Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

I have read the EIS and I object to the tunnel proposal for the following reasons:

• Unfiltered smoke stacks very close to schools.
I have three sons who live in the impacted zone, go to school at Manly West Public School and will be attending Balgowlah Boys High School from 2022 until 2036. I object to them being subjected to this unfiltered smoke 24 hours a day when the health impacts are unknown.

• Negative impact on local traffic
I find it difficult to reconcile the promised reduction in travel times with the increased congestion and reduction in traffic speeds on the local roads in the suburbs feeding into the tunnel. If there are to be huge numbers of cars using the tunnel they will obviously need to drive to Balgowlah or Seaforth to access it. I find there has been a huge increase in traffic in Balgowlah in the past ten years or so and I do not know how this many extra cars travelling through the area can be accommodated. How are people from Freshwater/Curl Curl going to access the tunnel? How many more cars an you fit around the Harris Farm roundabout / Kenneth Road / Balgowlah Road Bunnings intersection which is at a crawl most of the time already? Weekends already see traffic banked back from Manly to Balgowlah along this route whereby it’s faster to ride a bike to the beach than drive. For local trips made by the majority of locals I see no positive benefits to the project at all.
Additionally, construction traffic will be generated that I do not think can be accommodated in the local area either. Where are the workers going to park?

• Impact on Burnt Bridge Creek / wildlife / loss of mature trees
Just in our own backyard alone there are a lot of bandicoots, water dragons, frogs and flying foxes going overhead. I think most of these originate from the Burnt Bridge Creek area and I’m not sure what will happen to all these animals once their habitat is gone? Where are the flying foxes going to go? They are not the best neighbours and if the noise and loss of water forces them to relocate their colony I am quite sure there will be many complaints wherever they go. Where are the water dragons going to go? Additionally, the land clearing proposed for the Manly Dam Memorial Park is alarming as it is very valuable to have such a pristine natural area so close to the CBD. Reducing this asset bit by bit over the years highlights a lack of commitment from the state government to natural space and habitats.

Furthermore, what impact will there be on Queenscliff Beach? Queenscliff Lagoon is already too polluted for swimming and needs more water flowing through it – from my understanding this project will decrease the flow of water through Burnt Bridge Creek and Queenscliff Lagoon to the beach. Surely this will negatively impact the water quality at Queenscliff Lagoon and Beach even further? Beach closures due to poor water quality are often ignored by surfers and swimmers – will we return to the days of ear infections etc after swimming at Queenscliff like we had in the early 1990’s?

• Lack of commitment to sporting / recreational facilities
I am not assured that the replacement sporting and/or recreational facilities will ever eventuate. There don’t seem to be any firm plans for what will be provided, and I fear that without this commitment we could end up with a larger car park or commuter parking in this space. Additionally, once groups realise that there is ‘open space’ up for grabs it might not necessarily end up with sporting use or provide any much needed passive recreational space.
In the event that some recreational space is returned to the community it will likely be too late for my family. We moved here to be close to Balgowlah Oval so our boys can easily run up the hill to kick a ball around etc. This will no longer be possible until perhaps the time when our kids have already moved out of home. It is not clear when the oval will be inaccessible?

• Lack of commitment to public transport / alternative transport solutions
If alternative public transport solutions such as light rail are not feasible, then I request that at the very least a bus lane be included in the tunnel. The yellow B-Line is working well and something like that in the tunnel would be an improvement. Including a dedicated bus lane is essential for this to work properly as it does along the route to the City at the moment.

Finally, on a personal note, my family and I will be subjected to horrendous construction impacts. The EIS has shocked me as I now realise the true cost to our health and wellbeing from this project. We will be subjected to visual, noise and light pollution every minute of our days for a period of several years. My children will never escape as they live in the impact zone and will also attend school in the same zone. What impact will this have on their hearing, lung capacity or even their learning? There do not seem to be any answers to these questions and the true cost to the community that will bear the brunt of this construction will never be known. To make matters worse, since this tunnel was announced we do not even have the option of selling up and moving as no one wants to buy in the impact zone. While house prices seem to rise everywhere else they are definitely stagnant or declining in our pocket of Balgowlah leaving us financially impacted as well. The tunnel project has robbed us of personal choice in where we live and I stated above we are unable to sell and leave now even if we wanted to.

