With works on the Berry bypass nearing completion, and contractor Fulton Hogan’s workforce of 500 people relocating, the Berry housing market gridlock appears to be loosening up.
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Berry mother of two Nana Blade said Fulton Hogan’s presence in town has brought a greater challenge for locals hunting for a rental property.
“Everyone I speak to says they’ve monopolised the rentals,” she said.
“You can't say they haven’t made a difference. Where are they living, in the sky?”
In the market for a rental property herself, Nana has watched the market closely, and noticed there’s been more choice in recent months since part of the Fulton Hogan workforce has finished up, and relocated.
“Houses are popping up here and there,” Nana said.
“We haven’t seen that in a while, it’s a relief.”
Though the pressure on the market’s set to ease, she believes the demand for rentals in Berry will remain strong.
“I know a friend of mine is having real trouble, having to be transient, more or less couch surfing until something comes up,” Nana said.
“Things do come up, but you have so many people waiting that you have to be in so quick, and unless you’re connected, or you have your finger on the pulse, you don’t have a chance.”
In her experience, Berry has always been a highly sought after suburb.
“I reckon it’s always been difficult to find a house here for under $600 a week,” she said.
“Nine years ago we rented a house somewhere else for three months before we could move here.”
A Berry real estate agent believes the difference in the rental market will be negligible, with the Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade requiring 300 workers during peak build times.
“There was a gradual build up of workers in town and now we’re seeing a gradual decline,” Raine and Horne Berry real estate agent Patrick Tynan said.
“The reality is, the money has been allocated for the next part, it’s only a matter of time before workers are moving down again.
“I don’t think we’ll see a dramatic change at all.”
Early work is being carried out, which involves upgrading the Cambewarra and Moss Vale roads roundabout, installing project boundary fencing, clearing trees and shrubs and utility service relocation.
The tender for major work on this key highway upgrade is scheduled later this year.
The RMS anticipates the project will start early next year.