Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

Submission from the residents of 37 Adelaide St, Balgowlah Heights (“Residents”), regarding measures that would need to be introduced in the event that the construction of the Northern Beaches Tunnel (“NBT”) is given planning approval.

Currently, my husband works full time from home, I work 4 days a week in Mosman, plus our son is a live at home student at Northern Beaches Secondary College.

Therefore, Transport for NSW (“TfNSW”) needs to take into account the impacts that the NBT project might have, not only upon our home environment, but also our work environment as well as school environment.

Required measures if construction of the NBT proceeds:

To prevent increased congestion around Sydney Road.
Traffic to Spit Bridge will be congested even further. From my house to Sydney Road at 8am to get around the corner at Burnt Creek Deviation to Spit Bridge takes anywhere from 15 minutes to 30 minutes depending on the day. It is already heavily congested with traffic from northern beaches, manly and sea forth at peak times. Heaton Ave is no better also experiencing lengthy delays during peak times.

Respite periods – especially during noisy works phases. These respite periods must be communicated in advance to the Residents to allow for planning of business calls / zoom meetings / child sleep periods etc.

All construction traffic must be fitted with noise and pollution control devices (including quackers to reduce the impact of tonal reversing alarms).

No construction vehicles must be permitted to wait or idle on local roads.

The emission stacks must be filtered. This is non-negotiable. As a child who attends Northern Beaches Secondary School, my mains concern is that they will be breathing in pollution from the unfiltered ventilation stacks. This is an alarming cause for concern for children/teenagers health and wellness.

Better health protection measures must be implemented for the control of silica dust created from the tunnelling through sandstone. The current measures proposed are patently inadequate.

Air Quality Monitors need to be installed and operated 24/7 at the end of Violet Street, near Balgowlah Boys campus, with real time readings to be publicly available on the internet and a system for text alert notifications to be automatically sent to Residents if pollutant safety levels are exceeded. Clear suitably deterrent penalties must apply for every occasion when pollution level limits are exceeded.

All penalties relating to the NBT project that are imposed as a result of pollution, complaint time limits, parking, or other road or traffic infringements must be published on the Balgowlah NBT Website.

Business Case and Public Transport

It is imperative that the business case for the Tunnel properly considers long term demand and public transport options to address population growth. These considerations should be based on pre-Covid 19 travel patterns and volumes, which we would anticipate will return post-pandemic levels, and will increase as the area’s housing and population density continues to grow due to State Government planning policy and legislation.
We note the recent substantive changes to bus services from Balgowlah to the CBD based on 2020 travel patterns and volumes. These are ill-considered given the dramatic reduction in public transport travel due to the pandemic. Any consideration of transport options to the area, including the tunnel or public transport, should be based on pre-pandemic models that are only reviewed after pandemic restrictions have been fully removed.

In line with leading international practice, we urge the Government to take an integrated approach (consideration of a mix of modes, aligned to land use planning and future density projections and environmental impacts) to all business cases relating to transport planning for the Northern Beaches.

We would expect options like busways, light and heavy rail are considered in the option set with any transport infrastructure providing a foundation for such modes in the future. We refer the Government and Minister to examples of such transport infrastructure in the greater, Brisbane area including the South East transport corridor.

Environmental Impacts and Loss of Green Space

The EIS and the business case for any Northern Beaches transport project, including the proposed tunnel, should take account of the loss of green space and environmental impacts to Burnt Bridge/Balgowlah Golf Course green corridor, Manly Dam Reserve and the National Park.
This should include loss of trees and vegetation, runoff damaging parks on both sides of Wakehurst Parkway and impacting the oldest, indigenous cultural site in the area at Bantry Bay (dated at circa 4,000 years by Attenbrow et al, Australian Museum).

In addition, transparent modelling of air pollution and proposed solutions & monitoring mechanisms, should be a central component of the EIS and included in project costings.


Mark Shoebridge and Krys Lojek
37 Adelaide St, Balgowlah Heights, NSW, 2093

End of submission.