I feel it is the job of government to conserve our environment and protect the health of citizens – this project does not seem to understand that a promised small reduction in travel time is of no benefit at all when it comes at the cost of environmental degradation and community wellbeing.

As a previous member of Northbridge Sailing Club (NSC) I’m greatly concerned about the club's limited sailing area during the construction of the project. All sailing courses will be affected by the maritime exclusion zones between Seaforth Bluff and Clive Park associated with the submerged tunnel works across Middle Harbour, and the temporary re-location of yacht moorings into a zone northwest of Seaforth Bluff.
The works will mean sailing at NSC will become more difficult, less attractive, and even potentially completely infeasible. NSC is an amazing club with long history and a strong local community, helping children and adults enjoy a sport which is of particular importance in these Covid-19 affected times, being inherently a socially-distanced, outdoor pursuit that greatly assists with the collective mental health of the community (even in non-Covid times).
The impact on the club and community will be profound, with sail racing quality diminished leading to loss of members or be less able to attract new members, all of which affects the club’s viability. We depend on volunteers and member fees for our maintenance and improvements; if membership drops then there is simply less of a critical mass to regenerate the club following the Beaches Link construction.
We request TfNSW minimize the impact of maritime restrictions by urgently consulting in good faith with Northbridge Sailing Club, to help assist in retaining and regaining NSC’s attractiveness/viability during and after the project.

BEACHES LINK TUNNEL PROJECT
RESPONSE TO EIS

We have been residents of Pickworth Avenue Balgowlah for 43 years, have reared our family here and enjoyed the green vista provided by Balgowlah Golf Club. This green oasis in Balgowlah is very popular not only with golfers, but also with walkers and cyclists who enjoy walking its perimeter through the natural bush paths past the creek, seeing local wildlife.
I object to the destruction of Balgowlah Golf Course by the proposed link road, as well as the use of the area as a construction zone during building of the tunnel. Local residents will be impacted by traffic delays caused during construction and by the constant stream of trucks wanting to turn on to Sydney Road.
The “Balgowlah Precinct Concept Masterplan” Figure 22-3 (22-9) is defining where the Link Road will be built.
I object to the link road being built so close to the current oval that part of it will be removed, so causing the current bank of trees on the oval’s perimeter to be removed. These trees should be retained as they will diminish the amount of light to be emitted from the new road and traffic lights to be built, as well as provide much needed shade, and absorption of dust particles and fumes from being blown on to the oval and surrounding areas.
I object to the current oval being altered in any way as it was promised it would remain during construction. It is used by students of Balgowlah Boys High School and St. Cecilia’s School for their sport lessons, and by various sporting codes on weekends, as well as by dog walkers and locals exercising.
I object to the unfiltered exhaust stack being moved further south from the original proposed site, thus bringing it closer to schools and pre-schools, as well as residences. The stack in this position will be an eyesore from many parts of Balgowlah.
I object to the unfiltered stack being built surrounded by playing fields, which when built will be used by sports people of all ages, who while playing sport to keep healthy, will be subjected to the particles being emitted by the stack, so giving them possible future health problems.
I object to the proposed Amenities Block East as per Figure 22-3 “Balgowlah Precinct Concept Masterplan” (22-9). This new amenities block on the northern side of the existing scout hall is too far away from the playing fields where it will be needed, and is too close to residences on Pickworth Avenue and the rear of Wanganella Street who would look over it.
I object to the suggestion in the EIS that extra parking will be available in Pickworth Avenue. This small no-through road is already full each day, being used by residents, users of the oval and scout hall, as well as parking for local businesses.

I object to the destruction of the beautiful trees and native vegetation around the walkway, and the reduction of the creek to a puddle or stormwater drain. The native wildlife which have frequented the area forever will disappear as their habitat is destroyed and walkers and cyclists will miss out on the haven of native bush we can currently enjoy.
I object to the use of Coffer dams with curtains to retain the material dredged up from the bottom of Middle Harbour, which will overflow and pollute our waterways, so making our beaches unhealthy for swimming. Clontarf Beach on Middle Harbour is very popular, but is likely to be contaminated during construction by the toxic material already proven to be lying on the sea bed.

