The long-awaited and much-debated Berry noise mitigation walls are a step closer with Transport for NSW releasing tender documents for two structures.
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Something certainly welcomed by residents in and around Mark Radium Park, Windsor Drive, North Street and parts of The Arbour and Huntingdale Park, South of Berry, who have complained about the noise from the $580 million bypass from not long after it was officially opened to traffic on July 13, 2017.
It's taken a lot of hard work and lobbying from the residents on the south western side of the township who say the bypass noise has turned their lives into a "living hell".
The release of the tender on June 10 is one of the last steps in a protracted project that has seen residents take up their case with Kiama MP Gareth Ward, the then Roads and Maritime Services and even NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, through an open letter.
In December 2017 it appeared residents had received an early Christmas present with the news $5.3 million had been allocated to construct noise mitigation measures.
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At the time Mr Ward described as a "major outcome for residents", saying "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".
Construction was supposed to be in the second quarter of 2019.
However, residents have faced more RMS consultations, including plans to set up individual 'sound studios' to 'monitor' individual experiences of noise and then staged geotechnical work.
Work has started and has progressed well on the Berry to Bomaderry Princes Highway upgrade, tenders have even been awarded for the new Nowra bridge over the Shoalhaven River to Berry Bypass builders Fulton Hogan.
Yet, June 2020, and still no movement on the Berry noise mitigation walls.
And while the residents would no doubt welcome the tender documents finally being posted on the Transport for NSW website, they will surely not be holding their breath to see construction start any time soon.
The "open tender" is for "the design and construction of two noise barriers".
"All applicants must comply with the NSW Government Procurement Policy Framework (NSW Framework), NSW Government Supplier Code of Conduct (NSW Code) and New South Wales Industrial Relations Guidelines: Building and Construction Procurement (NSW Guidelines)," the document states.
"No restrictions are placed on who may tender. Tenderers will normally be required to demonstrate in their tender that they have the necessary skills, resources, experience, financial capacity, and in some cases licences, accreditations, etc., to fulfil the tender requirements."
Tenders can be electronically lodged only and close at 2.30pm on July 8.
Copies of the NSW Framework and NSW Code are available at www.procurepoint.nsw.gov.au. The NSW Guidelines are available at www.industrialrelations.nsw.gov.au.