Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

In the commercial/corporate world, a significant sum of money to be spent requires a business case. So why wouldn't this be included in the EIS to support this and the prior projects linked to this of the WFU / WHT? It's a very simple concept that no one seems to want to answer as these projects have become beyond rational thought and justification that is an essential element, especially as this is the peoples' money entrusted to the government to share for the benefit of many not just a privileged few...

If this is proven as the best option then why hide the evidence?

The 8 major objections that I have are covered in the attachment. To summarise, this is a proposal that has not considered the unique environment it is going to destroy. It has employed metropolis scale experiences of tunneling and motorway building in and under urban environments to a totally different quiet and leafy suburban context that needs a different type of solution.

The EIS itself demonstrates that the project does not bring sustainable benefits, but it does bring everlasting impacts.
Having lived on the Northern Beaches for 20 years, I can very much agree that a traffic solution is needed, and I can attest to that being based on reducing not increasing car dependency.

I am disappointed that TfNSW has shown a lack of vision and forward thinking and instead of using its brains to solve a problem, appears to be using its muscle to shoehorn in a white elephant.

Let’s not look back with regret, when we could look forward with optimism.

I need the actions suggested by fellow Naremburn resident tom threlfall to be implemented.

As a local ecologist of the area, I have extremely high concern about the impact that construction works will have on the highly sensitive marine and terrestrial biodiversity that occupy Middle Harbour, the catchment of Manly Dam and in the area around burnt bridge creek. As well as being of high value to endangered species (such as the pygmy possum, flying fox), these listed areas have extremely high recreational value for broader northern Sydney community.
Construction works in these areas will drastically improve traffic flow, which is of benefit to many, however, the driving of over-development from frenchs forest to Warriewood will ultimately result in negligible improvement in traffic conditions in the long run - but important ecosystems and habitat areas may never fully recover.
To this effect, I propose a couple of solutions...
1) environmental risks must be mitigated as much as possible to limit harm on the highly-valued ecological communities of the area. This may mean tunnel constructions, but using sustainable techniques to limit sediment and toxic run-off which will alter ecosystems, rerouting important waterways (e.g. burnt bridge creek), and commiting to offsetting this construction work with intensive restoration work.
2) become an Australian leader in sustainable transport. Creating of a new network of B-line bus routes from frenchs forest through to the City, as well as connecting the northern beaches to the north (i.e. Cammeray), would solve an abundance of issues that people have with the tunnel: e.g. limit impact to sensitive ecological communities, protect the catchment of Manly Dam, retaining the recreational value of a pristine atmosphere, Smoke stake location issues, decrease in overall project cost, and still achieve ultimate goals of reduced travel times.
In the current day and age, the NSW state government has the chance to become leader in sustainable development, just because a project has been in the pipeline for many, many years - there still remains the need to consider the shift in society towards.a more earth/environmental consious community.
Thanks you for your consideration,
I deeply hope that some of these proposed improvements are applied prior to the initiation on construction work.
Kind regards,
Alice

Northbridge Sailing Club has been a huge part of my life. I learnt to sail there and I've instructed there for eight years. It's given me confidence, skills and priceless experiences that I'd hate for a future generation of sailors to miss out on. It'd also be very disappointing if the current members of the club have a severely diminished sailing experience, especially if this could be avoided by talking and negotiating exclusion zones on the Sunday sailing days. Please stay in contact with the club and let the community have a say in the exclusion zones as much as possible. Thank you.


I’m greatly concerned about Northbridge Sailing Club’s sailing area being greatly compromised. All our 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.

NSC is a significant part of my life. I love sailing, and the works will mean sailing at NSC will become more difficult, less attractive, and even potentially completely infeasible. NSC is a jewel of a club, with an amazing history and a strong community ethos, helping people like myself to sail, 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 our club and community will be profound. With the sailing degraded we may lose members or be less able to attract new members, which affects the club’s viability. We depend on volunteers 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.