I object to this project for the following reasons .

Business Model : I assert that this Government and any subsequent Toll operators associated with it are exposing themselves to huge ongoing losses .
COSTS and completion times ALWAYS INCREASE massively and traffic flow will not increase greatly . Indeed this recent Covid event
has successfully shown that vast numbers of people are all to willing to and can work locally , away from the big centres . As a consequence
of this ongoing change in work patterns , seen across the world , I assert that traffic flow will not grow as projected and that
the BEACHES LINK WILL NEVER PAY FOR ITSELF .

Traffic Flow : For all the design , planning , time and cost , we will still have the same traffic jamb trying to move north . Manly Vale , Brookvale
and Dee Why are all highly problematic commercial centres that need to be passed through . Simply saying it is our local Council's issue is no answer at all .
They don't have the resources .
The Beaches Link will act as a very , VERY EXPENSIVE CONCENTRATOR into a district that is essentially one LARGE CUL-DE-SAC , a CASCADE OF BOTTLENECKS
that has no flow through to other significant road networks . North bound Traffic will end up sitting stationary in the tunnel , filling it with excess fumes whilst waiting
on movements of pedestrian and local traffic a few hundred metres up the road .
Please go and visit the intersection of Kenneth rd and Condamine st on a busy night . There is a KFC on one corner , Bing Lee on another
Dan Murphy's is very close too . It is a RETAIL PRECINCT and this is just the start . Sure it just manages now but for the proposed business model to pay
then traffic would need to double . Yes we do have times of stationary traffic on Spit road and the Spit bridge , however those same exhaust fumes are
not being trapped and concentrated as they would be , by design , in the new road/traffic tunnel . The proposed EXHAUST STACKS ARE NOT FILTERED
I will stress .

What Do We Need : We need the money spent on TRANSPORT THAT COMPLIMENTS and SUPPLEMENTS . The new metro has shown that people in
Sydney will use mass transport which is on ITS OWN CORRIDOR , and this is the core idea here . Like ferries crossing the harbour which by concept do not
fight for space with cars or buses . Only competing , for patronage , where both are reasonable options .

Concluding : Historically Sydney has been a city of transport links radiating from its core and is suffering badly from this now .
Only in recent times building better links between its regional centres . The Beaches Link would entrench this dated radial model which pulls
so much traffic through the centre of Sydney . We need the same money to be spent on interconnections linking Sydneys regional hubs
By complementary forms of transport with there own corridors , which can flow right through a commercial , retail or
industrial zone without bringing it to a standstill . The Metro is worth thinking of , or more dedicated bus lanes and exchanges .
As a long time resident of Balgowlah , the distant possibility of saving 10 minutes on a trip into the city is so completely outweighed
by the planned spending of $12 billion plus on this tunnel , and by it only moving traffic congestion problems to where it disgorges its flow in
Manly Vale which is no solution at all .
I ask the planners to consider the Western Harbour Tunnel without the Beaches Link Tunnel as I think there would be a different outcome .

I strenuously object to the proposed Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection project.
This is a project with no publicly released business case and will simply increase the volume of private vehicles on Sydney's roads. The $14 billion that the project is costed at (which given the government's track record will end up a much greater amount) would be much better spent on a rail link from the Northern Beaches area to join the heavy rail and Metro lines at Chatswood. This expenditure of public funds - taxpayers money - to create an asset that will be handed over to private interests to run as a profit-making tollway is a scandal and a disgrace. In a world that is teetering on the brink of climate change driven disaster, it is a blinkered ideological sacrifice of the public interest on the bloody altar of crony capitalism.
The government knows the following, but is willfully proceeding with the project nonetheless.
1. High risk of contamination to marine and land eco-systems.
2. Destruction of remediated bushland area at Flat Rock Gully and resultant loss of passive recreation opportunities.
3. Health risks to public from disturbance of toxic materials in former tip under remediated bushland.
4. Health risks to public from airborne pollutants spewing from unfiltered emission stacks.
5. Major noise and traffic impacts from estimated additional 900 daily heavy vehicle movements on Flat Rock Drive.
6. Closure of Waringah Freeway offramps at Miller Street and Brook St will funnel toll-avoiding traffic onto the already heavily congested Willoughby Road to the detriment of residents of Willoughby northwards.
Thank you for consideration of this submission.

