South Berry residents question lack of progress on promised noise mitigation walls

There was big fan fare again earlier this month it was announced Fulton Hogan would be designing and constructing the new $342 million Nowra bridge crossing of the Shoalhaven River, but for south Berry residents who have been living in what they described as "living hell" due to the noise from the $580 million Berry bypass, progress seems to be at snail's pace.

Residents in and around Mark Radium Park, Windsor Drive, North Street and parts of The Arbour and Huntingdale Park, who have complained about the noise from the bypass from not long after it was officially opened to traffic on July 13, 2017 are still no closer to knowing when the promised walls will be built.

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In December 2018, in what was described as a "major outcome for residents", and an early Christmas present, Kiama MP Gareth Ward announced $5.3 million has been allocated to construct noise mitigation measures.

At the time Mr Ward said the RMS would release concept designs for the project and would consult with the community prior to going out to tender for work in the first half of 2019.

By May 2019 residents had undergone more RMS consultations, including plans to set up individual 'sound studios' at each residence for 24 hours each to 'monitor' individual experiences of noise.

That was to allow RMS to work out what kind of walls to construct.

Mr Ward's Facebook page stated work would begin in the second quarter of 2019.

Even a letter to residents from the RMS outlining the plans stated it was "expected the construction of the walls to start later this year" [2019]

Yet a further letter in November 2019 said geotechnical work was to be carried out on November 11.

Hit the fast forward button again to February 2020 and the project hasn't even gone out to tender, let alone work started or even a date for possible work starting being forthcoming.

All the South Coast Register can get out of now Transport for NSW, a change in name, or Mr Ward's office is "tender documents for a design and construct contract to build the Berry noise walls are currently be finalised".

"Construction will start following the award of this contract," the statement from a Transport for NSW spokesperson said.

When pushed on a possible start date for the work all the Register was told "There wasn't a set time frame as yet, because the project needs to go through a proper tender process first."

Resident Tina Ballard, who has led the walls' campaign, has all the documented correspondence between residents, the RMS, Mr Ward and even Premier Gladys Berejiklian, questioned why the walls hadn't started.

As late as February 6 the impacted residents couldn't get a timeframe for the work from Transport for NSW.

"Given this saga began with the first residents-Gareth Ward meeting in October 2017, one can only be impressed by the amount of effort which has been expended and the number of man-hours our taxes have funded in order to resist building the walls," Ms Ballard said.

"It is also comforting to know that procrastination, double talk and word salad is not a leadership-only skill (not only occurring among our elected representatives).

"It is good to know that such skills are successfully permeating to the department heads and lower.

"These works remain uncompleted - unfulfilled obligations and look at the disdain with which constituents are treated.

"It's a worry that they think people don't see through their lies as they continue spinning and weaving. There appears to be no sense of responsibility for anything besides 'getting away with things' and working towards re-election.

"One must question, why not build the noise walls?

"Is it an attempt to prove that no mistakes were made or pride and self-centeredness or resenting the loss-of-face in the stand-off with the residents regarding the wall - or all of these?"

Ms Ballard said it was ironic Mr Ward had been on radio in the last few days lashing out at the incompetence of non-release of funds to his portfolio.

"He said, 'What good is money in some bank account when it's needed to help people?'" Ms Ballard said.

"Made me think of $5.3 million in the wall-building account."