Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

1. The project is just a means of moving traffic congestion from here to there with no real results. Example the M5 East Tunnel which was totally saturated within two weeks of opening. a huge waste of money back in the 1990s.
2. There seems to be some "dodgy accounting" where presumption is made that there is no pollution from the cars in tunnels and that is similar to the use of rubber tyred metro trains in Paris which was hotter and more smelly than the London Tube because of the smell of worn tyres and not just hot frustrated people.
3. More "dodgy accounting" you cannot use a brahmin bull or cow to graze up the side of Warragamba Dam but a Rock Wallaby will do the job of keeping vegetation trimmed much more effectively as they are built for the job. Some environmental tradeoffs suggested are about as effective as this and probably more politically insensitive.
4. The use of a road Tunnel seems to be a sop to Mosman council and a few other Influencers who are trying to "live the dream" and deprive the rest of us. The more realistic solution is to build a rail line via Mosman and Neutral Bay Junction to the city and Beyond as the decision to develop has already been made.

Lookin back at Northern Beaches history, the Spit Bridge was opened in the 1930s, Bradfield had a plan to put rail lines through North Sydney to Neutral Bay and towards the Beaches to work with the Sydney Harbour Bridge the new crossing, why over 90 years later hasn't this plan halted by the Great Depression be fully assessed in this transport based EIS?

The RMS is no longer and yet the proposal for a road only tunnel that we have today hasn't changed / been updated / had serious comparison with first world solutions, seems like some corrupt influence is on the agenda to ensure that the story goes where certain people benefit most at the expense of the majority, including those who believe that Military road will go to locals only, the wind won't blow air pollution all over them and the great unwashed won't use their beaches......whilst sail boats halt the Spit in some bygone era, no this will continue to the stated 20 year projection of 2037?

I object strongly to this project. Please carefully read my submission.
I look forward to your reply .

This is my submission regarding the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection.
As a parent at the Balgowlah Boys High school and a local resident I have several concerns which I will outline below.
I have 2 sons at the school and know how easily distracted they are, the ongoing construction and noise will adversely affect them and all the other boys at the school and the teachers, not to mention the local residents. Then there will be ongoing impacts on the school community and residents once the tunnel is built.
These construction noise will impact the children’s health, wellbeing and also their education. So this is a long lasting impact, one that has the potential to impact an individual’s life and livelihood!
If you look at implementing noise restrictions, which need to happen, you must take into the consideration of the learning students, their outside activities but also the local residents.
You will have increased traffic with construction and potentially more congestion especially with the flow of future traffic. This is a big issue for a growing school and much to my concern the safety of the boys. As someone who has lost a young sister, who was hit by a car near a school this has devastating effects and should not be underestimated.
I have mentioned impacts on health, this goes beyond hearing issues. One of my son’s has asthma and my concern for all the boys is the ongoing risk to all the boys with construction, dust, and dirt as a result of the digging and construction process but also the ongoing air quality for the future with increased emissions. These are all things that need to be considered and whether this tunnel should go ahead or if it is in fact the right spot for the entrance. How will the construction take into account these factors and mitigate any ongoing damage to the boys, teachers and residents?
The school s a growing school and currently uses the oval for outdoor space, my concerns around the boys being able to access this space for their required needs is strong. Boys need to be active and require lots of physical activity as part of their education, without this the ability to learn is affected again. I feel this has a far greater impact on the boys than has been taken into consideration. Again, this will greatly impact the learning of the students and potential their life outcomes!
There are also major concerns around the environment and the impact this will have on green space in the area and any wildlife and habitats that are there. Has there been any thought put into the local bat colony and how this will impact them? We are limited for green space and local flora. This needs to be considered as a value to the community and can not be replaced if destroyed.
The above concerns I feel still need to be addressed and without true consideration of the real impact on all the boys at the school, for their long-term prospects and life outcomes then I do not believe it should go ahead in this place. Further authentic consultation is required with actions that genuinely address these concerns.

Yours sincerely
A very concerned parent and resident!!

Please see the attached submission.

I give permission for the name of my organisation to be publicised but not my personal details.

