Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

Thank you for this opportunity to make a submission in respect of this project. I object strongly to this project on the grounds of its risks to our community's health - both physical and mental - and to the irreversible destruction of the area's natural environment, with consequent loss of wildlife and loss of a significant area of beautiful public amenity and important heritage. Additionally, it beggars belief that this project can be driven forward by its proponents at such a pace with so little substantial consideration for alternatives, in particular those that rely principally on public transport options; and this without publication of details of a business case that would justify its adoption. In conjunction with this, it should be acknowledged that prior calculations and estimations of traffic growth and emerging patterns have been largely invalidated by the substantially modified behaviour of drivers and commerce since the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.
I am particularly at a loss to understand how the proponents of this project can justify the establishment of unfiltered exhaust stacks - this in an area that is close to dense population and a large number of schools. I am not assured that the prerequisite measures will be in place to prevent significant harm from pollution.
I am particularly concerned with the planned destruction that will be caused to Flat Rock Gully, and with the fact that there are no firm answers as to how this area will look at the end of the project. There are too many unanswered questions in this regard. Additionally, the scope of monitoring and assessment of wildlife habitation that will be under threat appears to be all too pragmatic.
Please consider these above objections and go back to the drawing board for a sensible solution to the management of our region's traffic problems.

We object to the Beaches Link proposal with the many paged to say very little EIS illuminating some simple facts to show that progressing an exorbitantly expensive privately held asset like a toll way will only, ultimately bring more frustration and harm to the communities it is meant to help.

At an estimated $14 billion (circa 2018) build cost, reliant upon five-year old traffic data, still based upon pre-Covid work patterns, peak hours and slated to begin in two years (neatly coinciding with the next NSW state election due in March 2023) and taking at best five years so, maybe a 2028 completion date the plan to forever tax / toll the community to address the ‘Military Road’ problem simply falls short on many grounds. It is not unreasonable, easy to argue just some of the following:
- Health and environmental risks for example, destruction of seabeds, bushland and green open spaces have not been properly nor adequately assessed, any discussion of same in the EIS lacks proper scope and community consultation failing to meet expectations.
- Public, mass transit alternatives have not been considered; (the original document signed off by Mike Baird states solutions to traffic congestion along the Military Road corridor not include public transport inputs, alternatives. Why?
- The toll / tax trade off to transitory ‘time savings’ is more local road congestion. Getting to and from the proposed entry / exit points in Balgowlah and Seaforth will negate, erode any transitory ‘tunnel time’ saved. One lane local roads will only clog further; the Link finishes up short in every aspect.
- Unsurprisingly Infrastructure NSW rates the Beaches Link as a low priority project.
- A fully worked, open to proper analysis Cost Benefit analysis is not available? The Inquiry into Westconnex found that business cases for future projects should be released prior to planning approval. An expected norm of good government, like stakeholders in the commercial world the community demand transparency from those elected to serve the interests of all the people.
- NSW Department of Planning 10 year population projections show the Northern Beaches local government areas might be expected grow by about 150 thousand people whilst the Western LGAs grow by about a million people over the same period. How does this proposal relate to the taxpayer?
- The proposal transverses a high proportion of the local community’s schools, pre-schools and childcare facilities. Is it safe, practical?

Some other glaring examples of a singularly biased planning and consultation process that my family objects to:
- Filtration of the pollution stacks is not considered, world best practice is absent here and all over the proposal.
- Traffic is projected to be insufficient to ‘fill’ the toll way ‘payoff’ requirements, exacerbated by yet not factored for changed Covid work practices. Any ‘need to feed’ traffic into Westconnex and encourage rat runs is not a community serving reason to spend upwards of $20 billion (by built time) of taxpayer funds all to tax many taxpayers over and over again.
- In a growing metropolis the Beaches community have waited patiently for a mass transit solution for decades. As frequent business and holiday travellers with the B-Line and the Airport train we get the benefits of well thought through public transit options. How will Beaches people access Sydney’s second 24-hour airport, our children universities, work opportunities, etc.?

To say the proposal has got this far without the community getting full transparency is disappointing. That the voluminous EIS lacks detail on issues of high community concern, takes one very lopsided direction to ‘serve’ the community, under-inform people who use, when provided, public transport to instead visit recurring health risks, hip pocket costs and day to day frustration is alarming.