I am opposed to this Beach Link project.
As a Balgowlah resident, I choose to live in a quiet residential suburb where local traffic would not become oppressive.
I also choose to live in an area full of beautiful green spaces and waterways, devoid of multi-lane expressways with their 24/7 noise and pollution.
You can bugger off with your Beach Link Freeway that will plough through my beloved Burnt Bridge Creek nature area as well as my local golf course.
I'm quite happy to wait patiently for the beautiful Spit Bridge to open and let me return home to my lovely Balgowlah and I don't want to hear the endless groan throughout each and ever night of a multi lane freeway on my doorstep.

Whilst the project will now go ahead what i am concerned about is the undue influence the construction will have on Northbridge Sailing Club which is acknowledged in the EIS.

My association with the sailing club began in the early 60s when I learnt to sail and at some time my father was treasure of the sailing club as well. I then sailed in the area for a number of years. I have now been back at the club for about 6 years as my daughter began learning to sail there and is still sailing there in a Flying 11 together with acting as a volunteer instructor. Myself and my daughter have made many great friends as a result of our association with the club. I am also currently the Treasurer of the club.

As a club that relays on its learn to sail program and the development of young sailors to become instructors it is imperative that we work with Transport for New South Wales to minimise the impact of the construction on our sailing activities in particular the courses our sailors use.

The growth in. My daughters maturity as a result of taking on the responsibility of coaching younger sailors has been phenominal as it has been over the years with many other kids.

Whilst I’m not objecting to the project though I have previously, I am requesting you work with the Sailing Club to come up with a way that enables the club to continue operating and if this isn’t possible compensate the club for the impact on its activities in order that the club can stay solvent and pick up where it left off once construction has been completed.

As a parent of 2 students currently attending Northern Beaches Secondary College – Balgowlah Boys Campus I express my strong concern in regards to the construction of the above
As you are aware, the Balgowlah Boys campus is positioned directly adjacent to the proposed building site and will be severely negatively impacted by the proposed construction in regards to:
- excessive noise and vibration during construction: it would be impossible for students to concentrate and listen to their teachers from 8am to 3pm Monday to Friday while they are surrounded by constant and daily excessive noise of heavy machinery and trucks. The students will not be able to hear the teachers, will not be able to concentrate on their work and it will negatively impact on their mental well-being.
- Lack of open and physical activity space: Balgowlah Boys Campus currently utilises the Balgowlah Oval for their recess and lunch breaks as well as PE and sports classes and while the proposal states the oval will be relocated the noise, there will be some time before the relocation is finalised leaving the 1200 students without large open space, as this oval is the only large open space the school has access to. ongoing dust and excessive noise and vibration at this site will also have a detrimental impact on the health and well-being of the boys and teachers using Balgowlah Oval during construction.
- Excessive traffic congestion: which impacts the safety as well as punctuality of students trying to get to school on time
- Air quality: due to dust emissions from earthworks and demolitions, the health of students and teachers and staff will be compromised. These dust emissions might also contain contaminants (from contaminated soil) and additionally the exhaust fumes from the increased traffic around the school as well as the additional traffic of trucks (1,195 light truck movements, and 495 heavy truck per day!) and heavy machinery using diesel and other fuels, the concentration of airborne particle matter, carbon monoxide, nitrous oxide, sulfur dioxide and volatile organic compounds will also heavily impact the air quality. After completion of the project, the location of the tunnel ventilation outlet would also greatly impact the air quality for the students and staff of the school if it remains unfiltered

It is my understanding the school’s P&C have put together a proposal for TfNSW and as a concerned parent and local, I urge TfNSW to adopt their mitigative measures to ensure the health, amenity and safety of the Balgowlah Boys school students, teachers and staff.
As it is, I can't imagine how the school can operate under conditions as set out in the proposal so either mitigative measures need to be taken, or an alternative (interim) site needs to be found for the school top relocate to while construction is under way

I’ve been a member at Balgowlah Golf Club for 40 years and use golf there as my major physical and social activity.
To remove this golf course in a time of environmental issues and people’s health is rediculous.
The motorways that have been built are generally underdone ,M2 required extra lane and is still blocked and too expensive with budget blowouts as our tolls go into private hands.
What about a B line type bus to Manly Wharf, the ferries are being upgraded anyway and we can be environmentally sensitive on the harbour

