TWEED Mayor Kevin Skinner expects a decision to be made at the May or June council meeting on the future of a major new park and car park on the beachfront at central Kingscliff.

A lengthy period of public consultation, during which residents were invited to have their say on draft plans on the council website, ended last week after an extension of time to allow people to comment on the addition of a major, partly-underground car park.

That followed an avalanche of criticism of draft plans for parkland and for not providing enough car parking, which was already in short supply in Marine Pde.

“The people have overwhelmingly said their main concern is the car park,” Cr Skinner said yesterday.

“Some said if push comes to shove they'd prefer a car park to another park.”

Cr Skinner said the proposed car park, which was added to the plans for further comment during a two-week extension period, would be partly underground with parkland on top, still allowing diners at al-fresco restaurants along Marine Pde a view across the parkland to the ocean.

He said council staff were assessing the full range of comments and were likely to come back to councillors with a report and recommendations at either the May or June council meeting.

Earlier this month staff said the proposed car park would create up to 100 additional parking spaces at the Central Park site.

The project will also restore sand levels.