The B-Line day in, day out demonstrates a viable, workable solution the public turns to and now expects. Access to work, CBDs, to airports, universities and schools is a right for many yet sadly not it seems for those saddled geopolitically with the costly, forever toll and toll again ‘Military Road Problem’. Must everybody on the Beaches trying to get someplace be forced to drive and park? This is not good government policy, does not enhance community amenity. Simply put the dangers and forever cost are too high a price to pay for a fleeting 10 minute burst of commuter speed.

I strongly object to the Beaches Link Tunnel because:-
The pollution from the stacks will not be filtered and will pollute the area and schools.
The number of truck movements per day are staggering. There will be morning and afternoon peak hour chaos and For years. The government will not be forgiven for putting all the people north of the Harbour Bridge through such torture and for no proven benefit. The developers are already no doubt getting ready to move in to the Northern Beaches areas.
I am also very concerned about the toxic sludge which will be disturbed in the harbour. Are we going to see brown water instead of blue?
A train link between Dee Why and Chatswood - via the hospital- is a must.

Integrity of local natural ecosystems:
The design of this tunnel to exit out halfway along Wakehurst Parkway is disingenuous and will irreversibly tip the balance of the surrounding nature reserve towards permanent degradation. This is due to the following:
*Heavy construction site with associated sediment run on throughout the build period will impact water quality of the dam exacerbating toxic algal blooms and pushing rare and endangered fish towards extinction (See attached 'Presentation 1' for the image of the waterfall which is a tributary to Manly Dam that this proposed construction site will be directing polluted, sediment laden water towards)
*Project will irreparably server the wildlife corridor over the the fresh water at Manly Dam - adding to the insult of the Northern Beaches Hospital which severed the corridor from the North
*Light pollution from vehicles will impact the wildlife that do remain in the area as a widened, more heavily used road is established through the bushland
At this point in history, as the incalculable value of natural assets is finally starting to be recognised we must consider the environmental footprint of all large projects carefully or we risk passing the tipping point where our local ecosystems collapse and we see the end of the owls, other wild and majestic birds, wallabies, monitor lizards, water dragons, pygmy possums etc.
We have a chance, with this project, to keep the tunnel UNDERGROUND until it connects to the large intersection in Frenchs Forest where suitable infrastructure to receive and distribute the tunnel traffic is now in place. The cost to keep the tunnel through until this point is offset by the long term value to our community of retaining Wakehurst Parkway as a local road with less traffic, offering an ability to enhance the biodiversity and natural value of this important part of our community.

Air pollution
Air MUST BE FILTERED as it is vented from the tunnel. Wind travels from the west most days and this proposed site of exit with unfiltered stacks will directly and irrevocably impact the residents of Manly Vale and the students at MVPS. It is unconscionable that we would build such a tunnel and not take the opportunity to filter the exhaust.

Construction adjacent to Bally Boys
Consider the site of this and how it can be as far removed from the school as possible - many of these students endured years and years of noisy and dustry construction while at MVPS, and now they are poised to be subject to this. It is disruptive and impacts concentration. The dust is bad for their health and the construction traffic is a liability. We need the entrance and exits for site traffic to be well away from the school and also timed NOT TO COINCIDE with school drop off or end of the school day.

Finally please also ensure the bat colony in Balgowlah is ENTIRELY protected throughout as they are a keystone species essential to the balance of our local ecosystem and must be protected. They have already suffered much in the way of habitat destruction. Please also ensure no run-off into the creek along Burnt Bridge Creek deviation.

Thank you, Julia

I am concerned over construction and operation vibration/noise caused by the project. I am concerned about impact that noise and dust will contribute to the survival of the Powerful Owl bird species.

See Attachments containing covering letter, 7 appendicies and 1 attachment

The environmental impacts for the Northern Beaches Link will be too great. Destruction of the Burnt Bridge Creek, and impacts on water quality for the Manly Warringah War Memorial Park. Great losses also to our local Flora and Fauna.
The RTA site at Kitchener Street North Balgowlah is contaminated, being an old Gas Works site with cyanide, chromium, lead, zinc and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Reference to this can be found at Councils Manly Lagoon State of Catchment Report.
There is also a recorded Aboriginal site that has not been included nor assessed in your documents, this is along Burnt Bridge Creek close to Kitchener Street.