I object to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Tunnel project because the costs are high, risks are significantly under assessed, impacts are unreasonable to dense residential and school communities and the benefits claimed aren’t evidenced in the EIS.

As a resident 1 block back from the golf course, what concerns me the most is the unfiltered stack. I now understand the health risks of concentrated PM10 to my young children currently 6,4 and 2 years old. While I appreciate they will be older once construction is complete, many experts are saying there is no safe level of exposure. The length of this tunnel also seems unprecedented so in my view, an unfiltered stack is Government negligence given the technology globally available. If you build a tunnel without filtration, you are simply putting a price on community health. Can't afford filtration, don't build it.
We have a beautiful home next to a golf course. We paid a premium to live in a leafy suburb at the end of a cul de sac to raise our young family. Recently our neighbours had no success trying to sell their home so unless I want to sell at a significant loss, it appears I now have no choice but to raise my young family next to a construction site for at least 6 years. Such a small number of residents are paying the ultimate price for the benefit of the entire northern beaches, yet I have not heard of hardship or goodwill compensation options available to this group.
I also have deep concerns about the construction noise and dust pollution for such a long period. Once again, a small number of residence significantly impacted, left with little alternatives. This same group of residents will be impacted as local traffic increases, rat runs increase, not to mention the impact of 1000's of trucks carrying spoil.
I appreciate there is lost economic productivity sitting in traffic and I can see merit in improving the commute for the Northern Beaches. There is no denying Military Road congestion is is a huge challenge to overcome however the introduction of the B-Line and the extended bus lane has significantly improved my commute from Wanganella into the city, on average it is currently taking 30-35min one way. The world will be different post COVID, workplace flexibility has also changed our city, so I just can't buy the time saving estimates of 35min, modelling seems inflated and outdated to justify the project. I am open minded if provided with data to support the argument however these details were omitted during community consultation and don't stake up in a post COVID world.
Should the goal be to get more cars off the road and improve public transport? If you build a tunnel, why not put a train through it? There are obviously ongoing costs to be absorbed for public infrastructure like a Northern Beaches Train however I suspect transurban has significant influence here and would have too much at stake for alternative public transport option to be entertained. On that note, 8 Billion seems seems like a significant amount without data or a cost benefit analysis considering alternative public transport options. Sustainability is the hottest topic for Fortune 500 companies I work with, this project is just another lost opportunity for our nation - we are simply encouraging private car usage.

Finally, my Grandfather Kel was a pioneer for Australian Golf, one of our countries most successful golfers in history. He also lived in Balgowlah for over half a century. In all of the commentary I read in favour and in opposition to this project, I don't see the nostalgia of Balgowlah golf course getting a mention, it has a rich history and while I don't have the data, there appeared to be a player resurgence during COVID as I watched on working from home. It is a personal angle however we chose to live next door to a golf course and love the idea of introducing my kids to the game as they grow, it is a real shame that this will be taken away. While I am not expecting my kids to win a major, once you take away a golf course in my backyard, it is lost forever, an impact I will struggle to quantify for a long time.

See attached for objections

Cammeray Golf Course/Cammeray Park will be significantly and forever changed for the worse, even after periods of isolation and restrictions dictated to us by health authorities and government which require more outdoor 'green' space to be come part of everyday life , these projects has completely ignored how the world has changed with literately paving paradise to put up a parking lot!

How is it necessary for a future contractor to use this precious green space for staff parking - we don't get this from our employers, fencing it off so no one can see what's going on in there - will it be empty or will it contain dangerous chemicals or will the staff think of the neighbours and be quiet when occupying this space?

How can it be that you rob what is a successful chanpionship (essential for golfers with a handicap) mixed use green space by making it too small to qualify as such anymore?

Why does the space need to take so much from us for so long and why can't the excuses about the inability to build facitites smaller or with a green cover that can still be used by such an elite project designated as being of State Significance, were is the truth and insight in design for the community to not have to question yet again why build it if you can't do so effectively....

