Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

I'm writing to object to the Northern Beaches tunnel project by the State Government on a number of grounds. The environmental damage caused by the construction of this tunnel will be devastating to local flora and fauna and waterways. Although the EIS claims the tunnel works noises will not disturb the local bat colony, it does not take into account that juvenile bats are left behind at night while the parent bats go and forage. Bats are a key part of our ecosystem and this will no doubt cause further disruption to our delicate ecosystem. In addition huge areas of bushland near Wakehurst parkway will be cleared for construction of this tunnel. This includes an area with unique flora and fauna: the Bantry Bay reservoir (near Kirwood St). The Eastern pygmy possum and the Eastern Bent-wing bat will both be threatened by this development. The Eastern wing bat which was noted from a Total Earth Care Biodiversity Study in 2018 by Sydney Water to be present in the bushland area under threat has failed to be mentioned in the EIS. The impact of tunnel construction will be huge on the waterways of the area. Burnt Bridge creek flow will be reduced not only during construction but also at the end of the project by up to 96%. This effectively destroys the creek and will threaten the wildlife that relies on it such as the grey headed flying fox colony. The reduction of water flow from Burnt Bridge will also reduce the water quality into Manly Lagoon and Queenscliff Beach resulting in higher levels of pollution. The tunnel project should not be allowed to proceed until more is done to assure the community that the devastating environmental consequences of this tunnel are eliminated.
In the Beaches Link EIS, Chapter 3, Section 3.4 states: “The Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade project and the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway
Connection project are being delivered as separate projects, but have been developed as an integrated program of works known as the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link program.” The EIS failed to provide an evaluation of a scenario where the Western Harbour Tunnel proceeds without the Beaches Link tunnel. The Beaches Link tunnel is not a needed part of infrastructure and traffic modelling is based on 2016 data rather than on current data. Current data would show a huge reduction in commuters to the city from the Northern Beaches and increased numbers of people (around 52%) working from home. The Beaches Link tunnel is not needed and the Western Harbour Tunnel can proceed without it.
I am a resident of North Balgowlah and will be directly affected by excess noise and vibration from the construction of the project, including potential damage to my home. Within the EIS there is no plan to prevent excess noise and vibration nor any tactic to prevent damage to homes. A parliamentary inquiry into the construction of WestConnex Stage 1 and 2 found contractors breached the construction rules frequently. Finding 14 stated: “That the various noise mitigation measures offered by Roads and Maritime Services are wholly inadequate to substantially reduce heavy construction noise.” Yet the EIS for the Northern Beaches tunnel offers no guidelines for how they will stop the same construction mistakes happening again. The Northern Beaches Tunnel project has been poorly conceived and planned and should be stopped in its tracks.
The ventilation stacks proposed for the tunnel in the EIS are so close to Balgowlah Boys High, St Cecilias Primary, Seaforth Public Schools and Balgowlah North Public schools and yet no filtration is proposed. According to medical experts the level of toxins will increase in the area 1.2km from the stacks but not enough to really harm anyone's health. Recent research suggests there are no safe levels of air pollution. A recent study in Japan showed that even short-term exposure to PM2·5 was associated with an increased risk of cardiac events even at relatively low air pollution concentrations (Zhao et al. 2020). Another cross over study looked at the impact of air pollution on children's health, particularly relevant here given the close proximity of the tunnel stacks to schools and local communities. Barnett et al. (2005) found significant increases across the cities were observed for hospital admissions in children for pneumonia and acute bronchitis (0, 1-4 years), respiratory disease (0, 1-4, 5-14 years), and asthma (5-14 years). These increases were found for particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 microm (PM2.5) and less than 10 microm (PM10), nephelometry, NO2, and SO2. The largest association found was a 6.0% increase in asthma admissions (5-14 years) in relation to a 5.1-ppb increase in 24-hour NO2. Any increase in air pollution as created by the tunnel stacks and also the tunnel works building is not "safe" and is linked to hazardous health consequences for both adults and children in terms of respiratory diseases and cardiac diseases.
In conclusion, the Northern Beaches tunnel should not proceed as a project due to the projected hazardous consequences to the local environment and to the health of the children and families. These risks to human life and animal life are not warranted given there is very little need for a tunnel works to proceed in the Beaches area due to huge reductions in commuter numbers.
References:
Barnett A, Williams G., Schwartz J., Neller A., Best T., Petroeschevsky A., Simpson, R. (2005). Air pollution and child respiratory health: a case-crossover study in Australia and New Zealand. American Journal of Respiratory Health and Critical Care Medicine 171(11):1272-8.
Zhao, B., Johnston, F., Salimi, F., Kurabayashi, M. & Negishi, K. (2020). Short-term exposure to ambient fine particulate matter and out-of-hospital cardiac arrest: a nationwide case-crossover study in Japan. Lancet Vol 4 (1).