Director - Transport Assessment, Planning and Assessment

NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment

Locked Bag 5022

PARRAMATTA NSW 2124



RE: Northern Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

Environmental Impact Statement



I write to register my strong objection to this whole project.

I have lived in Artarmon for nearly 40 years and have seen the density, reduction of pedestrian deaths and traffic management arrangements change over those years.

WHERE 1. is the present need demonstrated in the light of the changed life and work styles engendered by the recent Covid19 pandemic?

2. are the results of changed/recent provisions of other means of transport, buses, light rail etc, to move workers & leisure seekers from their base & back?

3. are the effects of increased cycling & walking for exercise, also the provision of cycleways on traffic flow?

4. are the up to date cost benefits to the community & the contribution on The Greater Sydney Harbour City area & the Metropolis of Three Cities.
So insular are we??

Which leads me to the Environmental Changes which will result from the Freeway connection to the Northern Beaches Link.

I have walked both Flat Rock Gully & Artarmon reserve for all of those forty years, on the way to work, for exercise and leisure. Have been involved in the revegetation and rejuvenation of Flatrock Gully & Artarmon Reserve. Willoughby Council will produce photographs of the betterment of those green spaces and records of flora & fauna changes over the years. Many, including me have contributed to recording flowers and trees, lyrebirds and bees, frogs and ghekos, common and endangered species, and can then hand this heritage knowledge on to our children and grandchildren, not to mention overseas and interstate visitors and new residents in the district.

1. WHY IS THIS WILFUL DESTRUCTION OF HABITAT and DIVERSITY OF WILDLIFE BEING PROPOSED TO DESTROY 6+ MORE HECTARES OF BUSHLAND?

2. DIGGING UP WHAT WAS STATE OF THE ART IN THE NINETIES, BECAUSE IT IS REGENERATED!!?? THE DESIGN BRIEF, WAS TO CONTAIN THE TIP !!

3. 240 TREES TO GO , WHAT HAPPENED TO PAYING ATTENTION TO LOCAL WILLOUGHBY GUIDELINES IN ONE OF THE FIRST GREEN SUBURBS ON THE NORTH SHORE OF SYDNEY.

4. WILDLIFE CORRIDORS ARE TO BE BROKEN, SET UP SPECIFICALLY AND TO ENCOURAGE DIVERSITY AND THEY ARE WORKING VIZ THE LYREBIRD.

5. GROUND WATER DISTURBANCE POTENTIALLY HARMS THIS TWO LEGGED OBSERVER AND OTHERS WORKING TO REHABILITATE THE BUSH.

6. I CAN FIND LITTLE IN THE EIS THAT records the present state OR PROTECTS THE BUSHLAND OR ANSWERS THESE CONCERNS

We are but the present responsible holders of this jewel in the Southern Ocean.

It is time we stopped disturbing and destroying it’s unique diversity and did more to conserve the flora and fauna species we have hiding under the canopy.

ON ALL THE ABOVE GROUNDS I OBJECT VERY STRONGLY
Yours

Shelagh Kemm

6 COONEY ROAD, ARTARMON

Please see attached PDF document.

Please find attached my submission for the Beaches Link EIS - please do not publish my name or address details

I am a student at Balgowlah Boys Campus and I am very worried about the impacts of 6 years of construction opposite the school.

Please ensure that:
• We can get safely to school throughout the construction and operation of the tunnel.
• The heavy truck movements are paused at the beginning and end of each school day
• Provisions are made to exams to happen off-site
• The oval is kept open with safe access. We really need this space for sport and recess. The new link road will make the oval very unpleasant even if it can be used. Please move the link road several meters west and maintain a line of trees to help reduce noise and pollution.
• The air quality and noise levels are monitored all through the project and action is taken to mitigate any problems with noise and dust pollution.

I think you should look at relocating the whole school during the construction works. This would allow a new campus to be built as the existing buildings are old and too small.