I have serious concerns about having unfiltered stacks so closed to so many local schools and my home. It has not been proven that a tunnel that length can safely have unfiltered stacks.
I addition to that, I am concerned about the toxic mater possibly going in the air during the digging in areas that has hazardous waste.
You cannot just overlook the risks and not listen to residents

We object to this project having young children at ANZAC Public School and living next to the motorway at the proposed entrance site to the tunnel the pollution and disruption to us will be severe including the noise which we have had increased thickness of glass installed you can still hear the traffic. We live at 13 Cammeray Avenue and I will be taking up a separate case on the current pollution level in our house from the motorway.

I am a resident living on Kirkwood St. I am shocked at the information that has recently come to light regarding the Northern Beaches Tunnel. There are a few objections that I need to voice and the first one is the unfiltered smoke stacks that are going to be on Wakehurst Parkway. I see no reason why the government is not filtering these stacks, as there is proven research of tunnels and unfiltered air stacks taken from around the world that lead to an increase in asthma, emphysema and cancers relating to airborne pollution. According to some information received, my house will be in the enclosed circles that show we will be directly in the cloud of the pollution. Not only during the approximate seven years of construction, but permanently. This is of utmost concern to my husband, sons and myself's health. I have asthma and my youngest son has allergies. I am extremely concerned that increased pollution particles from cars and the proposed one-truck-a-minute fumes, as well as the output of dust and sediment from the building over seven years will lead to respiratory problems and issues with our lungs and health. I strongly object to the smoke stacks being unfiltered at either end, which will affect residents and children who have sport nearby at the Seaforth Oval. There are also preschools in my street, as well as Balgowlah North Public School. I request that the exhaust stacks have filters on them.

There will be an increase in noise as construction begins and continues in the after hour night time phase. There are reports that there will be a Noise Shed built on Kirkwood Ave, this is on my street and it is a cause of great concern as I want to be able to sleep at night, which is a basic right, and especially in my own home. I have read that construction will take place during the day hours with underground drilling going on 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It appears from information I have read that we will be affected by noise and vibration. This is unacceptable, especially for the period of proposed 5-7 years.

I am saddened by the news that the Burnt Creek with all the endangered species of animals, and the plantlife will be destroyed by this NB tunnel project. There appears to be no way that all the animals can be rehomed, which will mean they will die. Surely this has to be a consideration to rethink the tunnel ? Why is the government allowing this to go ahead? Surely the beautiful environment - the water habitats with endangered species are priority?

The surveys were taken years ago before the B Line bus came into existence and before Covid-19 hit Sydney, which resulted in residents from Sydney, including the Northern Beaches residents, working from home - thus reducing the need to go into the city.

I strongly object to having this Northern Beaches tunnel built, but if it is going ahead, filters need to be put on the exhaust stacks to save the lives of residents who are vulnerable - the elderly and people with allergies and lung issues like myself and my family, as well as the now-healthy public who may fall ill due to the increased air pollution.