I object to the Beaches Link road tunnel because it will ruin the unique northern beaches environment. For the sake of future generations, the government must look at public transport alternatives, such as a metro, that are sustainable and will reduce emissions.

Urban bushland is fast disappearing. For the future of the urban environment, we can no longer afford to put construction sites, with all their impacts, in biodiversity rich areas.
The Beaches Link will negatively impact significant wildlife corridors, including Flat Rock Drive and Manly Dam bushland, and marine ecosystems at Middle Harbour and the Spit.
23 threatened species will be negatively impacted. Hundreds of other species will also lose their habitat, be cut off from bushland, or be driven away - birds,
frogs, reptiles, mammals and aquatic animals. Flat Rock Gully is a key part of the network of wildlife corridors across Sydney required to maintain biodiversity.
Over 390 trees are targeted for potential destruction at Flat Rock Gully – only two-thirds will be replaced. Willoughby City Council (WCC) tree policy requires that 3 trees be replaced for each removal (WCC, Vegetation Management Strategy 2020). Local tree policies are required by the NSW Government to reflect the needs of different areas for tree canopy and wildlife habitat. These should not be overridden by the NSW State Government.
The bushland at Flat Rock Gully has been targeted for destruction on the basis that it is ‘only’ regenerated bush. This regeneration is the result of 25 years of work by WCC and bush care volunteers. Most of the plantings were propagated from local indigenous plants. Wildlife doesn’t discriminate between regenerated and remnant indigenous trees and bushland.
A full study of wildlife has not been, and will not be, carried out in Flat Rock Gully, Middle Harbour and nearby bushland. Desktop assessments and a few walk-throughs are inadequate to reveal its full biodiversity and a full wildlife study is needed.
The health of local creeks, waterways and the marine environments are at risk from scouring, elevated salinity, siltation, contamination by disturbed toxic materials from the tip site and accidental fuel or chemical spills. Groundwater drawdown of more than 20 metres will contribute to trees becoming stressed or dying in other parts of Flat Rock Gully away from the construction footprint, especially in times of drought.

Please consider ecologically sustainable alternatives to the car tunnel.
Fully scope alternative public transport options.
Carry out a full assessment of biodiversity in and around the area to be destroyed in Flat Rock Gully.

Our parks, waterways and natural green spaces provide us with a sense of well being and connection. Our quality of life is compromised by these projects during years of construction and into the future.

All options should be explored before deciding on this destructive path.

Hi there,
I would like to lodge an objection to the proposed beaches link development. As a local resident I have serious concerns about the proposed development they include:

- serious disruption to daily life caused by the 5-7 years construction timeline. I work in Mosman and am very concerned about the impact the construction will have on my commute to and from work each day not to mention the noise and dust caused by constant drilling and digging
- post build, I'm very concerned about the health of my family living so close to unfiltered exhaust stacks
- environmental impact I.e loss of wildlife
bushland and aboriginal art due to development and creation of the tunnel plus the impact of having more cars on the road causing more pollution in the environment

In my opinion, we should be looking at ways of getting cars off the road and improving public transport. This will be better for both communities and the environment.