Please see the attached letter.

The Beaches Link project would mean significant destruction of our fragile environment to drive yet more traffic and major development into a finite Northern Beaches space. The huge cost of the tunnel cannot be justified for the very minor reduction in travel time by car, and encourages more car use rather than public transport. The enlargement of Wakehurst Parkway to a four- to six-lane freeway will cause unstoppable pollution into sensitive creeks and waterways at Manly Dam and Garigal National Park. Unfiltered exhaust stacks will emit double the maximum limit of particulates recommended by the World Health Authority, covering a 1.2-km radius per stack. Further, during construction 425,000 litres of waste water will be washed into Manly lagoon every day. And at Middle Harbour there is potential for toxic chemicals being disturbed during dredging, posing a large threat to the marine environment. For us residents this will mean years of noise, dust, disturbance and interruption for little or no reduction in travel time. I use the bus to go the city and would very seldom use the tunnel. I am fiercely opposed to it.

See attached document for details of my submission

I wish to submit my objections to the proposed Beaches link and Gore Hill freeway connection and the EIS currently out for public consultation.
1. Environmental pollution
a) I object to Unfiltered exhaust stacks.
Despite the technical information supplied in your documentation, the tunnel project will increase levels of a variety of pollutants for schools, kindergartens and
residents nearby. There is no safe level of exposure according to health experts and there are flaws in your modelling. The modelling is based on averaged figures
across large time periods ( i.e . 24 hours) and, insufficient emphasis is placed on the exposure peaks when traffic is travelling in the relevant direction.
There will be an increase in toxins which can cause Cancer, and Asthma related illnesses by upto 15% . The local population will be forced to breathe in these emissions.
Other countries with similar tunnels/projects ( Spain/Italy) use filtered stacks . Merely stating that there will not be enough deaths to justify expenditure on filtration
is totally unacceptable. When in opposition, in regard to the lane Cove Tunnel,Gladys Berejiklian stated " Members of parliament , should examine their conscience
and consider how they would feel if their children .... or loved ones were exposed to this level of fumes every day ... Worlds best practice is to filter tunnels "
b) There will be unacceptable damage to the vital ecological corridor at Burnt Bridge Creek, Flat rock gully and Middle Harbour.
There are known high risk contaminants at Flat Rock and the proposal to dig through this area without a proper risk assessment on a very old tip site which is
surrounded by childrens' playing fields in a residential area is a huge environmental risk to the area and ,health of the population. A full publicly
available risk assessment must be carried out.
c) I object to the pollution of water in Manly Dam, Manly Creek and Bantry Bay. Run off from the construction site will be channelled through a small pond in Wakehurst
Golf Course . Much of the overflow of sludge and silt will overflow from this small pond into the Dam on a regular basis during heavy rains. The EIS has admitted that
this cannot be prevented from happening during heavy rainfall. In 2020 this would have happened every month. The likely loss of water quality will wipe out fish that
existed for 60 million years, ( Gondwanan climbing Galaxias fish ) . Although the EIS has stated that the biodiversity in these areas are pollutant tolerant, nothing could
further from the truth.Waste water will also run into Queenscliff lagoon and pollute the beach which is totally unacceptable.
d) Coffer Dams
The disturbance of toxic sludge and sediment dredged from the floor of Middle Harbour will present an unacceptable level of pollution for our beautiful Clontarf Beach
SandyBay, Contarf marina, Clontarf Ocean Pool and Spit Bridge. This is an amenity enjoyed by thousands of Sydney siders not only locals. The control of sediment,
sludge and toxins will present a serious challenge for the contractor who will not be able to provide a guarantee that the level of toxins in the water will be safe. I
believe this risk to what is one of the most scenic and valuable amenities for the community is unacceptable. It will no longer be safe for recreation.
e) Sandstone extraction
During the tunneling extraction process most of the spoilage will be Hawkesbury Sandstone and Shale. Sandstone is 67% silica and 22% Shale.
Silica is a dangerous substance for workers and ,atmospeherically it is very dangerous to breathe the dust. It is heavily regulated in its use. I do not see anywhere in the
EIS which mentions Silica.
I would suggest this needs to be seriously addressed. Merely relying on contractors to self regulate has not been successful in past tunneling projects and an
independent authority must be tasked with ensuring regulations for dealing with the dust and exposure to workers and the community .

