More Parking for Boongaree

Shoalhaven City Council invested in the Boongaree Nature Play Park, with support from NSW Government, Berry Rotary and the Berry community, to reinvigorate the northern edge of the Berry township. After extensive community consultation, the Boongaree Masterplan was developed and subsequently adopted to outline the design concept and construction stages of Boongaree.

Since construction commenced, Council has received representation from the community about the need for additional parking spaces.

Upcoming Stages 5 and 7 of the Masterplan, once completed, will deliver an additional 196 parking spaces.

In response to the community representations Council has taken the following actions.

Stage 7 (stage 1B) - Boongaree Masterplan - senior sports fields and car parking

Council is now fast-tracking part of Stage 7 (now known as stage 1B) to construct 45 of those car parking spaces adjacent to the existing parking at the nature play area. This is anticipated to be completed by November 2022 subject to favourable weather.

Stage 5 - Boongaree Masterplan – junior sports oval and car parking

Council have been investigating opportunities to fast-track car parking along North Street. Investigations have identified that there is significant risk with delivering works from this stage as separate components. There is the potential for site levels to be out of alignment, compromising future stages of work, as well the potential for any fast-tracked works to be damaged by subsequent construction works. Other key considerations include construction access to the site, and public and contractor safety. Council will continue investigating if a permanent, fast-tracked solution can be achieved.

Stage 5 - Long Vehicle Parking

Long vehicle parking was adopted in the Masterplan and forms part of Stage 5. The location chosen was based on feedback from the community during the development of the Masterplan. Representations from the community cited concerns about safety. As a result, it was determined that a traffic movement study should be undertaken to understand the turning circle required for a long vehicle to enter this parking area. If this assessment determines that the access is compliant, the long vehicle parking will remain in this location and will be delivered in accordance with the adopted Masterplan. Should the assessment determine the proposal is not compliant, further investigations will be undertaken.

North Street parking, west of Alexandra Street, Berry

In addition to requests made about fast tracking stages 5 and 7, Council reconsidered the formalisation of 80 lineal metres along North Street, to the west of the Alexandra Street intersection as car parking. This proposal delivers around 32 additional parking spaces. This proposal was originally rejected in feedback from the community, but following recent community consultation it was determined that Council would progress to the detailed design stage for those 32 spaces.