A 3-part plan to make Berry a safer and more enjoyable place for residents, business operators and visitors.
It’s time for the community to have its say!
Please read this proposal and vote. You’re also encouraged to add your own comments and to ask questions.
Using the Council’s Business Case projections, annual traffic to the Boongaree Play Park will have increased fourfold by end-2025. An estimated 50,000 extra cars
Council has announced that it will not construct the 125 parking places called for in Stage 7 of the Park’s Master Plan.This, of course, will place more parking on our already crowded narrow streets
Our 3-part plan would see the town adopt a 40 kph speed
limit. Council would be asked to implement its Pedestrian Access &
Mobility Plan, which was drafted at least three years ago.
The third part would be to provide parking for day visitors towing
caravans.
Transport for NSW states: The 40km/h urban limit is part of a nationwide strategy to improve safety in high pedestrian activity areas. These areas include several CBD zones and small suburban shopping strips.
The numbers say it all.
The distance along Queen Street between the 2 roundabouts is 1. 5 Km.
At 50 kph it takes 1 minute 48 seconds;
at 40 Kph it’s 2 minutes 15
seconds.
Less than one minute
Difference in stopping distance 10 metres.
For more on speed and safety Speeding | Transport for NSW
40 kph zones and speed bumps.
There’s some misunderstanding about the number and frequency of raised
traffic calmers (speed bumps) required.
Comparable 40kph locations:
Junction Street Nowra - 300 metres - has none
Terralong Street Kiama - 700 metres - has 4 which double as pedestrian
crossings
City of Sydney suburbs are all 40kph. For example, Elizabeth Bay Road to
Taylor Square is 2.5 kms. It has 12 raised calmers of which 7 double as
pedestrian crossings.
The intention for Bowral is that the main thoroughfare, Bong Bong Street,
will be 30kph with adjoining streets 40kph.
You’ll be aware that the safety issue is at its greatest on weekends, particularly on Saturdays when the Playing Field hosts kids’ sport.
Council’s plan particularly identifies the need for crossings on the approaches to the Boongaree Play Park and on the intersection of Queen and Alexandra Street. If the Berry community supports the 40 kph speed limit proposal, these crossings would form an integral component of the submission.
For more information on PAMP see: https://www.shoalhaven.nsw.gov.au/Planning-Development/Development-Plans-and-Policies/Pedestrian-Access-and-Mobility-Plan#section-5
Long Vehicle Parking
The Boongaree Master Plan provided for 6 parking spaces for vehicles
towing caravans. That has now been removed from the plan. A submission has
been made to Council that these parking spaces be included in the Berry
Showground review. There’s space for them on unused land at the Station
Road boundary of the Showground.
Support for the 3-part Plan
So far, in principle support has come from the Berry Medical Centre, the
Community Pre-School in Edward Street and Yolande Buchan, curator of the
Fairy Garden at the North/Edward Streets junction.
Parents of young children are canvassing support within their circles.
Of the churches; Uniting, St. Patrick’s and Scots Presbyterian are
supportive.
Importantly, all 25 business operators, who were approached in person,
have also expressed in principle support.
It’s now your turn
Council will only undertake to evaluate this proposal if it receives
evidence of community support. You’re invited to complete the attached
survey which also provides an opportunity for you to add your own comments
and questions
This survey created by concerned residents on behalf of the Berry community, and published by P. Thorniley, P.O. Box 422, Berry, NSW 2535