Unfiltered Smoke Stacks
I am against the proposed tunnel because of the data about the smoke stacks in regards to the tunnel plans submitted to date. The data is both inconsistent in sizing and also lacks a key element of safety, filtering.
The NSW Premier herself has been quoted as saying, "Members of Parliament should examine their conscience and consider how they would feel if their children or the children of loved ones were exposed to this level of fumes every day and they were part of a government that could have put in place measures to reduce the impact of the fumes. World best practice is to filer tunnels, to ethically provide information to constituents and to ensure the health and safety of constituents by maximising purity of air." (see attached source Legislative Assembly Hansard 19 Sept 2019) She made this state in opposition of a 3.6 km 2 lane each way tunnel that didn’t therefore need filters or to ban diesel. And the Beaches Link tunnel is projected to be over twice as long with unfiltered stacks and 3 lanes of traffic.
It is important to note that the WestConnex final report on the impact of the project noted that instances of Asthma increased in the area as a result of the construction of the project (see attached report). High levels of particulate matter recorded in 2017 and 2018 by St Peters Public School's air quality monitoring station: see para 4.60 Residents who lived or work near WestConnex construction sites reported health impacts such as first-time diagnoses of asthma among children, worsening asthma or other respiratory symptoms, conjunctivitis and skin irritations since construction began. The view was put forward that these diagnoses were 'all consistent with exposure to airborne pollutants’: see para 4.61 Dr Sarina Kilham noted that there was anecdotal evidence of 'children having more frequent asthma attacks, of children who did not previously have asthma starting to have asthma ... [and] children being diagnosed with dust allergies' which was associated with the WestConnex construction: see para 4.62. One particularly bad instance was a dust storm on 9 April 2018, during school pick-up, the Haberfield Public School community were confronted by 'strong winds carr[ying] copious amounts of dust' with parents reporting that the dust 'was so extreme they needed goggles and face masks to deal with the pollution. Many locals attest to seeing the dust blowing off the construction sites’. At the peak of the dust storm the air quality monitoring station at the school recorded particulate matter (airborne particles) eight times higher than the recommended air quality target’ : see para 4.101. The CFMMEU expressed concerns about the safety of WestConnex construction sites, in particular, the level of dust emanating from work sites and an apparent lack of steps to ameliorate this risk. The Inquiry recommended:
o - that the NSW Government install, on all current and future motorway tunnels, filtration systems in order to reduce the level of pollutants emitted from ventilation stacks.
o - a review of safety measures.

There is significant amounts of research that points out the negative affects of air pollution on health. The NSW government even put out a report on this topic (see attached).

Furthermore, there was recently another landmark ruling in the UK in regards to unfiltered smokestacks contributing to the death of a young girl named Ella Kissi-Debrah. The courts found the lack of filtration lead to her death. She had asthma.

The Beaches Link Tunnel EIS demonstrates impacts to Cammeray, Naremburn, Artarmon, Willoughby, Northbridge, Middle Harbour, the Spit, Seaforth and Balgowlah. Areas where there are a high concentration of educational and care facilities affected by the Project. It is estimated that there 26 schools, and close to 100 pre-schools, on the alignment of the Western Harbour and Beaches Link Project. In addition, there are child care centres which also are in close proximity to the construction sites for the Project. Therefore the Beaches Link raises similar respiratory health concerns. The concerns raised in the WestConnex project have not been addressed (in particular, there are no filters for the 4 four ventilation stacks in close vicinity to schools, and there are no adequate measures for dust suppression.)

The Human Health assessment in the EIS does assess asthma risk based on the known information in the EIS and states that the asthma risk is within a "tolerable" range: see Table 5-28 below. Given the large volume of students coming into the project footprint for school and sport, I do not believe that this is acceptable.

So I ask, how can the NSW Government support a project that will clearly increase pollution which has proven to increase the instances of Asthma, especially in young children. Does a child have to die to stop the construction of this tunnel? Please do not make death of Ella Kissi-Debrah be in vein. Add filters to the smoke stacks or better yet, don't proceed with this project and look at other public transport options.

This submission is on behalf of my son and his fellow students who will attend Balgowlah Boys Campus from 2024 until 2029. As the tunnel construction period is estimated at 6 years, this group of students will be subjected to five years of direct impacts.

The Beaches Link Tunnel will encourage more vehicles onto the roads. Instead, I’d like to see more public transport options similar to the B-Line, which has been a great success. If it is determined the Beaches Link Tunnel still needs to go ahead, I believe it should be for the exclusive use of Public Transport.

I am very concerned about the adverse impacts of the construction and operation of the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel will have on the boys, teachers and staff, the school grounds, and Balgowlah Oval.