I object to the project for a number of reasons - there isn't a sound business case for it, it will be an environmental disaster, it doesn't include a sound public transport plan and it will cause chaos on local north sydney roads for years.
I also object as the EIS Health risk assessment acknowledges construction fatigue, increased traffic and uncertainty as significant stress factors for the population, which will affect me and my neighbours hugely as we live next to the proposed works site on Waringah Freeway. There are a large number
of plans yet to be finalised, testing to be completed and known geological challenges across this project. The uncertainty created is and will create stress within the
community. Given this is a highly populated residential and school zone all effort should be made to reduce uncertainty and the EIS should be re-issued with more
information.
Substratum acquisition (uncompensated) is likely to cause financial stress for me and my family, particularly given economic uncertainty following Covid. Both the Westconnex Inquiry and recent reports demonstrate issues with the process as well as pressure on housing prices and the ability to sell homes during the period of construction and sometimes beyond. Given the economic situation post Covid the stress associated with uncertainty and acquisition is likely to be heightened. This will affect my family hugely as we would like to move in the next few years but will now probably be unable to.
I request the following changes and conditions are met:
Local background data about current Particulate Matter levels to truly assess impact
An alert style monitor near children’s playing fields - for instance where my daughter plays soccer twice a week at Cammeray Park which will be right next to construction and the eventual smoke stacks - that sporting groups and parents can subscribe to to determine if playing sport is a safe option given the potential for
contaminated dust and heavy vehicle emissions to be high around Artarmon Park, Bicentennial Reserve and Cammeray Oval.
Modelling of levels of particulate matter/other air pollutants in the environment if the stacks were filtered.
Landfill gas investigations should be carried out within these areas to assess the potential presence or absence of gas which could potentially impact upon
construction and/or operation of the project if not managed appropriately.
For tunnelling works proposed at Flat Rock Reserve, there is a risk of encountering odorous waste material and landfill gases from historical landfill in the locality.
Detailed investigations have not been carried out to confirm the presence and extent of potentially odorous materials and landfill gases within the project site at
this location
If a short duration noise event during night construction, persons should be offered alternative accommodation for the period or other appropriate mitigation as required. For longer duration noise such as FRG and Cammeray Oval construct an acoustic wall around the site to protect residents and fauna from noise impacts - i.e. an acoustic wall similar to those normally constructed during road infrastructure projects. This wall would have to be high enough to ensure bird species such as the Powerful Owl do not fly into the trucks attending the site at Flat Rock. An acoustic wall at Anzac Park and one at Cammeray Oval would help to ensure that children have reduced level of noise impact.
Reassess baseline noise level. For instance on Flat Rock Drive was the initial monitoring done when a double truck had their airbrakes on going down the hill? Given the geography of the area and 900 movements a day on a steep hill in a residential area it seems unlikely that noise will be undetectable as stated in documents
Average noise readings pre-construction should be monitored over a 24 period and averaged to be a more indicative measure of current noise levels
Greenspace - ensure all landfill exposed by tunneling is capped at the end of tunnelling and reinstate crushed sandstone as a contoured base for re-establishment of locally indigenous vegetation and habitat. Remove all temporary structures (including noise mitigation sheds).
Decision making about the future of the dive site at FRG should not be left to the end of the consultation process and should involve the community. The EIS should confirm its rehabilitation and return to bushland
utility shed at Cammeray Golf Club to be placed underground so that there is no loss of greenspace. Real time noise and air quality monitoring should be put in place to assure the community regarding the safety of using sports fields esp. for children’s sporting activities
Active transport links between Artarmon, Naremburn, Cammeray and the City should be made seamless and improved as a result of this project to compensate in part for community construction fatigue.. The current active transport links are fragmented at best and construction will make this worse with no clear plan to improve it. School P&C’s should be involved in this planning to ensure the best routes for children accessing local schools.
The Brook St/Flat Rock Drive Corridor is a key corridor for children accessing local schools. An active transport overpass or underpass should be put in place to ensure safe passage. Similar provisions should be made for Ernest Street and surrounds so students and parents can get to and from Anzac Park school safely.
Trucks should be fitted with noise and pollution control devices given the highly residential nature of the route and the large proportion of children.

A community gains from the tunnel (aka Mosman) whilst our Northern Beaches Community suffer the impact of traffic congestion at pinch point entries, surrounding rat runs, years of noise during construction, environmental impact to waterways and animals and exhaust stack pollution.