I OBJECT to the Beaches Link Tunnel Project

I do not believe this project is in the best interests of residents of Manly and the nearby suburbs. Some of the issues I have with this are:
Manly and the Northern Beaches are very cycling friendly suburbs. This project will impact the thousands of riders who use the Manly Dam cycle track by demolishing a key link in the circuit; it will likely impact road cyclists and commuter cyclists from the Norther Beaches who currently ride up Wakehurst Parkway between North Balgowlah and Frenchs Forrest with no easy alternative (those based on Seaforth and North Balgowlah would have significant detours). Finally, the cycling track alongside Burnt Creek Deviation will be impacted and that is a key route used by cyclists to avoid busy roads.
From an environmental perspective I spend time at Manly Lagoon walking my dog and I have concerns that drying up the major fresh water source will impact the environmental health of the lagoon, and as a regular swimmer and surfer at Manly Beach I have concern about the contaminates that are likely to end up in the water as a result of this project.
Everyone would like better transport, but this is very much at the expense of the environment and those that enjoy being outside around Manly Dam, Manly Beach or cycling in the area.

As a resident of North Balgowlah and with a young family growing up in the area, I object to the current proposed plans on the grounds that the road tunnel is very unlikely to achieve the benefits expected, will severely impact the welfare and health of residents living in the area and have significant and lasting repercussions on the neighbouring environment.

The justification and case of "building more roads" has not been made. From the environmental impact, to the numerous studies that show that road building does not relieve congestion in the mid to long term, this is an outdated approach. Where is the consideration for public transport? I lived for a couple of years in Singapore and marvelled at the effectiveness of their public transport system. I cannot see how a short-lived improvement in car commute time outweighs building clean, efficient infrastructure for the future. Or indeed, investment in more pressing areas of infrastructure improvement in Australia.

The disruption the construction will have on the area will be devastating. I am very concerned by the increased traffic through the suburban streets where my children cycle to local schools, plus the heavy trucks that will inevitably be caused by such a large construction. The welfare of our people has to be paramount and I don't think enough has or is being done.

There has also been insufficient consideration of the long term impact on the environment and the impacts this has on the health of our children.

In short, there is little that makes sense in the current plans. The vision is short term and populist. For such a massive investment, there needs to be more transparency and consultation, and I object to the proposal going forward.

I am writing in regard to the BEACHES LINK AND GORE HILL FREEWAY CONNECTION
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS). As a parent of a child soon to start at Balgowlah Boys High School, I am greatly concerned by the impact of the project on the school and believe the NSW Government has both a responsibility and a duty of care to ensure that the impacts are minimised as much as possible. First and foremost, I believe the submission written by the Balgowlah Boys P&C must be considered with the utmost priority as it speaks on behalf of the entire school population both present and future.
The key issues that I believe need to be addressed as a priority and BEFORE commencement of works are as follows:
- guaranteed safe access to the school at all times, with particular attention given to the time frame of arrival and departure of the student body.
- continuous noise and air quality monitoring to ensure the boys and staff are not being expose to long term harmful conditions. These measurements must be started BEFORE construction starts so a base level is obtained in order to properly gauge the impact of construction.
- funding for the relocating of exams for all classes, including transport for the boys, to an offsite location, and particular close consideration given to the impacts on those boys sitting their HSC
- installation of double glazing in all class/staff rooms and offices to minimise the impact of noise on day to day learning and working
It is imperative that TfNSW immediately establish a working group to liaise with the school PRIOR to project commencement to address these concerns and then provides a dedicated liaison person, with some level of authority, to ensure communications are open and issues are addressed quickly.
If it this project runs to time (projected time frame of 2023 -2028) based on current intake some 2400 boys will spend all or part of their entire High School career in close proximity to a major construction. The NSW Government has a responsibility to ensure this construction does not adversely affect these young men or the people teaching and supporting them. This is more than a matter of budget and cost it is about the well being and future of kids.
Kind regards
Slava Beliakova

To whom it may Concern and Katherine

As you have one of the most unfriendly and user impossible sites, especially for less savvy internet users, I am forced to submit my submission thru this email portal.

I know the portal was down but since it has been back up, I have wasted several hours on a beautiful Sunday trying to get into the site via my 2 emails address - neither work and they never send me a link to reset my password. I can't but think that this may be deliberate as it would put most people off and makes the Govt look inefficient

Here is my submission objection for Beaches Link Tunnel.