2. Impact on the community
a) Extensive Vehicle movements
With over 795 heavy vehicle movements and 1850 light vehicle movements per day , the impact on the local community will be devastating.
These areas have thousands of school children per day who are on bus services and walking to schools and kindis nearby. They will have to negotiate
thousands of extra vehicle movements per day on often narrow roads with dangerous camber. The area outside of Seaforth school is of particular concern
for safety with large articulated lorries. These children are going to have to spend most of their school lives experiencing the noise, diesel pollution and danger of
heavy vehicle movements in their area. Restrictions must be placed on the volume and timings of vehicle movements carrying spoil that ensures local streets are not
impacted. This must be independently monitored.
b) Contractor/worker parking in local streets
As already experienced in other areas with current tunneling and construction, contractor parking will overflow into local streets.
This will cause chaos for local residents and businesses as there is already a problem with narrow local streets and parking from construction workers on local
building sites and city commuters who park in the streets.
c) Tunneling works.
I demand that no tunneling work should be conducted outside of acoustic sheds outside of standard construction hours. There should be no exceptions to this
condition based on timeline, cost or machinery.
d) Construction hours
There are many people now working from home and the construction will be in close proximity to local schools and kindergartens. Determination of when work
can be conducted outside of the standard hours should not be left to the contractors. An independent authority should be monitoring compliance at all times.
e) Construction impact
Many thousands of households will be subject to excess noise and vibration from the construction of the project, including possible damage to homes.
This intolerable situation could go on for 7 years or more.
The EIS provides no exact information on the mitigation measures that will be in place to prevent this. There must be an independent assessment of noise and vibration
impacts from construction on all the homes to be impacted.TFnsw must be responsible for monitoring contractor compliance with penalties for breaches on
compliance.
f) Local traffic impacts
A critical omission in the a EIS assessment is that little work has been done to assess what effect the project will have on local roads.
Rat Runs will be established to avoid construction sites into many streets that are currently inadequate to cope with the increase in traffic.
Responsibility for the upgrades required should be borne by the TFNSW not local ratepayers.
In conclusion
My objections to the proposal overall are that the risks to the Environment and long term loss of amenity and disturbance for the population of the Northern Beaches
do not justify the expenditure of upwards of $15 billion dollars on a tunnel that will only offer marginal benefits in the short term and probably none in the long term.
Work/life balances are changing and many once city commuters are establishing work from home practices which substantially change traffic congestion. Since 2017,
North and South average Daily traffic movements from the Beaches have decreased from 66,826 in 2017 to 47,960 in 2021.
Public Transport options as an alternative to the Beaches/ link tunnel should be properly assessed. There must be an independent cost/benefit analysis for all transport
options which should be publicly released. There should be a publicly available assessment of the Dee Why to Chatswood mass transit alternative to this high risk/high
cost/low benefit transport option before any approvals are given. The EIS should be re- issued for public consultation with this information included so the public can
fully understand the risks and compare the benefits.
Whilst other large cities around the world are innovating with world class mass transit and public transport developments to reduce emissions and get cars off the roads,
Sydney's developments are aimed at reducing green spaces and putting yet more cars on the roads leading to more congestion and emissions in the future.
NSW Minister for Planning Rob Stokes has recently announced that Sydney's planning rules will be drastically overhauled to make new developments encourage cycling
over cars, ensure more people have access to green space and build developments with working from home in mind. He was quoted as saying " So often we build our
cities around motor vehicles , or around buildings and we've forgotten the history and the people " I would suggest that the Transport Minister take this opportunity to
liaise with his colleagues and enact a vision for the future transport needs of this great city that embraces these stated outcomes.

I object to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection because the number of truck movements from the dive site will seriously impact the Naremburn and Cammeray traffic junctions and cause serious gridlock and pollution.