The predicted benefit to the Northern Beaches community of improved transport corridors is marginal at best and compared to the billions of dollars to build does not equate to a good deal. Additionally, the tunnel gives the NSW Government licence to increase housing density along the transport corridors of Manly Vale and Balgowlah which will ultimately identified any identified benefit within a very short timeframe. Our recent summer highlighted the already heavily congested beaches and access via the tunnel will exacerbate what is an existing problem for emergency services.

The risks to our natural environment is massive. The Burnt Bridge waterway will be reduced to a trickle and flying fox colony impacted.

The proximity and impact of the exhaust stack to schools and their students is of major concern. Health experts agree that pollution toxic emissions cause respiratory diseases and impacts on those who suffer asthma. For the entire high school life of a child attending Balgowlah Boys, the construction of the tunnel and associated nearby exhaust stack will occur. Our local NSW State politician and Education Minister Rob Stokes said “no way in hell he will countenance exhaust stacks being built anywhere near a school”, however stacks are proposed nearby three schools, Balgowlah Boys, Seaforth Primary and Cammeray's Anzac Park School. If the community must have a tunnel the community demands that stacks be reduced in height and be filtered.

I object to the beaches tunnel project.

I am a Balgowlah Resident and STRONGLY OBJECT to the Beaches link project.
Environmental Issues
-Dried up local creeks, ecological destruction, the disturbance of middle harbour and the devastating short and long term effects that will have on marine life, the loss of fish, marine plants and the simple things like swimming in middle harbor and the surrounding beaches, just to name a few .
-The impact on the bush environment due to the loss of over 12ha of bush land, native endangered wildlife and plants. That WONT be recovered and put back after the ridiculous widening of the Wakehust Parkway to a multi lane road for the Seaforth tunnel entrance.
-Impact to the natural waterways that all lead to manly dam, the burnt creek and natural waterways that lead down to the ocean. The impact can't be recovered for the protect Flying Fox habitat that rely on these water ways along with all the other protected animals. the water ways will just become storm water and polluted from construction. Essentially what we have now will be lost and cant ever be recovered.

Construction Issues
-The impact of 24/7 construction of noise and traffic impacts to Balgowlah residents will result in rat runs of small local streets that are generally one way because they aren't built to allow 2 cars to pass at any time, let alone when we have 6 years of construction and everyone trying to get onto the spit bridge. The impact of construction workers taking up resident parking as they work 12 hour days 6 days a week.
It would seem that little work has been done in this project to address these issues.
-the impact to our suburb of large trucks lining the roads waiting their turn to be filled from the tunneling. I saw this when the northern beaches hospital was being built.

-Air Quality will be a big issue both during the construction with dust from destroying Balgowlah oval to become a work site and then after many years later the emissions stack that apparently will cost to much to be filtered (despite in Europe they are all with filtration) and it will be equivalent to an 8 story building. the fancy drawings are very misleading. The quality of air will impact a far wider range than is lead to believe with many schools, day care centers and us local residents that TfNSW seems to think is acceptable.
-there has not been enough community consultation, and the little that there is more people object to this project by a mile than agree to it.

Public Transport
- This project is based on information modelling of 2016 (so its already outdated) and the impact of traffic back then to 2037 is not what it is now in 2021. More people work from home now due to covid-19 and with the building of this even more will be working from home so the need for this beaches link tunnel will become null and void. it takes 35 mins to get to the city now so why would we need a tunnel that will take the same length of time??? all roads still lead to military road and that isn't changing.
- Since this project was created back in 2016 we now have the B-Line Buses to the city, an express service to Chatswood. It would seem that the monumental cost of building a tunnel infrastructure wont improve drive times to the city by more than a few minutes and the time change for people in Mosman/Cremorne will only result in a change of 10% if you are lucky. Whats the point?
-Add more buses to the northern beaches is a better solution that costs less on the environment and will encourage more people who arent now working from home 2-3 days a week to take the bus.
-Building a tunnel that costs the government billions, not to mention the exorbitant tolls that will come with it seem to offer little in return.

Lets not destroy what is a beautiful part of Sydney and why we love living here.

Cammeray Croquet Club
Cammeray Croquet Club is situated in Ernest St and is between the skate park and the tennis courts. Our members play at the club everyday, and generally drive to croquet. Most members are over 60.