Kind regards,

The manly dam and possum mountain bike trails need to be kept open through the building process. They provide an outlet and excerise source for thousands of individuals. Being one of the only trails on the beaches that is council approved it needs to be kept open to ensure safe riding for all people on the beaches. It would be an poor decision to close these trails.

To whom it may concern,
I object to the construction of the Beaches Link Tunnel for the following reasons:
1. It has poor economics and does not merit funding, especially following the pandemic and the accumulation of massive public debt. An economic model of the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel shows that the people of NSW will likely have to subsidise a private operator for an amount in the range of $5 - $8 billion (if the operator buys a 100% stake in the Tunnel). This is an amount that would buy a lot of public transport options and capacity” for the residents of the Northern Beaches.
2. It is not a strategic priority. In February 2020, Infrastructure Australia published its updated list of what it considers to be the high priority infrastructure projects (see Infrastructure Australia, Infrastructure Priority List – Project and Initiative Summaries, Feb 2020) – this list covers all types of infrastructure. The projects are grouped High Priority Initiatives and Priority Initiatives. The Western Harbour and Beaches Link Tunnels are classified a “Priority Initiative” and not a “High Priority Project”.
3. There is no provision for public transport using the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel to connect with the Metro Train Network, or a commitment to have a public transport lane in the tunnel. This misses a massive opportunity to reduce car transport and congestion across the already heavily congested Northern Beaches.
4. The smokestacks are massive, unsightly and unfiltered, set to release double the maximum recommended limit of particulates recommended by the WHO and will be releasing toxic gases in the immediate proximity to a large school and homes.
5. To reduce congestion and connect the city, money would be better spent on a driverless high speed metro instead which connects to the metro in Crows Nest or Chatswood, allowing people to not need cars to travel quickly and easily across the city. Building the Beaches Link Tunnel represents a lost opportunity to expand and improve public transport options for the residents of the Northern Beaches to access the new Metro Rail Network. I strongly support the option for a public transport link from the Chatswood Metro Station to Dee Why (via the Northern Beaches Hospital Precinct) or from Crows Nest to Dee Why via the densely inhabited and heavily congested area of Military Rd Mosman.
6. The construction will lead to the destruction of the Balgowlah Golf Course and have 500 trucks each day dredging up earth from 2023 to 2028, causing massive noise and dust issues on the surrounding areas, including the large school of Balgowlah Boys. It will lead to a very unsightly construction site and traffic chaos too for 6 years, a significant period, and result in a tunnel which just encourages more cars and traffic.
7. It will cause ongoing pollution to the sensitive creeks and waterways at Manly Dam and Garigal National Park. I understand that 39 football fields of bushland will be cleared as well as 2,000 trees. As NSW has committed to Net Zero by 2050, it is critical that we preserve existing forests and wildlife areas which also contribute to the liveability of our surroundings.
8. During construction, 425 000 litres of waste water will be washed into Manly Lagoon, polluting an already stressed natural environment and affecting local wildlife and residents considerably.
9. Ay Middle Harbour, toxic chemicals in the harbour sediment will be disturbed during dredging, posing a major threat to the marine environment and the local parks like Clontarf which people from across Sydney know and love.
10. Congestion will increase on our local roads, both during and after construction, with new sets of traffic lights and an increased number of cars as public transport becomes an even less viable option on the Northern Beaches due to the tunnel, in a massive section of Sydney which already lacks high speed transport options and further forces residents to use cars.
The recent disasters (drought, bushfires, floods and the Covid-19 Virus Pandemic) have placed extraordinary pressure on the current and future budgets of the State and Federal Government. Please do not start a project that has poor economics, lower strategic priority and will only encourage more cars, pollution and destruction of the beautiful Northern Beaches which we have chosen as our home because of it’ natural beauty. Please invest in a high speed driverless public transport option instead. Thank you.

1. The proposed alternative route for active transport through Artarmon is inadequate. Additional consideration should be to finding a method to keep the cyclepath within the freeway reservation while work continues. Steep hills and road junctions involved in the diversion will be a significant barrier to active transport that the government is trying to promote.