I strongly oppose the project as the EIS has raised many concerns including but not limited to
The destruction of over 3000 trees, approx 400 will be on Flat Rock Gully where my friend lives and I have enjoyed the ambience of over decades.

The devastating impact on marine & land eco-systems troubles me deeply

In excess of 900 truck movements on Flat Rock Road near by friends home

4 Unfiltered Smoke stacks next to schools & homes

The project has not assessed the impact of emissions on residents, the environment and its contribution to Climate Change

There hasn’t been a detailed business case presented to fully understand the economic rationale underpinning the project. Will Transurban benefit from this project at the expense of community and environment? This Company is already bleeding the community dry with their excessive Tolls
The construction sites at Balgowlah Golf course, Seaforth and along Wakehurst Parkway will involve the removal of valuable green space and approximately 2500 established trees. Sydney has been de-forested far too much already. Trees are an essential part of our lives and help our wellbeing, stop heat sinks and suck up tons of pollution.
Numerous threatened species including Eastern Pygmy-possums and Grey-headed Flying-foxes will either be displaced or forced to suffer construction noise and contaminated water run-off.
Immersed tunnel tubes in Middle Harbour will threaten seagrass beds and marine species with contaminated sediment.

I urge the NSW Govt to reject this project though I know by the past outcomes that it is a Done Deal.

Please let me know if you need further information regarding my details

OBJECTION TO: Eastern Beaches Link
Saving Sydneys Trees (SST) is a Community Association concerned with the increasing depletion of Canopy, Vegetation and Green Spaces in our Urban Environment and the negative impacts of Poor Planning. We have a Facebook following of well over 9,500 thousand and a Database in excess of 12 Thousand.
We find that this Project as it is presented, fails not only Public Expectation of Best Practice but transgresses the Australian Clean Air Act; National Forest Policy and Australia’s’ Obligations to The Paris Agreement, ALL of which are binding on ALL LEVELS of Government and their Agencies.
We find the Project does not allow Bicycles, Electric Scooters, and other modes within the tunnel, which presents a Car or larger vehicular bias that also does not fit with Future goals and requirements indicated by Planning NSW and the Premier.
It fails to present a Realistic Carbon Neutral Footprint and as such is deemed “Unfit For the Future”.
• The taking of so many Significant trees from the landscape with inadequate and non- Accountability for square metre existing and Productive to Public canopy loss or IN AREA “Offset” Canopy is completely unacceptable. It adds to a mounting case of “Double Dipping” and “Creeping Deficit” we are experiencing. Termed “Green Washing” by many.
This in turn has led to Increased Calls from the Premier and Planning to PLANT and considerable Tax Dollar allocation to the” Greening Sydney Strategy”. It is unfathomable that despite TfNSW and Infrastructure for NSW having promised many Inquiries …”it would learn from its mistakes”…, that THIS Panning THROUGH our Natural Assets is still being Consistently Repeated in Practice.
The negative impacts to not only the identified and Linked Health and State and Federal budgetary $$’Billion COSTS of the Losses of Canopy, Vegetation and Green Space, EXISTING PUBLIC ASSETS - (unaccounted for in the Cost Benefit Analysis Process); …(Please see recent linked articles in the attached PDF of this Submission) is unfathomable and unacceptable.
This violates CLIMATE Obligations and Clean Air Act. rendering 20-30 years of Children's Health depleted…Too Much of these practices is seen as a Violation of Human Rights and Culpability.
• There is the individual passed on “Heat Island/Continent” creation in the non-appraisal of “All of Landscape Impacts” across the Greater Sydney Area. These “Multiple Negative Impacts” are shared by all the Public (This again violates the CLIMATE Elements expected n Panning for our Future Sustainability and Resilience;
• Species Endangerment to LOSS is a direct expectation of these actions and Not able to be Offset;
• Erosion Creation, multiplying negatives as Climate Scientists indicate more Weather events with increased intensity and frequency is to be expected into the Future.
• Natural Water Course interference which will be created and lead to even more LOSS of Ecosystems in existence as Impacts to Burns Bridge Creek (influenced by road works through Balgowlah Golf Course would be reduced by 96% and depths in the future…The implicated ecosystem and species reliance has only 1 result, LOSS. These are LOST FOREVER and have multiple repercussions across a wide variety of dependent species/lives…THESE cannot be “Offset”.
• Risks to Water Purity. Identified and yet dismissed…Is NOT acceptable (Road runoff is Pollution affected and its introduction to Manly Dam and linked creeks…The extent is too much to find any credibility in “Best Practice in Planning and Design”.