Cammeray Croquet Club is most concerned at the loss of parking during construction as workers park in local streets. Parking is already difficult on the morning and worker parking will take the few spots left. North Sydney Council needs to be provided with funds to enforce parking restrictions.

Cammeray Croquet Club remains concerned about the health impact of the unfiltered ventilation stacks. It is vitally important to maintain the operation at the standards specified in the EIS. The CHO has stated that “It is important that the tunnel ventilation system is operated to keep ground-level concentration of traffic-related pollutants a low as reasonably practicable”. There needs to be independent monitoring and strong enforcement.

Finally, we are concerned about the loss of existing mature trees. Some reconfiguration of the site would allow for a wildlife haven along the edge of the skatepark and southern end of the oval. This would act as a sound barrier as well.

Steve Miles
President

To whom it may concern,
I am a resident living on the border of Seaforth and North Balgowlah with my husband and two children. The proposed Western Harbour / Northern Beaches Tunnel will not be a good outcome for our community; it will increase air pollution in my neighbourhood; it will impact water quality in the harbour; and will ultimately not solve traffic congestion problems - simply move the traffic jams underground. A more comprehensive solution would have included improved public transport options.

In particular, my objection is to the planned worsening of air quality around the Seaforth ventilation stack. It is unconscionable to plan an unfiltered ventilation stack which you know will reduce air quality in a suburban area. I am calling for modelling of levels of particulate matter/other air pollutants in the environment if the stacks were filtered as well as ongoing air quality monitoring around the Seaforth and Balgowlah stacks AND compensation for residents if the air quality reduction impacts health and property values.

With two children heading to the HSC in the next three years, I am also concerned about noise and disruption. If a short duration noise event during night construction, people in the area should be offered alternative accommodation for the period or other appropriate mitigation as required. An acoustic wall should also be built adjacent to the top of Kirkwood Street, bordering the Sydney water site being used for the truck turning area and site office.

The design of the tunnel should be reconsidered, with the exit of the tunnel moved further north up the Wakehurst Parkway towards the Northern Beaches Hospital to mitigate having to destroy the bushland and Aboriginal heritage areas either side of the Wakehurst Parkway.

Please refer to my attached objection letter to this proposed project.

I object to the project. My children attends one of the schools very close to the unfiltered ventilation stack . I am horrified of the environmental and health consequences of this project. I also firmly believe that Flat Rock Gully is a rare and sacred place that MUST be protected and preserved.

I object to the beaches link project on the following grounds.
- Contamination. there has been inadequate testing for contaminents, particularly in the Flat Rock Gully area where I visit and walk. There needs to be a comprehensive Phase 2 contamination study and this needs to be available to the public
- Air pollution. As my grandson goes to school in the area and I am very concerned about the unfiltered stacks metres from his school. The unfiltered stacks need to have filters on them as already the area is often at high levels of pollution and especially when there are bush fires which are expected to increase due to climate change. There should be air quality monitors at all schools with 1km of the stacks
- reliance on vehicles into the future. Build more roads and that means the more people will use thier cars. We should be looking at other transport options that don't pollute so heavily and that move more people more efficently. I propose that a mass tranist alternative assessment be completed to compare a toll tunnel solution to a public transport one. I also know that there is a business case for this project but it has never been release. Please release the business case so that as a community we know why such a lot of money is being spent on a road toll
-I object to the construction traffic for 5 years. 900 more vehicles on Flat Rock Gully Drive every day. This is unacceptable in such a school corridor and so close to playing fields. Such traffic increases lead to more noise and more congestion. I also have concerens about truck marshalling and workers parking locally. Added pollution, added noise. I object
-I object to the destruction of bushalnd for the dive site at Flat Rock Gully. 390 trees are to be removed. There is also no guarentee that the bushland, after the project is finished, will be returnd to bushland. It says in the EIS that the council will decide on its future use - either bush regneration, recreational facilities. This should not be in councils hands, this is state significant wildlife protection zone and it should state in the EIS that it be returned to bushland. This is a rare slice of urban bushland supporting fauna and flora ecosystems. It is also a major water catchment area and therefore as it is currently bushland needs to return to bushland
-I object to the increased noise levels over extended periods around Flat Rock Gully and Middle Harbour. There needs to be proper noise monitoring and there should be an acoustic fence on Flat Rock Drive, as well as homes offered double glazing where noise is above levels now currently experiencing
-I am very concerned about the dust from tunelling and dust from contaminated soil at Flat Rock Gully dive site, particularly in dry and windy weather. Silicosis is very serious and a real risk. I believe that tunelling should not occur in such a residential areas and so close to childrens playing fields. All material dug from the ground should be immediatley transported and not stored on site
-there should be community consultation and reviews to monitor compliance with the conditions and to monitor breaches. Systems need to be set up for community involvement across the 5 years of construction
-I object to the amount of drawdown that this project will cause that can effect sensitive plant ecosystems and take water away from the ground. I would suggest the tunnel be lined the whole length
- I am also worried about landfill gas. This needs addressed before the landfill is removed and that there is proper mitigation plans devised and implemented should gases be found
-I am also worried about the amount of wastewater from the tunneling that will be flushed down Flat Rocj creek and its effects on contamination and leaching and consequeces for fish populations. This water will also go into Long Bay.
-Iam concerned about eh amount of water and energy that will be used during construction. I object to a power station onsite at Flat Rock Gully - more noise, more trees removed, disrouption to wildlife, disruption to residents and people using recreational facilities
- the toll costing to be made public
-the entire project to be certfied carbon neutral during construction and operation