2. Consideration does not appear to have been give to the traffic that may use suburban streets in Chatswood and Willoughby to cross to Penshurst St to access the Willoughby Rd onramp in order to access the tunnels. Additional modelling may be required to ensure that cross-streets have appropriate treatment to avoid becoming a rat-runs for traffic avoiding the toll roads and currently using Brook St to access the tunnels that will now need to cross to Penshurst St.

3. A long term plan of the state has been to remove the Cahill Expressway and open up Circular Quay. By pushing more traffic onto the Cahill, this plan makes this more difficult to accomplish into the future.

There are many unanswered questions and extremely unsatisfactory and alarming effects on much of the community both during and after the completion of this, in my opinion, unnecessary project.
I support that the EIS needs to be reissued for public consultation with a
1) A full Phase 2 Contamination Assessment completed
2) A comparative mass transit alternative assessment
3) Travel times, surface traffic changes and costs fully scoped ie a business case

As a young family living in Calbina Road Northbridge for over 20 years, which is adjacent to the proposed dive and construction site for the full beaches tunnel project, we are highly concerned about the impact of the truck movements through the local area and the impact of the construction on local vegetation and fauna in Flat Rock Gully.
We enter the gully bush track from our street and frequently access Willoughby Leisure Centre and Bicentennial Park for sport, Willoughby Road buses for school transport , walking the dog and bike track. We understand this will be taken away from us due to the location of this site. Also the bushland has natural ambience and has been well maintained by local residents and bush groups over many years. The occurrence of toxic materials underground from prior use as a local rubbish tip is also concerning as there are no guarantees that this would not be disturbed and cause pollution to re-emerge and leak into the gully and surrounding waterways.
We are especially worried about the estimated 900+ daily truck movements on Flat Rock Drive which will last for over 5 years. Flat Rock Drive is already a busy main road artery feeding traffic to/from Warringah Expressway. We know that this road is already congested at peak times and can't imagine what it will be like when construction starts. The road has a steep incline and truck noise will be accentuated as they enter/exit the site. We are already conscious about air pollution and its impact on our health from vehicles transiting across our suburb (black soot is visible on our property from cars) and this will make it worse. We are also concerned trucks and other ancillary worker transport vehicles will congest Miller Street Cammeray through to Sailors Bay Road Northbridge and is also a busy main road especially during peak times.
We respectfully make the following requests:
- reconsider the location of the dive site to an industrial area (eg Artarmon) where there have been no prior rubbish tips and closer access to major arterial roads Pacific Hwy onto Warringah Freeway without impacting local roads.
- absent above, restrict truck movements to times outside peak hours (7 - 9am; 3 - 6pm) including weekends. No idling of trucks along Flat Rock Drive. Police enforcement of breaches
- at a minimum, full binding restoration of damage caused to Flat Rock Gully and ideally upgrading of the site eg walking tracks, cycle ways, parking bays etc as minimum compensation for residents impacted by the construction

I object to the destruction of the Balgowlah Golf Course
I object to the destruction of the local environment to Burnt Bridge Creek
I object to the years of construction disruption, noise, and damage to housing due to vibrations
I object to the impact of the construction to local schools, pre schools, kindergartens
I object to the air pollution during the building stage impacting the young, ill, old and any one susceptible to asthma and other lung conditions
I object to the unfiltered exhaust stack that will pollute the air in the Balgowlah valley, Seaforth, Manly Vale and surrounding suburbs
I object to the Unfiltered Stack being placed in Balgowlah and then sporting fields being built under it impacting anyone sing the fields
I object to the cost to the tax payers for this project that was not voted on
I object to the use of the word consultation from Government as there has been no consultation just being told what is happening
I object to the future cost of using the tunnel when we have a no cost option in place
I object to the no bus lane in the tunnel
I object to the fact that the tunnel will not solve the traffic that starts at the Manly Vale Choke point, Brookvale Choke points and Dee Why Choke points.
I object to the tunnel not being extended past the choke point noted above if this was indeed to help with traffic
I object to this tunnel not standing up a business case that supporting it without the need to be linked to the Western Sydney tunnel projects
I object to the the view that this will save time in traffic when it will not and there is a better option of more reliable clean public transport
I object to the devaluation of property values of those who live around the tunnel and will be forever impacted
I object to the tunnel being used to open up a development corridor in the northern beaches which will increase more traffic and impact your forecasted travel times significantly
I object to the gap in the Serpentine Crescent Noise wall which will impact residents significantly during and after any construction
I object to the massive increases in trucks and the risk for all the local school students and the fact that you have factored in potential increase in loss of lives
I object to the fact that Burnt Bridge Creek was supported for years through a Environmental Levy and now the construction will destroy the environment we as rate payers and tax payers have saved.
I object to the burnt bridge creek waterflow being reduced by 96% due to a tunnel being built
I object to the number of trees being lost during and after construction
I object to the impacts to historical aboriginal sites due to the tunnel
I object to the damage to Manly dam environment due to the tunnel being built

