Draft Minutes for the Berry Forum Meeting
Held 17 April 2025 7:30pm at the Uniting Church Hall

Present: 50 people attended, including Mayor Patricia White and Cl Selena Clancy
Apologies: Deputy Mayor Peter Wilkins

Welcome and Introduction: Ian Hendry (Chair)
Minutes from meeting held on 12 December 2024: Approved

Mayor’s Briefing

  • Included updates on Councils plans, reporting potholes to Council and rate of fixing, cost saving initiatives, strategic planning for achieving NSW Government new dwellings targets by rezoning land in Nowra to allow high-rise, and mowing calendars for every town.
  • The Mayor also confirmed that there would be no funding for crossings in Berry for the foreseeable future. Eight of the ten proposed Berry crossings are categorized as Low Priority and Council acknowledges that its backlog of active transport projects exceeds 900, with an estimated cost of $235million.

Comparison of NSW councils’ financials
Stuart Coughlan presented data comparing Shoalhaven Council’s financial performance in 2023/24 with the other ten councils in the Office of Local Government’s Group 5 list. The Magnitude of the recovery task facing the Council appointed in October is illustrated by the following 

Berry HCA/DCP update
The Planning Proposal for the Princess St Heritage Conservation Area is currently with the Dpt of Planning awaiting Gateway approval, and the draft new chapter for Berry in the SDCP will be presented at Council’s meeting on29 April.

Beach Rd subdivision DA
Omar Khalifa presented the following concerns identified in the Berry Landcare submission –

  • A highly sensitive area, critical to region’s biodiversity and coastal protection
  • DA directly impacts vegetation corridor funded by NSW Environment Trust to $500k
  • No mention in DA of established Bush Links and recognised Wildlife Corridors
  • Impact report is completely deficient in assessing existing flora & fauna and potential impacts

Town Creek stormwater issues
John Morgan presented on the poor state of Town Creek, which is now a stormwater drain. Lack of maintenance, nutrients in stormwater and sewerage overflow leads to –

  • Degradation of drain and lack of flow, increased flood risk
  • Health risks – increased mosquito breeding & algae

Council support to improve the drain/creek is being requested.

Hotel DA LEC hearing
Stuart explained the process to be followed when the next DA is lodged.

General Business
The resident who had proposed a 40km/h speed limit for Berry was given the opportunity to address the meeting. Contrary to the Mayor’s explicit advice, he again claimed implementation of all the proposed crossings shown in the Pedestrian Access plan (PAMP) were fully funded.

Meeting closed 9.05 pm.  Next Forum Meeting – 26 June