I write to express my objection to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Project. I have done my best to read the extensive EIS documents at this very difficult time. I have significant concerns about the justification for this project particularly given that there is no published business case, it is not high on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list, the EIS demonstrates a significant risk to health and safety and the project and an alternative public transport option has not been fully scoped and compared.

My name is Rose Boyce , i am 13 and i am a sailor at Northbridge Sailing Club. I learnt to sail there in 2015 and have been sailing there ever since, my dad also learnt to sail there and is the current treasurer, and my Grandpa used to be treasurer and used to sail there. I am on board with your project as it has good outcomes. On Sunday afternoon we race and every course but one goes through the area where you're putting the dam, after you move the moorings we wont be able to do that one course. All i ask is that you communicate with the club so we can try find different places to put the moorings. If you don't work with us to move the moorings people will leave the club and never come back. Northbridge Sailing Club is a great place and i would hate to see people leave.
Please consider what i am saying
Thank You
Rose Boyce

As a resident of Balgowlah Road, I would like to express my concern about the potential increase in traffic on this road as a result of the Beaches Link. Indeed, many users of the Beaches Link wishing to travel to Manly will be tempted to go straight out of the Burnt Creek Deviation exit, not take the link road to Sydney Road (which involves a certain amount of backtracking and potentially more traffic lights), turn right onto Condamine Street, and then use Balgowlah Road as a shortcut to Manly. Balgowlah Road has already experienced a shocking increase in traffic over the last few years, and the risk of an further deterioration due to the Beaches Link will make the situation untenable for the residents along that road, which is meant to be a 'local traffic area'. I would therefore like the RMS to consider further measures to discourage road users to take this route into Manly. Options might be: no right turn from the Burnt Creek Deviation into Condamine Street, or further traffic calming measures along Balgowlah Road.

Moreover, in view of the potential deterioration of air quality in our area, we would like to submit that the RMS should apply the most stringent air filtering technology to the tunnel's exhaust fumes vents around the Balgowlah area.

Parks Precinct Submission on the Beaches Link
Parks Precinct is a member of the precinct system of North Sydney Council. It runs from the Warringah Expressway Neutral Bay Exit (including the Island) , along the north and south side Military Rd, to the west side of Young St. Then north along the west side (i.e. even numbers) of Young St, down the hill and stopping at Wonga St, then across Primrose Park to Grafton St (but not the houses in Lambert St), along Fall St (including Creek Lane) then up Park Avenue and along Ernest St to the Warringah Expressway
Modelling

The EIS needs to consider changes since 2016, in particular: -

• Anzac Park School is now fully operational which has significantly increased pedestrian traffic in Ernest St and surrounding streets
• The B Line success means less demand for car usage. The impact of new bus lanes in 2017 needs to be included
• Changes in working habits as more people work from home

