Updated | Heathcote residents acclaim 'wonderful victory' in stopping 210-space commuter car park

Residents are rejoicing at the state government's decision to scrap plans for a commuter car park with more than 210 spaces in secluded Heathcote East.

"This is a wonderful victory for our small suburb," said Patrick Kennedy, one of the campaign leaders.

Mr Kennedy said the outcome showed what a united community could achieve and the importance of the Leader as "a strong local newspaper in the shire".

The U-turn was revealed on Friday afternoon three weeks after the project was announced by Transport Minister Rob Stokes and Heathcote MP Lee Evans.

Mr Evans said an alternative site would be sought for the car park following protests against the Heathcote East location.

"It's too contentious, too hard and I am too old in the tooth to put up with this," Mr Evans told the Leader.

Mr Kennedy, a member of the Residents Against Over Development group, thanked Mr Stokes for his intervention.

"The minister obviously saw that, through our letters and media campaign, this was not an appropriate place for a 210 spot car park," he said.

"To his credit he withdrew the plan for which we are most grateful.

"This decision just goes to show what a united approach can do.

"Heathcote has a long history of standing up for itself and working together in a proactive way to ensure that various governing authorities know how we feel and what we expect from them.

"Heathcote residents were angry and this galvanised them into strong action through the Leader newspaper, social media and letter writing campaign as well as lobbying politicians and undertaking letterbox drops.

"We can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that large tracts of bushland at the southern end of the station have been saved.

"We thank everyone who has lobbied on our behalf and we thank all those involved with reversing this very contentious and traffic generating decision.

"We also acknowledge the importance of a strong local newspaper in the shire.

"The Leader certainly allowed us to explain to the wider community what we were facing in this bush fire prone suburb.

"We thank the newspaper for giving us the space we needed to express our dismay."

Earlier - November 19

Heathcote East residents have won their battle to stop a new commuter car park with more than 210 spaces being built in their secluded suburb.

The U-turn was revealed on Friday afternoon three weeks after the project was announced by Transport Minister Rob Stokes and Heathcote MP Lee Evans.

Mr Evans said in a statement, "Today I have had discussions with the Hon Rob Stokes Minister for Transport on the decision made by Transport for NSW to place a carpark at East Heathcote as part of the More Trains, More Services Strategy".

"I have requested the minister consider an alternate site to deliver a carpark in the Heathcote Electorate."

Mr Evans told the Leader, "It's too contentious, too hard and I am too old in the tooth to put up with this".

Mr Evans said there was no specific alternative location at this stage, "but it's definitely not going there".

"Rob Stokes said, 'We will look at somewhere else in the electorate where people want it'," he said.

"Waterfall was mentioned by Transport for NSW, but it could possibly be better further down the escarpment."

The Heathcote East community was incensed by the October 28 announcement to place the car park there because a site couldn't be found in Engadine, where it was promised.

The decision has become a council election issue, and would have been very detrimental to Liberal candidates, including former mayor Carmelo Pesce, who leads the group in D Ward, covering Engadine-Heathcote.