FEROS VOWS TO REBOUND IN BERRY

Chris Feros’ growing outfit has hit a speedhump with plans for a major redevelopment at Berry shot down – again – but the challenge is not over.

Established 1863, the Berry Hotel has long been servicing the Shoalhaven town, today counting around 2,500 residents. The current hotel building was constructed in 18888.

After acquiring the unassuming regional pub in 2022, Feros developed and submitted plans for a $10.5 million overhaul that would see construction of 33 new hotel rooms, a rooftop pool, landscaping and parking lots.

The plans explained there would be no works done on the existing, historic building.

But despite the considered design, Shoalhaven City Council saw major community backlash, receiving 315 submissions against the development.

In June last year Council unanimously voted against the proposal, stating it believed Feros Group had not adequately addressed multiple planning controls, notably heritage conservation, height limit, parking, and impact on the surrounds.

Berry and District Historical Society weighed in, voicing concern that the size and form of the design was not in keeping with and would dominate Berry’s historic streetscape, particularly the heritage-listed Berry Museum, directly opposite the hotel.

The society offered that it would welcome a sensitive renovation to “make it a more usable public meeting place for residents and visitors” if the design was an appropriate size, and respected the cultural value of surrounding buildings.

The matter escalated to the NSW Regional Planning Panel (NRPP) for the final word, while Council recommended the Panel reject the submission.

In late June the Panel said it was not satisfied Feros Group had adequately addressed the concerns, nor that the development was in the public interest, making a unanimous decision to refuse the application, citing the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Upholding the council’s decision, Court Commissioner Susan O’Neill noted an intention to remove “excessive amounts” of the structure, such as walls and original features, and expressed that the changes would damage the site’s heritage, bringing “adverse heritage impact on the fabric and setting of the hotel”.

The NRPP also noted that Feros Group had lodged an appeal in the Land & Environment Court.

Late January the publican developers took the plans for the south coast pub to the NSW Land & Environment Court, but again the proposal was rejected, echoing heritage concerns and planning controls.

Chris Feros says they are “bitterly disappointed” but are definitely not giving in.

“We’ve got to listen to the community and the Commissioner, and take what they say on board and try to come up with something everyone is happy with. They made it clear what they didn’t like.

“I believe in the area. We’ll eventually find something the community want and people will frequent.

“We thought it was right, but clearly we weren’t. Now we’ve got to swallow a pill and get on with it.”

On a brighter front, Feros’ much-anticipated Parc Pavilion at Cronulla is scheduled to open in May.

And stepping back from the tools, the group has hinted at new acquisitions and a return to the Sydney CBD, Feros offering he is “really excited to be back in the city”.