1. Major accessibility, continuity and safety issues at the Artarmon site with the prosed closure of an existing wide and quality pathway between Naremburn and Artarmon for at least a period of four years of construction and no alternative provided except for an on-road route along busy, fast and heavy vehicle trafficked roads through Artarmon Industrial Area. Despite the obvious huge impact the EIS describes this impact as ‘minor’ which is completely and dangerously misleading. The existing path is a shared path ie families, strollers, pedestrians, cyclists.
2. Safety issues for riders on existing Herbert St bike route at the bridge over the freeway. There appears to be a failure to consider an increase in the width of Herbert St bridge to enable continuity of Willoughby Council’s proposed separated cycleway
3. Moderate safety and continuity concerns for proposed detour path at Flat Rock site.
4. I am unsure as to whether this comment relates to the EIS but there is a failure to include any improvement to the existing unsafe gap from where the cycleway terminates in the middle of the motorway at Naremburn to West Street, Cammeray.

* Noise impact down Flat Rock Drive is one of my major concerns as we live off Flat Rock Drive and entry into Flat Rock Drive from our street with loads of trucks going along it. Even now it is difficult getting in and out of our street. Cars are banked up in rush hour.
* What about resurfacing of Brook St and Flat Rock Drive before all this occurs as it will well be well and truly damaged by all the trucks long term..
* If 3 mainline tunnels are being built are there any measures for compensation if our house foundations are affected and cracks appear? Is this being managed?
* Flat Rock Gully is a major recreation area for locals and the destruction of this wildlife corridor is abhorrent.

I am horrified at the proposal to close the Gore Hill bike path for 4 years.
This bike path is a vital route both for commuting and recreational cyclists.
The alternative route proposed through the Artarmon industrial area is hilly and heavily trafficked.
It is dangerous for cyclists and will result in accidents, injuries and possible deaths.
You need to do better than this!

It's a horrific project destroying the beautiful environment around the Manly Dam and swamping the Manly Lagoon with waste water. No one needs this connection, people won't be commuting as much as previously.
No one wants the noise, the dirt and the traffic in this beautiful area. We need more trees instead!!!

Did you know that:
• Wakehurst Parkway will be a 4-6 lane freeway across a narrow escarpment, causing ongoing pollution into sensitive creeks and waterways at Manly Dam and Garigal National Park. 39 football fields of bushland will be cleared as well as 2,000 trees. The road will be raised several metres in some areas - making it audible and visible, day and night, for miles around.
• The Burnt Bridge Creek will die as its flow is to be reduced by 96%, destroying a delicate ecosystem that supports threatened species including the flying fox colony.
• During construction, 425,000 litres of waste water will be washed into Manly Lagoon at Queenscliff every day.
• At Middle Harbour, toxic chemicals in the harbour sediment will be disturbed during dredging, posing a major threat to the marine environment and the amenity of Clontarf and Sandy Bay.
• Balgowlah Golf Course site will be completely cleared of vegetation and native habitats during construction to allow for parking for some of the 3000 workers daily, enormous road headers, a concrete batch plant, rock crushers and acoustic sheds.
• 500 heavy trucks per day will trudge past Bally Boys during 6 years of construction – one per minute
• Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation will end up 12 lanes wide near Seaforth.
• Unfiltered exhaust stacks in Balgowlah and Seaforth would emit double the maximum limit of particulates recommended by the World Health Authority, covering a 1.2km radius per stack.
• Congestion will increase on our local roads, both during and after construction. Traffic is not going to magically disappear underground. New sets of traffic lights on Sydney Road and Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation will quickly cause queues to build up in areas already jammed with cars.
• There is no public transport lane in the tunnel, no new bus services are guaranteed and the EIS doesn’t promise quicker trips on public transport. It isn’t in the operator’s interests to “turbocharge” public transport!