I object to the Beaches Link Tunnel.

Firstly because it will not meet the EIS goal of relieving traffic congestion and delays. The time saving claims for the commute from Balgowlah to the CBD / airport are based on forecasts made in 2016 for traffic flows 21 years into the future. The ability to make an accurate forecast that far into the future has to be called into question and this forecast did not take into consideration the introduction of the B-Line bus or the shift to working from home due to Covid. Although Transport for NSW has evaluated the move to working from home as temporary, there is much evidence to suggest that this will not be the case, with many companies adopting a hybrid form of working from home. This very expensive infrastructure project (in its current form) is not necessary. The money could be better spent in expanding the public transport options and establishing community Work From Home Hubs that have the potential of improving active transport in the northern beaches and the amenity for so many residents, as well as being a far more environmentally friendly solution. Real consideration of public transport options was not considered prior to the commencement of the concept stage - as revealed in NSW government cabinet documents leaked to the media. This should be conducted via an independent cost-benefit analysis for all transport options and publicly released.

As a resident living near the construction site and near the Balgowlah entrance for the tunnel, I am concerned about the excess noise that will be created both during construction and from increased traffic flow after construction. Noise pollution is set to increase both during and after construction and the EIS does not specify the methods used to mitigate construction noise (such as noise walls) - they just say they will arrange mitigation later. As a condition of approval of the project, an independent assessment of noise and vibration impacts from construction on all surrounding homes with noise and vibration above management levels must be done and provided to property owners before construction commences. Where exceedances are found to be likely, appropriate mitigation strategies such as double-glazing or noise barriers to eliminate these exceedances should be implemented before construction.

I am deeply concerned about the impact on air quality from this project because of the government’s refusal to consider having a filter system in the ventilation stacks. Filtered ventilation stacks are the base standard in many countries across the world. The EIS acknowledges that there will definitely be an increase in the level of air toxins in the atmosphere close to the stacks - 1.2 km and below. Our property, as well as Balgowlah boys High School, St Cecilia’s and Seaforth Public Schools all fall within this radius - for which there is no safe level of exposure according to health experts, despite the EIS claims that it is safe.

There will be significant environmental damage as a consequence of building the Beaches Link Tunnel. Groundwater flows into the Burnt Bridge Creek will be reduced by around 80% while the tunnels are being built and up to 96% after completion of the project. This means that the creek will become a storm water drain – reliant only on rainwater. This will impact on the vegetation along the creek (and including the valuable Baringa Bush Reserve), the grey-headed flying fox colony, and on properties bordering the creek as the water table falls. In addition, the quality of water that flows into Manly Lagoon and into the ocean at Queenscliff Beach will fall – and during times of reduced rainfall the water will be polluted. More than 12 hectares of high value bushland will be destroyed with the widening of the Wakehurst Parkway from North Seaforth to the intersection of the Parkway with Warringah Road. Construction will cause pollution of local waterways. There will toxic sediment and sludge from the coffer dams and the installation of the immersed tubes in Middle Harbour. The tide will carry the sludge towards Spit Bridge and beyond – with potentially high levels of very nasty toxins in the waters of Sandy Bay and in the Clontarf Ocean Pool. Manly Dam also faces pollution as the widening of Wakehurst Parkway will result in uncontrolled flows of water during periods of heavy rain. The ruts resulting from the construction activity on the ridges and slopes as part of the bush clearing and the construction activity will result in the flow of polluted water in the catchment area of Manly Dam and into Bantry Bay. In the EIS, the TfNSW admits that it cannot control this happening when it rains heavily. For example, in 2020 this would have happened every month. There must be guarantees that waterways do not become polluted.

Finally, I am concerned about the impact of the tunnel on local traffic with rat runs in Balgowlah becoming highly congested. TfNSW acknowledges that traffic congestion in Manly Vale and Balgowlah will increase significantly during construction and once the tunnel is built. Little work appears to have been done to assess the effect of the project on the local road network, this is a critical omission in the EIA and needs to be addressed.

The whole project is an inexcusable waste of money that will not meet the goal of reducing congestion or easing traffic flow and it comes at a huge cost to the local environment and living standards of residents in the Balgowlah area.