In addition: -
• There should be an offset for the loss of three hectares of green space
• There needs to be an analysis of options for local streets as people use alternative routes to access the harbour bridge. Anzac Park Public School drop off and pick up causes major traffic congestion in the morning and afternoon. At these times Ernest St cannot take extra traffic. There is also concern for all the streets in Cremorne and Neutral Bay in particular Merlin St, Lytton St, Moodie St, Park Ave, Sutherland St, Grasmere Rd, Ben Boyd Rd, Grafton St, Amherst St and Cammeray Rd. These roads cannot take extra traffic

Construction

• Street Parking needs to be preserved as this is a recreational area for local residents. Workers need to have onsite parking or follow existing parking restrictions. North Sydney Council should have funds to monitor parking on a daily basis
• Truck movements need to be monitored and have strong penalties against the lead contractor should they not be followed. They should not be able to pass the problem on to the individual subcontracted truck driver
• All environmental controls during construction should not be weakened from the standard set in the EIS/ There needs to be strong enforcement and real time publishing of data.
• The Tunnel facilities should be underground as far as feasible – at least built into the hill. Car parking should also be underground

Operational
• Ongoing operation requirements should not be weakened during contract negotiation and have strong enforcement
• All data should be available on line in real time
• There needs to be a solution to the treatment of water runoff from the motorway and the North Sydney Council water recycling system.
• The Tunnel should not be opened until all environmental requirements are met including motorway water management


Steve Miles – Chair Parks Precinct

1) Toll Charges
The Beaches Link will be a tolled road and it will be an increasing cost to Northern Beaches drivers as the Toll company raises the the charged amount over time. The charge will be higher because the Toll company will adopt the attitude that higher socioeconomic areas can easily absorb the charges.
2) Natural Environmental effects
The construction will destroy the beautiful natural habitats of Seaforth, Bantry Bay and surrounds.
The stacks will create pollution and impact on flora and fauna.
3) Built Environment Effects
The State Government will allow (or force because of developer pressure) the local council to change zoning laws to allow higher density building along the tunnel entrances. This will result in extra population pressure effects such as traffic congestion, pressure on public places etc. This will change the whole village type atmosphere of places such as Seaforth.
4) Social Effects
The tunnel will increase population density on the Northern Beaches through extra development. Population pressure effects will lead to a decline in lifestyle and living standards of the Beaches which are key aspects to why people want to live in the area.
5) Financial Costs
The money spent on the tunnel should be redirected to upgrading the existing transport network. For example using existing corridors for rapid transport like trams above the the road network.

This project should not go ahead. The costs far outweigh the benefits.
Surely we cannot continue to adopt transport options that focus on cars and freeways on the Beaches.

Regards

Geoff Page

I write to express my objection to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Project. I have done my best to read the extensive EIS documents at this very difficult time. I have significant concerns about the justification for this project particularly given that there is no published business case, it is not high on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list, the EIS demonstrates a significant risk to health and safety and the project and an alternative public transport option has not been fully scoped and compared.

This project is a missed opportunity to transform Sydney into a world class, healthy and sustainable city with a strong public transport system. The EIS demonstrates that this toll road will be extremely expensive to build and high risk with little benefit. I would ask that an alternative public transport feasibility study be published before any further planning occurs so that impacts and outcomes can be fairly compared.

Attention: Director, Transport Assessments
Planning & Assessment, Department of Planning
Industry and Environment
Locked Bag 5022
Parramatta NSW 2124

Note: Please delete my personal details before publication

Date 28 Feb 2021

Objection: Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Upgrade

I write to express my objection to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Project.

I have participated at numerous discussions with relevant authorities and members of the local community as well as I have done my best to read the extensive EIS documents at this very difficult time. Although multiple sources exist in the web with very detailed and long explanations around my same points, I’ll focus my objection on the material and substantial arguments that are clearly understood even just using common sense.

Above all, I have significant concerns about this project around the significant risks to health and safety.

My concerns also include the fact that there is no published business case, it is not high on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list, the EIS demonstrates a and the project and an alternative public transport option has not been fully scoped and compared.