I am very concerned about the air quality during both the construction period from harmful dust and then the usage of the tunnel with pollution from harmful vehicle fumes from the unfiltered exhaust stack.

These adverse impacts cover both the construction and operational phases of the proposed works which will severely impact on the whole school community in terms of noise, dust, vibration, access, disruption, traffic and road safety, air quality and health, and access to open space and sporting facilities.

I am especially concerned about noise from construction activities severely disrupting teaching and learning activities and adversely affecting the concentration and learning of students, teachers and staff in the school.

Physical education classes, as well as students using the informal open space especially on the northern side of the campus before school and during recess and lunch breaks, will be adversely affected by noise and vibration. Being outside on the school campus during construction will be an unpleasant experience.

Balgowlah Oval, is essential active open space for the students. If the proposal proceeds I support Balgowlah Oval remaining open at all times during construction, with mitigative measures put in place to suppress noise and vibration during school hours for the boys to use Balgowlah Oval safely. Balgowlah Oval must remain operational until the new sporting field is completed, with measures in place to minimise noise, dust and vibration for students using the oval.
It is essential that there is a safe method for pedestrians to cross the access road during the construction phase.
Yours sincerely
Laura Worley and David Worley

Please see the attached document containing my objection.

In addition to my previous submission; I would like to indicate that I object to the lose of public park land for some many year and at the expense of mature nature and animal habitat. I high number of parks will be unavailable during this time; this is not acceptable.
No, we don’t want new park once you have contaminated soil, we would like them as is.

The noise and air pollution from all trucks is also a very difficult issue for all of us residents to deal with; let alone the fact that they will be carrying hazardous, contaminated soil that could cause dangerous issues for the community.

I object to this project due to the negative impacts it will have on the surrounding natural bushland areas & waterways, both during the construction phase of the project and once it has been completed. The clearing of vegetation, the water pollution resulting from construction works, and also the increased runoff from the roads once the project has been completed will all have a significant and detrimental effect on the Manly Dam catchment. The Manly Warringah War Memorial Park is a beautiful natural area that provides habitat for a number of threatened species and is an important recreational area for local communities. The vegetation communities within the dam, the wildlife, and the integrity of the waterways will all be under threat from this development. The benefits of the project are dubious given that it is well known that building more roads inevitably results in an increase in traffic, which nullifies any initial improvements in traffic flow.
In addition, the air pollution generated from the traffic in the tunnel is set to be released via unfiltered ventilation stacks into areas where there are a number of schools, putting children and communities at risk. The ongoing noise and disruption to the community will be significant, and I do not believe the questionable improvements in commuting times to the city that are being used to justify this project will actually occur, given more and more people are now choosing to work from home in the wake of the pandemic and improvements in communication technology. What is really needed is investment in better public transport options and services to reduce the need for individual car trips to and from the city.
Building more and bigger roads and tunnels is not a sustainable approach to our traffic problems, and I believe the negative impacts of this project far outweigh any supposed benefits for reduced travel times to the city. Our natural green spaces, native bushland and pristine waterways are generally undervalued and under appreciated until they no longer exist or are degraded beyond repair, and these areas are being gradually but inevitably whittled away by developments such as this project, and once gone are lost forever. These places are what make Sydney the special place that it is, and need to be retained for the benefit of all.

To the projects planning team NSW,

I would like to lodge my objection to the beaches link. As a veterinarian I am extremely concerned about the impact of the destruction of native bush land in flat rock gully and it’s negative effects on wildlife. In addition I am concerned about the effects of the unfiltered ventilation stacks from the tunnel.

I would urge any consideration of alternate options for transport including public transport.

Yours sincerely,
Aileen

I am writing this submission to make formal my objection to the proposed Northern Beaches Tunnel.

