Mr Ward's comments comes as Roads and Maritime Services starts the long-awaited community consultation process prior to the construction of the proposed walls.

Berry resident and wall campaigner Tina Ballard raised concerns last week about the "apparent lack of work" being undertaken on the project.

Ms Ballard said the 'promised community consultation' for the first quarter of the year had not happened and communication with RMS revealed no decision or plans regarding construction of walls had been done but 'work was being done in the background'.

Interestingly, a number of residents in the affected areas in and around Mark Radium Park, Windsor Drive, North Street and parts of The Arbour and Huntingdale Park received visits from RMS representatives, including RMS Project Manager Ryan Whiddon, earlier in the week.

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The residents were presented with a letter outlining the RMS' plan of attack along with a two question survey asking what type of road noise was affecting them and what time of day do they notice noise from the road?

The RMS said that information would be used to help understand residents' experiences and help prepare concept designs for the noise walls.

A specialist contractor has been engaged to carry out noise recordings, review traffic and noise data the letter said.

Residents will be invited to a sound lab demonstration which will simulate the impacts of various noise wall options. The demonstrations are expected to take place in mid 2019.

Residents will also be asked to provide feedback on noise wall options, including height and materials to be used as part of this process.

The RMS team was due back in the area on Thursday, following up on residents they missed.

Mr Ward said the fact RMS representatives were in Berry talking to residents just days after the South Coast Register published its story on line was a coincidence.

"As promised the RMS are directly engaging with residents about noise mitigation measures following the completion of the Berry bypass," he said.

"Community consultation was always slated for May.

"As you know the RMS received the post noise monitoring report and didn't recommend any further noise abatement improvements - I didn't feel that was good enough and took the matter up directly with the Roads Minister on behalf of the residents and secured more than $5 million to provide additional noise abatement measures for affected residents.

"The Berry bypass is one of the most significant infrastructure projects in our region and has been heralded by many and I accept and appreciate the concerns of some residents of the area who are experiencing the impact of noise

"As promised we're getting on with the job of preparing the best possible noise abatement designs to deliver the biggest possible impacts."

He said he looked forward to construction starting as soon as possible but admitted no plans were ready yet.

"I'll do what I said I would and make no apologies for delivering," Mr Ward said.

"If anyone wants an example of my commitment, look at what I've done in the past. I promised the Berry bypass and it was delivered. The noise walls will be delivered.

"People have to know when I say I'm going to do something I do it."

Resident survey and planning for installation of noise walls in Berry

Roads and Maritime Services will carry out planning and investigations to install noise walls following the opening of the Foxground and Berry bypass to traffic.

The walls are expected to be installed near Huntingdale Park Estate and Windsor Drive, Berry.

As part of this work, we have engaged a specialist contractor to carry out noise recordings, review traffic and noise data and prepare concept designs for the noise walls.

To help prepare concept designs for the noise walls, we will survey residents immediately adjacent to the proposed noise walls about their current experience of road noise.

This information will be used to help understand residents experiences and help prepare concept designs for the noise walls.

Resident survey and doorknocking - May 2019

We will doorknock affected residents in May to discuss their responses to the two survey questions below.

Please contact us via details provided below if you would like to arrange a time in advance.

1. What type of road noise is affecting you?

2. What time of day do you notice noise from the road?

Next steps

Information from residents, traffic data and sound recordings will be used to help prepare concept design options for the noise walls.

Residents will be invited to a sound lab demonstration which will simulate the impacts of various noise wall options. The sound lab demonstration is expected to take place in mid 2019.

Residents will be asked to provide feedback on noise wall options, including height and materials to be used as part of this process.

Feedback obtained from the survey will be used to help determine the design and key features of the noise walls. We will keep residents adjacent to the proposed walls updated as this project progresses. We expect construction of the walls to start later this year.