Outside a home-turned-set, frustrated locals ignore speed-bumps installed by the production's crew, and honk at the lengthy traffic delays. "They had their vans parked across our driveway; we couldn't get our cars in or out - and it's not on," said Carol Smith, who has lived in the area for 50 years. Long-time Narrabeen resident Carol Smith at her family home. Credit:James Alcock "They told us not to park our cars out on the street: 'If you want to get out, ring us and tell us that you're leaving.' It's not good enough. "If you want to get out of your house fast, if you've got doctor's appointments or something, it's really hard."

She said complaints to the production's crew had been met with indifference. "We can't even get a picture on the television because of the generators ... A neighbour up the street had the same problem and they said, 'Tell her to get a better aerial.' Just the attitude of some of them." Traffic control on Rickard Road in Narrabeen for location filming of the US show Reckoning. Credit:James Alcock Pat Hoare, an elderly resident battling cancer, said she couldn't sleep on Monday because of the shoot's bright lights. "They brought their cherry-picker, it was nearly right over my house," she said.

"I was cranky because they told me it wouldn't interfere with my house at all; this place lit up like a Christmas tree. I wasn't happy about that." A notice sent out to locals by Playmaker warned residents of the impending disruptions. "As we are portraying America, some parking saving and traffic management is required so we don't give away that we are in Australia with vehicles on the wrong side of the road!" the notice read. Actors and production staff on Rickard Road in Narrabeen. Credit:James Alcock "We understand that this can be an inconvenience sometimes, so we would like to extend our thanks for your cooperation over this short period of works."

The notice said filming on the series would continue "in and around Sydney" until late October. Smith said the main issue was a lack of consultation by the production crew, with shoot schedules changing at the last minute. "A neighbour from around the corner rang me on Friday, saying they've put another flyer in the letterbox and they've changed the dates. Well, I don't know. I don't know what’s going on around here," she said. "I don't like whingeing about things ... but there's no communication whatsoever." An elderly Croatian woman, chopping parsley on her porch, was one non-dissenting voice looking out on Wednesday's production activities.

"No problems," she offered with a wave, when questioned about the disruptions. "My hearing is so bad, I can't even hear cars go past." The series, set around the fallout after a teenager is found murdered, is due to air in select territories in Europe and Latin America. An Australian broadcaster is yet to be announced. Fairfax Media has contacted Playmaker for comment.