The new public open space must include really good facilities for the students of Balgowlah Boys. There should also be an amazing network of cycle paths as a result of the project.

It would be much better to NOT build this new motorway and instead consider a metro line, trackless trams, amazing bike lane and more express buses. Even when I am old enough to drive, I want to have other options for getting around Sydney. Driving is stressful, polluting, socially isolating, dangerous to pedestrians and cyclists, expensive and unhealthy. It is time to move Sydney forward from car dependency.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide feedback on the proposed sporting facilities at the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection.

AFL NSW/ACT is fully supportive of the AFL opportunities that will stem from the northern entry into the Beaches Tunnel Link.

Over the past five years, Australian Rules Football (AFL) has experienced double-digit growth in community club players; double the rate of any other state and territory in Australia.

Following the introduction of the elite AFL Women’s Competition in 2017, female football continues to flourish with 223% growth (from 2016-19), making NSW second only to Victoria in terms of female Club participation nationally and AFL Sydney is now the largest community football competition in Australia.

Attached is a detailed submission (SE-15356352) from the Balgowlah Suns Junior AFL Club. The club have addressed two fundamental aspects of the proposal very well.

1. Staging – we support the club’s suggestions of mitigating the playing/training impact on the club during site preparation, construction and site remediation upon completion.

2. Final layout – we support the partnership with field hockey and cricket and endorse ‘Final Configurations A and B’ in the attached Balgowlah Suns submission. Given the ongoing growth of Australian football on the Northern Beaches, a two oval configuration is critical. AFL’s preference is ‘Final Configuration B’ (as accompanied). We fully realise that if staging to minimise disruption for the Balgowlah Suns suggests configuration A is best (leaving them in the south/east corner throughout) then it also has the AFL’s support.

Australian football is very healthy in the Northern Beaches but constrained by current facilities.

We fully support the project, and upcoming consultation process, requesting that we be consulted during the process about to be jointly led by Transport for NSW and Northern Beaches Council. We also request to be included as a member of the Community Reference Group.

I wish to lodge my objections to the beaches link tunnel based on the following points:

1. EIS is not current and much of it was written before covid therefore the facts and data it contains are irrelevant to current situation eg with respect to travel time data, post covid - there is much less dependency on peak hour travel. many more people are working from home and will continue to do so as workplaces have become more flexible. thus a new, up to date post-covid EIS needs to be written and re submitted for community consultation.

2. the 'beaches tunnel' has been declared "worlds best practice', however, this is untrue, as 'world's best practice' would include filtration of the tunnel ventilation/emission stacks. as plainly stated in the eis, these will NOT be filtered, therefore this plan for beaches tunnel is NOT worlds best practice, therefore, until it can be deemed, "worlds best practice', it should NOT go ahead.

3. The original document signed by Mike Baird when he was premier clearly stated that in finding a solution to traffic congestion along military rd and this corridor that public transport options NOT be considered. This is a blatant abuse of the investigative process and thus excluded from the start, any real objective research into the best solution for the traffic congestion problems identified. thus, the basis of the project is biased and non-scientific and illogical from the start. therefore, the project needs to stop until a full investigation into public transport options, especially rail from dee why-chatswood can be evaluated and compared to the proposed $15,000,000,000 stretch of road /tunnel that is the .beaches link. also, there has been some mention that Mike Baird was prompted to exclude public transport option from this project plan because large transport companies like Transurban were major political party donors.

4. At $15,000,000,000 this project is unjustifiably expensive for the 16 km stretch of road/ tunnel that saves supposed 10 minutes travel time and thus must be analysed further as to cost-benefit. However, since the travel data contained within the EIS is out of date by up to 5 years, this is not possible, and thus such expenditure can not be justified.

5. This project is unethical as it uses public money to make a private Toll road and as such is not for the benefit of the wider community. The tolls will be too expensive for most and this will encourage rat-racing and more traffic on local roads. thus the road/tunnel will never achieve its aim of reducing traffic.