I am submitting an objection to the Gore Hill Beaches Link Tunnel. My objections are as follows:
1. No Viable Business Case has been presented to justify the huge expenditure of NSW taxpayers money, particularly considering the commuting time benefits stated, will only be short term.
a). The massive amount of money and the length of time this project will take is seen as a real waste of precious taxpayer dollars, when there are much more pressing social needs for voters where this money could be used.
b). The time saved for many commuters from the Northern Beaches as overstated in the EIS, is minuscule when measured against the toll costs, which they believe will force them to use Military Road to the CBD anyway.
c). The EIS assumes that COViD will not impact on our road usage, yet other research has indicated around 20% of commuters are likely to work more from home. It is also understood that there was a 40% decline in Public Transport (PT) usage throughout the Northern Beaches during the COViD restrictions, as people preferred to travel in their own cars. This will presumably return to greater PT usage, as we saw prior to COViD. These neglected issues need to be included in the EIS.
d). There is no real evidence of improved or sufficient PT delivery within the BLT. It remains a car tunnel, which is counter to the State Govt wish to have more people travel by PT.
e). There was a suggestion that, by building better connecting, higher road capacity roads, the Govt will in fact create a situation, where the initial faster connections upon completion, could disappear within a few years if more people are encouraged to use the new tollway.
f). Greater connection means much higher levels of crowding and congestion to our beaches and Harbour Reserves, particularly on weekends and Public Holidays. We were already at maximum numbers in the current peak season, without any improved connection from many other parts of Sydney.
g). To plough so much money into this tunnel, to save 10 minutes drive along Military Road seems baffling to me, and many others within the community, I have spoken to.
h). The EIS states that the tunnel will save 30+ mins when travelling from Manly or Dee Why to the City, and even more when travelling to the airport. However, it only takes 35 mins or so, in morning peak hours to travel from the Seaforth/ Fairlight areas to the city, so it seems implausible that it will take less than 5 minutes to travel to the city via the tunnel.