I strongly object to this project. My 6 year old son goes to Anzac Park Public School and i do not want him and other local school kids sucking in fumes from unfiltered stacks. We regularly walk and cycle around Flat Rock Gully and cannot believe that major parts of it will be distroyed. I thoight the government was trying to reduce tge impacts of climate change and yet you continue to be moving ahead with toxic toll road tunnels rather than investing in sustainable public transport. It feels like this whole process is obsolete. I dont think that any of you are taking any interest in these objections and will move ahead with your plans with no regard for the local opinions being raised. Shame on you all! Ps this is the second time ive had to type this out as once again your system crashes. Very convenient for you as not sure how many will try mutiple times if it doesnt work first time. I cant believe we are still experiencing the same tech issues as we did with the previous tunnel.

I object to the Northern Beaches Tunnel in its current form for the reasons and issues highlighted in the attached document

I believe that the environmental impact of the tunnel is significant and does not justify the destruction of the land. Also, I believe that if the tunnel goes ahead that tolls are an additional burden on the residents of the Northern Beaches which is already inequitable as residents of the Western Suburbs receive concessions and cash backs for the substantial infrastructure provided.
Our local infrastructure for roads and improvements has never adequately been addressed in a planned, holistic process. I am against the tunnel as it will not solve our transport problems. It is another, 'to be privatised project', just like the return of the double decker buses, now called the B Line! No change in 50 years!

As a parent/local, I OBJECT to the Beaches link project.

This project, added to the related Western Harbour Tunnel and Freeway upgrade is massive and will severely impact our entire community, with all pain and no gain to us, and only 10% improvement to traffic on Military Road for billions of dollars spent and irreparable damage to our community and local area.
Nth Sydney LGA will be permanently clogged both where the tunnels come out and due to toll avoidance and local rat runs. Local streets will become a parking lot as traffic will not be able to move. Key major intersections (including Miller and Amherst) will fail the EIS says; cross Nth Sydney LGA & Willoughby journeys will take much longer.

However, most importantly is the impact on our natural environment and damage to Flat Rock Gully which as provided so much solace during Covid and is home to so many indigenous fauna and flora.

I request the NSW Govt put key conditions on the project e.g. real time air quality monitoring near schools, review options for more public transport, erect temporary and permanent noise walls to protect us from greater than acceptable limits during construction and at completion of works. Look after your citizens and not the corporate sector.

I so not understand why we would reduce open green space to place more car traffic on the road. If the tunnel was to be used exclusively for public transport it would be more acceptable. Most traffic is for short distances as has been proven statistically. Why reduce buses in our area to place more cars on the road. Simple.

