I am a local student who cares a lot about Berrima and its history. I am writing because I am very worried about the proposed development at the old Berrima Gaol.
The gaol is a state heritage site, and the walls and grounds tell a story about our town’s past that should be protected. The proposed plans, including cutting through walls and building a huge hotel block, do not respect the history of this place. I feel like the heritage of the gaol is being ignored, and that is upsetting because it’s part of our community and our identity.
I am also very concerned about the Wingecarribee River and the wildlife that lives there, especially the platypus, which are shy and endangered animals. The construction will be noisy and take years, and I’m worried it will destroy their homes and stop them from surviving in the river. We need to think about the animals too, not just the buildings.
Heritage conservation and protecting our environment are really important. I don’t think this development achieves either of these. I hope the government will stop the proposal or make sure that any changes actually protect the gaol’s history and the river’s wildlife.
Thank you for listening to my concerns.

I am writing to express my objection to the proposed Blue Sox development at the old Berrima Gaol. The gaol is a historically significant property that forms an important part of Australia’s colonial history. Its walls and grounds are part of our heritage, and cutting through these walls or obscuring them with a large hotel block would cause irreversible damage to a site of national significance. The gaol should be preserved in a way that honours its history, not compromised for short-term commercial gain.
I am also deeply concerned about the practicality and sustainability of the proposed layout. The plan includes a large hotel, function space, and a 140-seat restaurant. Running this facility will require multiple staff and high operational resources, yet Berrima is a very quiet town during the week. The scale of this project does not align with local demand, and from a financial perspective, it is highly unlikely to succeed.
Furthermore, the proposal involves up to three years of heavy construction, including excavation and multi-storey building works. This prolonged construction period would severely disrupt our small village community, impacting residents’ daily lives and the delicate tourism balance that supports local businesses. Berrima relies on visitors who value its quiet Georgian streets and heritage character; a construction site of this scale will discourage tourism and threaten the economic stability of our town.
In short, the proposed development threatens an irreplaceable historical site, is logistically and economically impractical, and would disrupt our community and tourism economy. I urge the NSW Government to reconsider this proposal and ensure any future use of the gaol genuinely preserves its heritage and respects the character of Berrima.
Thank you for considering my concerns.

The project in its current form takes away too much of Berrimas historic and heritage vibe and feel, turning a sandstone traditional landmark government building into a commercial modern property that is significantly out of sync with the surrounding village.

This will be a great addition to Berrima.

I object to this project as planned on the basis of 3 main points:
• Impact on village atmosphere with accommodation for up to 200 additional people and staff at any one time
• Impact on the beautiful sandstone wall with partial demolition to accommodate additional doors/ walkways on the Argyle Street frontage
• Design and excessive number of hotel suites along the western side of the wall and outside the wall,

Further comments are to be found in the attachment.

As a Berrima resident, I strongly object the Blue Sox Group redevelopment plans for Berrima Gaol. Their plan is completely at odds with the quiet, historic and evocative character of Berrima Gaol. The extensive construction period will make Berrima village a nightmare. I cannot object strongly enough. Please keep me updated of developments with this planning application, and especially how I can make my voice and opinion heard, before it is too late.

As an infrequent visitor to Berrima, but one who hopes to spend lots more time there in the near future when I retire and travel more, and as a resident of NSW who values our heritage, and in particular our heritage buildings, I object to this development application.
1) I don’t believe the case has been made that there is a shortage of holiday accommodation in Berrima.
2) The 2019 study showed Berrima receives the same amount of visitors as Byron Bay. This would infer its current offerings, ( which are completely related to its heritage) are extremely successful at attracting visitors.
3) The case has not been made as to how this development would increase tourism. There is nothing there to attract tourists except hotel rooms (and I don’t believe there is a shortage of accommodation in Berrima) and a ‘wellness centre’.
4) In my opinion the absolute spoiling of the Berrima Gaol with such modern architecture would be a complete turn off for the people who visit Berrima, and those who will visit in the future.
5) If the objective is to increase tourism, as suggested in the NSW government’s own documents, then this would be far better achieved by keeping the historic Berrima Gaol site intact, and developing the site as a proper tourist destination in the form of an entertainment precinct. That is something I would travel for.
6) Can the people of NSW please be given the respect of being able to be proud of, and to cherish forever, its rich colonial history and architecture, without having it ‘modernised’ and overly commercialised for private benefit and gain. We pay our taxes and rates. Please respect our views.

I have put all my reasons in my attachment
Heritage Significance
Incompatible Development with the Berrima environment
Community and Infrastructure Impact
Precedent and Integrity