STUCK IN THE MIDDLE: The Princes Highway, which runs through the middle of Berry would be replaced if the proposed Berry Bypass goes ahead. The bypass is also proving to be a dividing force in the township.
A THROWAWAY line by Sydney Morning Herald columnist Elizabeth Farrelly has reignited the debate about the route of the proposed Berry Bypass.
In a column on January 3 Ms Farrelly, who holds a PhD in architecture, is a former editor who has won several international writing awards, a published author, former Sydney City councillor and adjunct associate professor of Architecture at the University of Sydney, suggested a bypass might save Windsor “as it has saved Berry”.
On January 10 she admitted she had been wrong saying Berry had been bypassed but she delved deeper into issue which has certainly divided parts of the township.
She said by the response to her comments, “You’d have thought I proposed deep-frying the Royal corgis.”
She questioned the decision of the northern bypass, saying roads were not just roads.
“They are our cultural conduits, way too important to leave to the engineers,” she said.
Those comments have reignited the bypass debate which has definitely divided parts of the Berry community.
President of the Berry Chamber of Commerce Bill Seelis has called on the work to be done.
“Let’s just get on with it!” he said.
“From a chamber point of view we don’t want further debate about it; let’s just get on and do the work,” he said.
“I have spoken to a number of people over the past few days who heard it all start up again on radio and even at the show society meeting the other night people were just saying, ‘Let’s just get it done.’
“There is a minority in town who would wish for the debate to continue. A decision has been made and whether it was for the northern or southern route, not everyone was going to be happy with that decision.
“Let’s get it done and improve the ambiance of the town, stop the B doubles running through the middle of town so people sitting in the local coffee shops can enjoy a quite chat and not have to talk over the top of traffic.
“Many good things can come from this bypass.
“As far as the chamber is concerned we want the bypass. Experts who have far more expertise than our members have made the decision on the route. Let’s just let it proceed.”
He said he didn’t think Ms Farrelly’s article put Berry in a good light.
“My personal opinion of the article, for which I wasn’t interviewed, even though I was quoted, was that it does nothing to enhance Berry,” he said.
“All it will do is stop people from coming.”
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