The decision was made at the council meeting of June 8 following a notice of motion from west ward councillor Giacomo Arnott and strong support from east ward's John Nell.

The parklets have been a highly controversial issue in Shoal Bay since they were erected along Shoal Bay Road in March, after the business community of Nelson Bay had rejected them.

The temporary improvements originally slated for Magnus Street were part of a $700,000 grant from the NSW Government's Streets as Shared Spaces program. The parklet component was reported to have cost ratepayers $120,000.

Cr Nell described the parklets as "ugly and unsightly".

"The community has spoken... they don't fit into Shoal Bay and for that reason they have to go. There are no ifs or buts, we should have been a little smarter and I expect them to be gone by the end of the month."

Cr Chris Doohan was happy to allow council staff to look at other options for the parklets.

"We heard speakers tonight suggesting they could be moved across the road, to the end of Tomaree Street, at worse they could be used as part of a future 7-day makeover. I understand the [community's] desire to remove them, it was worth a try, but they have not been as successful as we wished."

Cr Steve Tucker said the situation council finds itself in is unfortunate.

"We had a go and it hasn't worked... we can look at the options, move them across the road, someone suggested they be carried out to sea to use as gunnery practise by the RAAF but I am not advocating that. The problem was that they were originally intended to go into Magnus Street, which is a totally different beast to Shoal Bay Road."

The right concept, wrong location, was Cr Glen Dunkley's summation.

"I believe they do have some life in them somewhere, we just have to find the right place. Not everyone is against them, we had a petition come in to save the parklets, with around 104 [signatures]."

Cr Arnott said that the council should take decisive action and support a community crying out for help, not wait for a directive from the state government.

"Over 1000 people have told us there's a problem. Yes the parklets are a great idea, but they are clearly not in the right location. The trial has failed."

Cr Jaimie Abbott agreed that they haven't worked.

"People say they're widely used elsewhere but every time I go there [Shoal Bay] I don't see people sitting there. I believe it's worth rolling the dice and get them out before the end of June."

Cr Sarah Smith agreed they had not worked, adding that there had been adequate consultation.

"A newsletter was provided to businesses last December, council staff met with 12 businesses [of which] nine were supportive, another letter was hand delivered, and the Tomaree business chamber was involved with this process."

Cr Paul Le Mottee, however, remained resolute, the lone councillor voting to see out the six-month trial.

"I admit they are not the most prettiest things but I am a believer if you enter into a trial you should see it out." He was outvoted.

The parklets split the Shoal Bay community with some businesses concerned about the loss of five car parking spaces, while others said they had attracted more people into town offering them a place to sit while enjoying the water views. The council will determine what to do with the parklets once they have been removed.

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