2. Much improvement needed in Environmental Outcomes.
a). The voluminous EIS was published over the end of year Holiday period while many community residents were away.
b).Insufficient time was given to lodge Submissions and TfNSW , and requests to have the submission period extended were disappointingly rejected.
c). There is real concern that residents of the environmental impacts of the project will adversely affect the whole of Seaforth, Balgowlah, Balgowlah Heights and Clontarf communities.
d). TfNSW carried out 3 webinars explaining much of the environmental studies and work done by the BLT management team, but many residents felt, as I did, that the explanations , both within the Executive Summary and the Webinars, were to play down many of the issues and placate the audience. It was seen as a marketing and public relations exercise, with no real appreciation for the great concerns of many of the people being affected. In fact there is a real feeling of covering up or dishonest reporting and answers.
e). A major environmental concern is regarding the complete destruction of Balgowlah Golf Course and all the biodiversity of wildlife and birds living in this precious local green space.
f). The very significant reduction in the flow of the valuable Burnt Bridge Creek is also detrimental to great variety of biodiversity of animal and plants living along the waterway. It is a favourite walkway for people as well.
g). Pollutants from the changed environment of the Creek will drain directly into Manly Lagoon and to Queenscliff Beach exposing people and marine life to toxicity.
h). There is considerable concern regarding the height and mass of the 8 storey exhaust stacks which will dominate the skyline from a great part of the whole locality.
i). This concern extends to the refusal of the Government to include effective and safer air filtering systems on the exhaust stacks similar to equivalent tunnel filtering overseas.
f). These stacks will be emitting inadequately filtered pollutants from the tunnel very close to 3 local schools, including Balgowlah Boys High and Seaforth Public School and Day Care Centres and also residential areas near he Burnt Bridge Creek area and Manly Vale. The stack near Nth Balgowlah, on Wakehurst parkway will also not be filtered.
g). Assurances from TfNSW that their "modelling"will be "within the current Govt guidelines"and "monitored" over time is a hollow statement, as there are no plans to rectify any concerning pollution problems.
h). The complete industrialisation of Balgowlah Golf Course with the construction equipment and spoil and rubble from the tunnelling will be result in a deep community sadness, at the loss of this beautiful local icon, and a complete eyesore for many years.
i). The risk of water pollution affecting much of Middle Harbour will be from the uncovering of toxic waste, both from the Harbour floor on the West side of Spit Bridge and also from the Flat rock Reserve in Tunks Park, Northbridge.
j). The Tunks Park area was for many years a dumping ground for rubbish and building materials including asbestos which will be dug up and exposed and this is not acknowledged in the EIS. Toxic water from this exposure will flow into Middle Harbour, pollute the whole of the Cammeray, Northbridge and Castle Cove areas, then flow down to the Spit Bridge area and out to sea past Clontarf Reserve and tidal pool areas, where many people, including children, swim.
k). Toxicity affecting Clontarf Reserve beach, Sandy Bay, Clontarf tidal pool and the Spit sailing and recreation areas will be exacerbated greatly from the dredging of the sludge from the Harbour floor at the tunnel site with the construction of the "Coffer Dams". This situation is totally not acceptable for the many months that this situation will exist.
l). The "Silt Curtains" which the EIS claims to be the remedy for this flow of this sludge have not been known to be 100% effective when used in other locations, so trust in this remedy is very low.
m). Construction noise for many months in the Clontarf, Balgowlah and Seaforth areas will be excessive, intrusive and cause mental stress to many people. The promise of TfNSW that this will only occur during daylight hours and not on Sundays is dependant on the contractors needs and desires and will not be closely monitored or stopped if they are under pressure to complete works.
n). The movement of 50 large trucks per hour through local streets and rat runs which will occur as commuters try to access ways to travel will be extremely disturbing and dangerous to the whole localities.
o). Large truck movements past Seaforth Public School on French's Forest Road have dangerous implications for the students.
p). The parking of up to 2000 tradesmen's vans and utilities within all our local streets is not acceptable with no place for residents to park.

In conclusion, I would like to say that I am very much against the construction of the BLT at all and I feel the costs far outweigh the benefits.
It very much appears to me to be a cynical exercise by the current NSW Govt desire to open up whole the Northern Beaches in favour of big money and developers, with small benefit to residents, the beautiful and valued natural environment of the Northern Beaches and overcrowding of the limited parking space at the beach locations from weekend and holiday visitors from distant parts of Sydney.
The inconvenience of the periodic opening of the Spit Bridge and the congestion on Military Road to traffic flow is minor in comparison to the disruption and destruction of the areas affected.
The cost to taxpayers money from this project could be much better used in providing more affordable housing, and better assistance to struggling lower income families.
Public transport alternatives have not been considered in any serious form.

•The transport department should be liable if there is any damage to my home structurally due to vibrations, trucks, heavy machinery etc, to do with the tunnel construction
•the machinery used must have the least noise impact on surrounding residents
•a sound wall be constructed behind my home on the A8 and in the construction site support area to minimise the noise from construction.
• trucks should be restricted from coming before 9am and after 5pm
• a permanent sound wall be constructed behind my property on the A8 when the project is completed
• once the project is completed the open space also consider open space use for women, not only Balgowlah boys. Women have a right to open spaces too

