space."

Bay resident of 25 years John Fuller said that the structures were an "eyesore and dangerous".

"They are very unpleasant and too close to the roadway. And when it rains everyone loses."

Another resident Barb Henson said that she had witnesses a child climb to the top of the timber seating.

"I would hate to think what would have happened had the child fallen onto the roadway," she said.

Shoal Bay's Gerry Mohan said that dialogue was the key and it was time for council representatives to sit down and discuss car parking issues with business owners.

The council spokesperson added that a formal evaluation period of the trial installation would begin in about 6-8 weeks before asking the community and businesses for feedback.

"We will be evaluating the parklets based on user surveys, business interviews and feedback from key stakeholders. This will help us recommend whether to leave, modify or remove the current parklets."

The spokesperson said the parklets had been designed and built with perimeter furnishing or barriers to prevent direct pedestrian access to the roadway.

"A vehicle driver would be at fault if they crashed into public infrastructure."

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