SUGGESTIONS:
• Firstly, a complete review of a Best Practice and Design that does not create Pollution of Middle Harbour and avoids Many Dam and Garigal National Park detriment and The Aboriginal Carvings along Engraving Trail which is threatened from road runoff…It is noted this may need the relocation of entrances and exits to a more appropriate location or complete reassessment;
• Number of lanes, while not accommodating Public Transport poses many, many questions of appropriate design and purpose. It is seen as increasing traffic and decreasing transport times and raises the Process of Justification when all elements are accounted;
• Many in the community have indicated that Technology presented for construction of Pylons should be manufactured off site which would reduce environmental impacts and time which has many Best Practice positives;
As you can see there are MANY good reasons to REJECT this Proposal.


SST call for this review and for a re-evaluation, inclusive of all Environmentally linked $$COSTS to the Public placed at risk;
We call for CLIMATE Obligations and the Clean Air Act. along with the Objectives of the National Forest Policy on Development to be upheld within the design and that any Offsets be IN AREA and Ecological losses into any future, resulting from these works be concluded UNACCEPTABLE and NOT IN THE PUBLIC LONG TERM BEST INTERESTS.
…We ask for BETTER.

Most Sincerely
Margaret Hogg
(On Behalf of)
Saving Sydneys Trees

Can be published
NO POLITICAL DONATIONS
Portal user unfriendly so please accept this submission.
E: [email protected]
FB: savingsydneystrees
T: sydneytrees

I wish to object to the tunnel project

Dear Sir/Madam,

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.

Regards

As a resident of North Balgowlah, we will be directly impacted by the unfiltered smoke stacks as well as the construction of the tunnel for many years. We have a thriving community of young families where kids play together outside their houses, ride to school and neighbours congregate in the street. I can’t stand the thought of my children’s health being compromised by breathing in the fumes of others who benefit from a shorter commute to the city or airport. Covid has changed the way we all live and work with less need to travel now that the world has gotten closer through video chat. People are working from home more and so the congestion during traditional work times has eased, all making the tunnel less of a requirement for those who choose to live in beautiful parts of our city and can endure a few extra minutes on the road when they need to travel. I object to the tunnel construction and explore the state government to consider other modes of transport like trains to assist in reducing cars on the road, impacts to our environment and significant upheaval of our thriving community. Thank you for your consideration.

Lauren Hill

We present herein a submission to the Beaches Link EIS on behalf of the Balgowlah Suns Junior AFL Club Pty Ltd. The content herein has been discussed amongst our membership and has been endorsed by the clubs committee.

We are a highly committed sporting organisation in Balgowlah as recognised by the AFL, Council and State Government in recent years who have provided support to upgrade our existing facilities and by the awards received by our club and volunteers.

We pride ourselves on being an active participant within our local community providing opportunities for the kids in our area and supporting community initiatives.

We recognise the need for the Beaches Link development and whilst it potentially could significantly disrupt our operations in the short term, we consider it as a once in a lifetime opportunity to transform the area into a sporting and green space precinct that will support and benefit our community for generations.

We present within this submission our observations and suggestions across both of the construction and final phases of the works with particular discussion on the Staged construction and their potential for adverse impact or conversely mutually beneficial opportunities to the project, community and the Balgowlah Suns.