The EIS as released has confirmed
- Confirmed contamination risks marine & land ecosystems. The EIS itself admits more testing is needed to assess the risk and establish mitigation measures.
- Health & safety risks identified to humans and wildlife. There are a number of references in the EIS in relation to Flat Rock Reserve and the need for Stage 2 testing (see Fact Sheet - Contamination). The EIS does state that the landfill site may contain industrial as well as household and building waste however when risk assessing the Flat Rock Reserve the assumption is that it is only building and household waste. This assumption is contradicted by the high levels of chemicals in the area and the history of the site which is well documented in the EIS. The Flat Rock Reserve site needs to be re-risk assessed and fully tested before any substantive decision on the project occurs.
- 3000+ trees to be lost; 390 at Flat Rock Gully
- 4 unfiltered emissions stacks near schools, playing fields and homes
- Widespread noise above acceptable limits
- 7 suburbs face ground impact risks
- Business case NOT disclosed/ Alternatives NOT considered

In order for a proper assessment of the project and the risks to be considered, and for appropriate governance of the project I ask for the EIS to be reissued for public consultation with
1) A full Phase 2 Contamination Assessment completed
2) A comparative mass transit alternative assessment
3) Travel times, surface traffic changes and costs fully scoped i.e. a business case

​

As a local, I OBJECT to the Beaches link for these reasons
Properly model Public Transport not Toll Roads like in European Cities
Traffic Jams: 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.
Air pollution from unfiltered stacks, they filter exhaust stacks overseas, or ban Diesel trucks in the tunnels. 3 stacks will sit right near 12 schools in out local area.

I object to the Beaches Link project as no business case has been made for this toll road. It appears to simply be assumed that will reduce traffic on Military Road, without any evidence that the toll road can be funded by users, or that the traffic on Military Road will return to the same level over time. The government should fund research into the potential impact of suitable public transport options before constructing a new toll road.

I am also opposed to the construction site and permanent facilities located on the Cammeray golf course and the addition of a stack at Cammeray. The local community in Cammeray is already to be significantly affected by the use of the Cammeray golf course for the construction of the Western Harbour Tunnel and the permanent impact on the golf course of facilities for the Western Harbour Tunnel (including a stack).

An alternative construction/tunnelling site should be identified for the southern entrance to the tunnel, so that the impact of the construction is spread across different locations and communities, rather than (together with the Western Harbour Tunnel project) impacting one location and community disproportionately. Having two different projects operating in the same vicinity will double the prospect that local houses and infrastructure are damaged by vibrations and local residents are distributed by noise, dust and vibrations. In the event of damage or disturbance to the local site, it will also complicate the identification of which project is causing the damage or disturbance. A single authority should be directly responsible for all impacts.

An alternative site should also be located for the permanent operational facilities and for the exhaust stack, so that the impact of the permanent facilities (of the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Northern Beaches Link) are spread across different locations and communities.

The proponents of the project should investigate whether it is possible to locate a stack somewhere along the path of the tunnel, rather than at the Cammeray end near Ernest Street. The Western Harbour Tunnel project already has a stack to be installed at that site in Cammeray near Ernest Street. If a second stack is allowed on the same site that will effectively double the impact on air quality in the vicinity of the stack. This will have a concentrated and unequal effect on nearby residents and occupants, including of the two primary schools that are located within 500m of the site.

Please reconsider the beaches link tunnel. Bringing rail to the northern beaches and increasing public transport would be a much better option than this immensely destructive project.
I am very concerned at the amount of pollution coming out of the ventilation stacks and the effects that the construction of the tunnel will have on Manly Dam.
Manly Dam is a haven in the lower beaches. It is a beautiful spot for swimming, bushwalking and picnicking. It is so important for kids (and adults) to have access to a place like this to learn about being in nature. I personally have spent a lot of time there with my young kids over the years and we continue to visit regularly for bushwalking and peaceful time in nature. We love it there and would be so devastated to lose it!!
The tunnel will have shocking consequences for this beautiful place and all the living things that call it home. It can’t be allowed to proceed. We need to think of more sustainable ways to keep the city moving that respect local ecosystems, other living creatures and the history of the land.