Please see attached file for my submission

I object to this project for a number of reasons
1. Unfiltered exhaust stacks - There is irrefutable proof that pollution from cars causes serious health risks. There is evidence captured globally that proves the levels of airborne toxins from other similar tunnel projects greatly exceed recommended health levels. Globally, tunnels that are over 5kms all have filtered exhaust stacks including Japan and Norway who have the most experience of tunnel design and development. The Balgowlah unfiltered smoke stack is within less than 500mtrs to a number of schools and day care centers including Balgowlah Boys (not included as a community receptor for modelling, despite being within 300m and overlooking the exhaust stack), Seaforth Public, St Cecilias, North Balgowlah Public, Punchinello Kindergarten and others. The Balgowlah exhaust stack is particularly problematic as it is located at a low point in the valley, meaning exhaust emissions will be distributed over homes and schools on the hills around it. This includes the tall apartments at Stockland Balgowlah, homes in Ellery Pde Seaforth, Woodbine St North Balgowlah, Maretimo St Balgowlah and everyone in between. Not only will thousands of residents be exposed to increased pollution levels, they will have a daily visual reminder of that fact.
2. Environmental concerns - Burnt Bridge Creek will be severely impacted, removal of Balgowlah Golf Course, Manly Dam impact on flora and fauna, dredging of middle harbour and release of toxins into the harbour which the EIS report has identified and will travel to nearby recreation spots such as Clontarf reserve.
3. 7 years of construction - The Balgowlah golf course and Kirkwood St, Seaforth will be the construction site. From the EIS report there will be over 3000 vehicles entering and exiting every day of construction, which equates to 1 large truck every minute. This comes with heavy diesel exhaust, as well as trucks idling and creating queues to get in and out of the site. The main intersection around the site which is already extremely busy will suffer even longer and heavy delays. The sites will also host a large number of workers; hundreds of people will arrive in the early hours and need parking for their own vehicles, potentially on local streets and residents have no authority to stop them.
4. Impacts of tunnelling - The EIS states they have assessed that 853 properties in Seaforth / Clontarf will experience noise from tunnelling, and 325 properties in Seaforth/Clontarf will experience vibrations. Residents on similar tunnelling projects in Sydney have experienced this. At a site in Carrington St, North Strathfield, many residents suffered severe cracking in their homes from tunnelling 40 metres below them, and had difficulties ensuring contractors and the government accepted responsibility for extensive repairs.
5. Rat-runs - Changes to traffic patterns as a result of the Beaches Link tunnel are projected to significantly increase delays on local roads and intersections including Condamine St at Manly Vale / Balgowlah, Sydney Rd and Warringah Rd / Wakehurst Parkway, despite recent road upgrades. These delays will encourage rat-runs on smaller local streets, increasing travel times and making local streets more dangerous.
6. Toll Operators - The project once complete will be sold to a toll operator such as Transurban at a price that will be significantly less than the cost price. Toll operators profit on inducing more traffic into their assets to maximise traffic.
I strongly object to this proposal and do not believe that other viable transport solutions have been thoroughly investigated. I strongly urge for this project to be delayed until other less disruptive viable solutions are properly investigated.
I am so proud to live in Australia - our recent Covid experience is continued testament to the wonderful country we live in. I can not believe that you are even considering unfiltered exhaust stacks. Creating this tunnel network is encouraging more cars on the road, more pollution etc, where we should be encouraging public transport and not killing off our beautiful natural environment.
Please please please reconsider this project.

For Submission see attachment

I would like to object to this project. The details within the EIS indicate that there will ONLY be a 10% reduction on Military Road. And this was before Covid when it's now identified how easy it is for people to work from home. I suspect that the traffic on Military Road has already been reduced by 10% or more since the study was done. I do not see how a 10% reduction can be justified for the BILLIONS that will be spent on the tunnel.
I also have a huge concern with the environment, the pollution stacks are not going to be filitered. Why? The community of North Balgowlah is stuck in the middle of both stacks, therefore no matter which way the wind in blowing, we will be breathing the polluted air and toxins, ALL day and night, 7/24 x 365 days a year. There are so many innocent children at schools and childcare places within the pollution zones as well.
I also object to the devastation that is gong to be caused to the existing and beautiful Burnt Bride Creek, it will no longer exist. Nor will the well used Balgowlah Golf course. The EIS talks about returning the green space at the end of the project, but that means taking a street full of peoples homes to recover the space.
The current infrastructure for all suburbs around Balgowlah has very narrow streets. There is not enough space for the massively increased number of cars, utes, cement trucks, heavy vehicles and trucks that will be needed access the area. And where with the workers park?
Projects such as this always go longer than expected, our suburbs will be in chaos for a lot longer than the projected 7 years. The safety of our streets is a huge concern for me.
The plans for Wakehurst parkway that sits ontop of a ridge suggests the road will become 40mtrs wide in parts. How is this possible? I object to the taking away of the well used walking and mountain bike tracks.
Seaforth Village has just been created into a new transport Hub by Transport of NSW. This increase of people in the area is dramatic, increasing this again with all the extra workers and trucks is not feasable. The intersections and roundabouts will not cope. Again, there is a major safety issue.
The Billions planned for the tunnel should be re thought for a long term public transport solution. There should be less emissions in the future, not more.
Lastly, North Balgowlah is sandwiched in the middle of this planned project, that community gets all the negative parts of the project and sits too far forward to even access the tunnel if it's completed. Absolutely no gain for that community. Military Rd gets a gain of 10% less traffic for absolutely no pain. In my opinion the benefits of this tunnel do not come anywhere near meeting the astronomical cost and the negatives for a short sighted outdated solution. Please think carefully about the best future of the Northern Beaches.