AFTER pushing for the proposed southern bypass route to be considered, Kiama MP Gareth Ward was not the most popular person attending Wednesday night’s public meeting in Berry.
“I’m sure there’s probably a few people in the room who want to tar and feather me right now,” Cr Ward told the gathering.
He said it brought him no joy to cause new uncertainty about bypass options but he could not ignore potential savings of about $50 million identified when previous research on southern options was reviewed by civil engineer Bruce Ramsay.
“These were savings to the taxpayer that I was not aware of,” Mr Ward said, “and it would have been irresponsible of me to not have it further examined.”
That was why he pushed for the Roads Minister Duncan Gay and the RMS to look into the route proposal with a full cost analysis.
Mr Ward said he was “happy to accept any criticism that comes my way” for the impact on the community caused by reopening discussions.
The RMS plans to hold question and answer sessions in Berry on February 16, March 1 and March 21.
RMS officials said they were doing their best to keep the process open and transparent.
They established working parties on Wednesday night to work through specific issues on the preferred northern bypass route including a truck stop at Austral Park Road, and urban design issues including North Street, Mark Radium Park, bridges, interchanges, cycleways, local traffic arrangements and recreations areas.
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