The EIS for the Beaches Link tunnel outlines the many negative impacts of the construction and operation of the private tolled facility. Having grown up on the Northern Beaches, I am familiar with the area impacted.
As a community minded person who is concerned about the future, I believe the tunnel project is outdated and will not serve the residents of the Northern Beaches or wider Sydney. It fails to recognise the sustainable infrastructure we need in this city, to serve our population while remaining environmentally responsible. It also does not serve a generation of young people who are increasingly shifting away from individual transport in favour of public transport, ride shares, car shares and active transport.
With any major infrastructure, there is an opportunity to create more liveable communities for the people of NSW - with better public transport, walkability, local shopping and business hubs and green space. The tunnel fails to benefit the community in any of these ways, while promising to cause financial, mental and environmental detriments.
I have many serious concerns about the impacts of its construction and operation. I cannot detail them all here. However, I am especially concerned that the EIS shows:
- It will cause serious and irreparable damage to the natural environment;
- It is not aligned with climate change goals that require urgent reductions in emissions;
- Increased traffic congestion around the tunnel portal will negate any savings in travel times in the tunnel for resident of the northern beaches;
- Large numbers of children, residents and workers will be exposed to unfiltered emissions via stacks and noise, dust contamination and congestion during construction; and,
- It is unlikely to be completed within budget or on time and is a poor use of large sums of public money, particularly given recent government spending during COVID-19.
Full submission attached.

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


Objection: Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Upgrade - SSI_8862

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.

I object to the project for the following reasons:

1. The timing of release of this project at the end of what has been a very challenging year. This project impacts a large number of schools and passes through highly residential areas. Families, community groups and schools have been under a huge amount of strain throughout the exhibition stage. School P&C's did not have the opportunity to review the documents and parents were caring for children on school holidays. The 12,000+ paged documents are very difficult to read on screen and the Library was not allowing borrowing. The project should be re-exhibited well after the COVID-19 crisis has passed and when normal life returns ad when we understand the permanent changes that it has made.

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 because it is simply unjust to intrude on people's homes in this manner. To have invasive development by means of light, dust, pollution and noise 24/7 days a week for in excess of five years is nothing short of torturous. People's home are their refuge, to deny them peace in their own homes is grossly unfair. I cannot imagine the devastating impact this project will have on my community's well being and mental health, something I hope has been factored into the budget of this project if a class action was taken.

3. I object to the project due to the threat to our biodiversity and green spaces. The level of devastation cannot be underestimated. Losing 10 acres of our local area is inconceivable - Flat Rock Gully is critical to our area - providing recreational use, walking/cycling tracks, sporting fields etc - this space benefits everyone in our area, and not least sequestering our carbon. The detrimental impact to our local wildlife is too horrible to imagine and the suggestion of just reinstating it once the project is completed is unrealistic. This will take generations to recover, if it ever does.

4. I object to the project as it is a tolled road and there is little evidence that it will alleviate current congestion. And it will certainly worsen our current parking and access in our own neighbourhood of Northbridge. We already have peak hour congestion and currently have many commuters from the Northern Beaches who drive from their area and park in our local residential streets to use our local public transport resources. We already have limited parking for residents and their guests and this is heightened and worsened due to Northern Beaches residents utilising our public transport instead of their own. This will only increase with this tunnel, further disadvantaging Northbridge residents.

5. I object to the project as it has a poor climate profile at a time when we should be looking to projects which reduce our emissions. This is not a solution that has enough forethought - it is a short term answer that only benefits a few, with an enormous cost to many. This project is encouraging and enabling private vehicular transportation which is not a progressive solution.

6. I object to the project as there has been no publicly published business case and the costs demonstrated in the EIS seem to far outweigh the benefits. The EIS also fails to fully scope many aspects such as utilities and contamination which poses a risk to the project. Any information on this project is nebulous and vague, with one Tunnel representative even stating during a meeting that 'dust does not travel' - simply untrue when we look at the 2009 dust storm from South Australia when Sydney became dangerous to it's residents and were advised to stay indoors and seal doors and windows. There is no transparency around very genuine short term and long term health concerns.

7. 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. This must be the way forward, it is a sustainable and a far more environmental way for the future and the Northern Beaches residents should be encouraged to use their own public transport which is highly accessible.


At this point in time, this project appears to be in it's infancy - with very minimal solid information available to date. There appears to be little to no benefit, yet at an extraordinary cost to taxpayers, many local residents and communities and our environment. This project needs a full review in every aspect and more transparency would be very much appreciated.

Yours sincerely,

A very concerned resident
Baroona Road, Northbridge

Declaration of any reportable political donations
made in the previous 2 years e.g. I have not made any reportable political donations in the past two years