I object to the project for the following reasons:

1. I object to the project due to the high contamination risks it presents to the environment and to human health, in particular to the one of children. In our household, we have two young kids, Matilde is 4 and Filippo 2, and we are seriously concerned about their health given the major planning ‘holes’ that this project has, specifically: the ventilation stack must not be built in proximity (<1km) of dense residential area such as Balgowlah or in proximity of schools, as the EIS clearly indicate that a large area will be impacted by the fumes exiting the stack. I’m completely speechless thinking that this project expects a major UNFILTERED ventilation stack to be bult within 300mt to the The Balgowlah Boys Campus or several childcare (including the one of my kids): the Balgowlah Kinder Haven. THE ONLY VENTILATION STACK THAT CAN BE BUILD IS THE ONE IN THE WAKEHURST PARKWAY, IN THE POSITION THAT IS THE FAR AWAY FROM RESITENTIAL DWELLINGS. Even a filtered ventilation stack build in the Balgowlah golf course cannot be considered an acceptable solution, as no certainty exists that the filtration will be effective at any point in time.

2. I object to the project due to the unreasonable level of impact on the Quality of Life of residents during the tunnel construction and operation due to the significant level of noise, lights, dust, pollution and traffic (due to workers) over the 5 years of construction, similarly to what took place in other prior tunnel constructions in Sydney. THE DISRUPTION WOULD BE SIGNIFICANTLY CONTAINED IF THE EXIT TO BALGOWLAH WILL BE REMOVED, AND ONLY THE EXIT IN WAKEHURST PARKWAY IS MANTAINED. I have included as attachment a photo of the construction site from my property. Given the close proximity I expect the negative impact to the Quality of Life to be extremely high.

3. I object to the project because the benefit of an improved connection with the rest of the network will be irrelevant if the rest of the infrastructure is not upgraded. Specifically, the tunnel exit in Balgowlah has very limited benefits as it simply moves the congestion point from the Military Road to the Sydney Road and Condamine Street. THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO THE RESIDENT FROM THE BALGOLAW EXIT. The benefits (if any) are only linked to the exit in Wakehurst Parkway as it connects to a much better infrastructure such as the Warringah Road as well as connecting a major infrastructure (the Northern Beaches Hospital).

4. I object to the project due to the scale and extent of groundworks in sensitive residential areas for example, I understand from the EIS that the excavation works will go ahead 24/7 and will materially impact a period of 5 years.

5. I object to the project due to the threat to our biodiversity and green spaces. For example, all the wildlife in area of the Burnt creek will be put at risk, inclusive of the Balgowlah Grey-headed Flying-fox Camp, and up to the Manly lagoon. Such material changes to a delicate ecosystem, which is already under stress given the global changes in climate, do seems like an irresponsible ‘Russian roulette’ as no study could possibly assess in full the consequences of such change.

6. I object to the project because the B-Line buses have been successful in reducing congestion and no public transport alternative study has been done with which to compare this project. Relevant authorities should clearly have the transit time of B-Line Buses at different times and evidence should be provided that such transit time are not satisfactory (I do take public transport regularly from Balgowlah to the CBD and I never encountered congestion problem for buses). In addition, the only area that would benefit from the exit in Balgowlah is the Manly area, that is already well connected with the City with ferries. THERE IS NO BENEFT TO THE COMMUNITY FROM THE BALGOWLAH EXIT. If any, additional infrastructures around B-Line stops should be developed, in particular commuter car parks.

7. I object because the financial impact of the tunnel to individual families will be extreme, in particular for young families that have purchased their home over the last few years. The price of properties in the proximity of the tunnel exit will be negatively impacted over the next 7 years at least, which means many families will find themselves in a situation of negative equity, without the option to sell their property. THE CONTRUCTION OF THE BEACHES LINK TUNNEL MUST NOT START UNLESS A PRICE MECHANISM IS PROVIDED TO RESIDENT, ALLOWING THEM TO SELL THEIR PROPERTIES AT AN INDEXED PRICE GROW, IN LINE WITH THE AVERAGE OF THE REST OF THE SUBURB. Otherwise grants to impacted dwelling should be given as part of the budget for construction.


This project is a missed opportunity to transform Sydney into a healthy and sustainable city with a strong public transport system. The EIS demonstrates that this toll road will be extremely expensive to build and high risk with little benefit. I would ask that an alternative public transport feasibility study be published before any further planning occurs so that impacts and outcomes can be fairly compared.

Yours sincerely,

Giuseppe Valletta
1/3 Westlake Place, Balgowlah, 2093, NSW