6. Due to the phenomenon of 'traffic demand' , whereby in the absence of viable public transport options, such a project will only increase car travel and thus any short term reduction in traffic congestion along military rd and similarly congested roads will soon be reversed. thus, this project is ill conceived, short sighted, un ethical and nonsensical

7. This project actually encourages car travel and further tolling in sydney. major cities around the world have all shown the negative effects of car congestion in their cbds yet this project aims to increase car travel into sydney's cbd. this is irresponsible planning and not in sydney's long term interests.

8. Non-filtered emission stacks will spew forth the products from the 15 km tunnel over the suburbs of Seaforth, Balgowlah, Manly Vale, Fairlight and Balgowlah Heights where there is a high concentration of preschool, primary and secondary schools. this is unacceptable since the increased car and diesel truck exhaust fumes contain several extremely toxic substances including tiny particles that are hazardous for human respiratory and circulatory health. this effect is heightened in the bodies of young children, thus it is unacceptable that the tunnel emission stacks be not-filtered and located in such close proximity to the community.

9. The loss of habitat for endangered flora and fauna in the Seaforth and Balgowlah bush land due to tree removal and disruption to natural water courses will be significant and probably never recover. We will lose valuable green space and Manly Dam will be hugely impacted.

10. Residents will be placed under significant stress and hardship due to increased noise from construction 24/7, increased traffic in local streets, parking congestion as tunnel workers will fill all streets with their cars. In Seaforth Judith and Kirkwood streets are already congested with overflow from weekend soccer, cricket, football, bowls and boats trailers and caravan as well as residents cars. We have to endure 7 plus years of this for no gain only loss of amenity.

11. The proposed storage of chemicals etc behind houses on Kirkwood Street is unacceptable as we are in a fire zone so a more suitable location should be found as this is dangerous so close to houses.

12. The government has recently declared am 'open space' initiative/policy in which it seeks to protect precious open green spaces. this project is not in alignment with this policy as this project will result in destruction of these green spaces.

13. The plans for the tunnel are less than 50 % complete at this time, therefore the EIS can not provide a comprehensive impact study, therefore the EIS must be re-done and submitted for further consultation.

14. The prime objective of population growth via immigration must now be re-assessed given that we are now living with the ongoing threat of covid. therefore, the projected need for the tunnel is lessened and thus the business case weakened in current covid - times. the EIS makes no mention of current work travel time changes due to covid and is thus out-of-date and irrelevant on many counts.

In conclusion I object to this 'beaches Tunnel' project going ahead on several counts, namely the EIS is out of date, the business case doesn't hold up, the primary objective for the tunnel is biased away from public transport options and the project is too expensive and environmentally damaging to Sydney's precious natural habitat and waterways.

I recommend a complete review of the original process in which ALL options are considered and compared to find the best way to approach perceived traffic congestion. An investigation into the original conception of the idea from Mike baird's time as premier and any undue bias towards road/tunnel projects over more viable public transport options should be undertaken. This project is negligent and irresponsible. This project does not have the best interests of the general public in mind and is narrow minded and its focus too short term to have any lasting positive impact.

The North Harbour Community Group objects to the Beaches Link Tunnel Project as proposed in the EIS.

Adding to my objections:

We need proper street / noise abatement along flat rock drive / Brooke the road is steep and truck noise would be amplified with the revving of accelerators

Limit ALL truck movement to 7am-6pm .. not just soiled filled trucks. We have a right to enjoy our homes, and not have our lives disrupted with 24/7 noise pollution.

Implement safe road crossings for children across streets impacted including 40km speed limits. This is a priority as crossing flat Rock is already dangerous. Install cameras to monitor speeds.

We already find it near impossible to turn out of Grafton Ave into Brook during peak times. We need lights installed or something to allow us to be able to leave our street without waiting 10+mins to do so ... which at times is already the case. With increased traffic this will only get worse.

Ensure trucks DO NOT use air breaks up and down flat rock / Brook Street

Implement bus stops with bus lanes into the city on Brook street .. this will reduce the traffic on the roads and many people drive into Cammeray or Crows Nest to commute

Development plans for Flat Rock regeneration.. what are the plans??

Thank you.

Tanya

to whom it may concern.
I object to the proposed project on the following grounds.
!) Adverse, cumulative impacts on biodiversity across the project and in particular in the waterways, and in the FlatRock catchment area. The Impact statement prepared by the Project acknowledges impacts during construction, however I am particularly concerned about the longer term degradation and incursion into the catchment of post-construction infrastructure.