In 2018 the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Special Report into 1.5 degrees of Global Warming advised:
“Pathways limiting global warming to 1.5°C with no or limited overshoot would require rapid and far-reaching transitions in energy, land, urban and infrastructure (including transport and buildings), and industrial systems (high confidence). These systems transitions are unprecedented in terms of scale, but not necessarily in terms of speed, and imply deep emissions reductions in all sectors, a wide portfolio of mitigation options and a significant upscaling of investments in those options (medium confidence).”
However, there seems to be no acknowledgement of this stark warning, with a tunnel that was proposed before this report still being proposed with seemingly little consideration of the impact on our ability to decarbonise and meet our international obligations under the Paris Agreement.

Per the EIS, this project will increase NSW’s emissions during the construction phase by 723,700t CO2e, and continue to increase emissions every year thereafter when the tunnel is in use. This is a gross misuse of funds ($10-12 billion, or highly likely more) that could be used to significantly reduce NSW’s greenhouse gas emissions. It is important to note that the NSW government’s 2030 emissions reduction target of 35% is well below what is required to achieve the Paris Agreement objectives of 1.5 degrees of warming.

As a tax paying citizen of NSW I believe the funding for this project (and any similar projects) should be directed into decarbonising projects such as renewable energy, electrification and insulation of buildings, improved public transport and EV infrastructure and incentives until we know that we have met our international commitments. There is simply too much at stake if we do not stop warming the planet. “Nice-to-have” projects like the Northern Beaches Tunnel cannot not proceed until we have invested in projects that are “necessary” to secure our children’s futures.

Budgets are, of course, finite, and need to be spent wisely. This tunnel, at this critical point in time, is not a wise use of funds. We need to be heavily investing in projects that will reduce emissions across all sectors, and this project, according to its own EIS, is not one of those projects.

Kind regards,
Erin Remblance

I object to the project for these reasons

When the tunnel goes ahead, Northbridge, Naremburn, Artarmon and Cammeray will bear the brunt of years of safety issues, hazardous levels of water and air pollution, noise, vibration, traffic, asbestos risks and other issues
1000’s of heavy vehicle trucks will be added to roads like Brooke Street, and potentially Strathallen and around Cammeray, in areas like Brooke Street more than 1 each minute causing significant noise, vibrations, potential dust, diesel fumes that even the RMS team themselves have identified as highly toxic and dangerous, and most of all traffic for 8+ years. The council hasn’t put any set limit on when these trucks will be driving in and out. Trucks containing ‘fill’ might be limited, but other trucks could travel 24 hrs a day. The safety and traffic issues on a road already with enough safety concerns could easily be fatal. Yet when we brought this to the attention of the engineering team, they ignored it completely in a publicly aired consultation meeting and said it was fine.
Dredging around Northbridge will be highly toxic and potentially stop local kids sailing clubs, kayakers, fishing, swimming at Northbridge Baths for the duration of the project and well beyond.
Flat Rock gully will have a large area that is destroyed, yet there are no plans for rehabilitation or if the site might be used for something else that is positive for the area, like proper sporting facilities.
Despite this devastation to the area:
The RMS has confirmed zero benefits for the Naremburn/Cammeray area, note even tunnel access nor reductions in traffic flow along Alpha Road/Flat Rock etc - yet years of traffic safety, air pollution, noise and other issues. Including truck movements up to 24 hrs a day, 7 days a week for 6-10 years (NOT limited to work hours) and no safety, noise, vibration or toxic chemical measurement or procedures for locals, outside of work sites.
The traffic unable to go along Flat Rock will divert along Small Street or Strathallan and Sailors Bay, creating more traffic issues for years.
While Mosman, the Northern Beaches, Cremorne and other areas will get all upside, zero downside and remove traffic from ‘their backyard’.
The Tunnel is expected to cost as much as some of the world’s biggest tunnels, that link whole countries and support extensive GDP (like Switzerland and Italy) - yet this simply connects Balgowlah to Western Sydney and reduces some traffic on military road
There is no reason why in a $14bn+ project, a very small amount can’t be put toward keeping Willougby and Cammeray residents safe.

Thank you.