2) Aboriginal heritage. Local history document cites the FlatRock area as oe of the last known settlement areas by Aboriginal people on the north shore. The construction impacts on Aboriginal sites are irreversible, further erasing pre-colonial settlement history of the region.

3) Adverse Health impacts during the construction period of noise and air pollution. More concerning is the cumulative impact of unfiltered air pushed into the atmosphere from the proposed stacks, many adjacent to local schools.

As a parent to two small children (one of which is attending public school right next to where there will be an unfiltered stack), I have grave concerns for the health of my family and the devastation to the local area with the destruction of flat rock reserve. Let alone the amount of time it will take to rectify the damage, the health concerns with digging up an old tip is quite scary.
The new tunnel will also increase traffic (car usage) into the city which will result in more pollution.
If the tunnel is to go ahead then 1. public transport (a rail line) should be seriously considered to reduce traffic (we don’t need more cars on the road and public transport to/from the Northern beaches to dismal); 2. all stacks should be filtered (the concentrated fumes that will otherwise be discharged should not be allowed. The long term health implications could be disastrous); and a full study into the safety and impact on local wildlife from digging up flat rock reserve, as well as how and when the local areas will be restored. Many of us have chosen to live in this area due to great public transport (which should be afforded to Northern beaches residents) and the beautiful bushland. Please don’t take this away from us!

I have a son attending the Local Boys School, Balgowlah Boys, along with 1200 other boys. The school has made incredible steps forward in recent years, and is at the top of the tables for English in NSW. It is a highly sought after school in the area. I've learnt that the tunnel works will be in such close vicinity to this school, it's hard to believe that this has not been taken into deep consideration. The Impact on the boys learning, concentration, their environment, their health, both physical and mental, their general wellbeing, as well as their safety in the vicinity, the noise they will have to endure, the vibration, and the loss of open spaces for sport, not to mention the impact on the rest of the school staff, and teachers, is immeasurable.

I object to this tunnel being built for the following reasons.

1. Project too expensive. No alternative options to alleviate Northern Beaches Traffic have been thoroughly investigated by NSW government.
2. I object that we will be paying Tolls for a road that goes nowhere.
3. I object that the government is not taking climate change into account, and continue to build antiquated road highways that pollute our environment, spewing carcinogens into our air.
4. I object that this road tunnel will cause catastrophic traffic in my local area. It clearly stated in the EIS that the traffic will significantly increase in my street.
5. I object that the NSW government is clearing so many trees to build an antiquated road tunnel for single car use.
6. I object that the NSW government is building this tunnel so they can just sell it off to Transurban (possibly deals have already been done) in order to claim the northern beaches toll market.
7. I object that the NSW government is only building this tunnel so that they can push for mass development in our area, which would only make more money for toll operators.
8. I object that as soon as this tunnel is built it will become obsolete, and gridlocked as all motorways of Sydney are.
9. I object that our waterways will become polluted as a result of this tunnel. Manly Dam, Burnt Creek, Middle Harbour, Clontarf, Queenscliff and North Steyne beaches will all suffer.
10. I object that this tunnel will cause massive noise pollution to residents including myself as a result of increased traffic noise, and during the 7 years they are building it, with mass heavy double bogie trucks at all times 24/7 driving through our area, creating mass noise and air pollution, whilst damaging our local roads, and environment.
11. I object that there will more than 1000 employees of companies building the tunnel that will clog up our streets with their vehicles, at all times of day 24/7. Taking valuable street parking. Our streets are already clogged up with our own vehicles. Causing noise pollution, and possibly trashing our area.
12. I object that this project is being rushed through for NSW Liberal party to get it signed and contractors assigned well before the next election. Such a massive project costing the government so much money must have the best interest of the community and not for the benefit of private toll companies.

Having spent the whole of my 45 years here on the Northern Beaches and know its geography with limited space for future growth, I find this proposal a poor solution to traffic solutions encouraging the use of motor vehicles and note there has been nothing of substance in regard to public transport. How about build a tunnel/bridge from North Head to Vaucluse?