NorthConnex

This is a Submission to Director - Infrastructure Projects in Department of Planning and Environment.
In regards to NorthConnex Application number: SSI 13-6136

I am have XX young children,XXXXXXXXXX and since our house is right next to one of the shafts I am concerned with the following points:

1. the 24 hours construction work will affect our sleeping quality. Especially the loud truck noise and digging noise at night will wake the babies up.

2. Since our house is on the lower side of the construction site, I worry the lights from the cars and trucks entering and exiting will shine into our windows at night.

3. The placement of the northern ventilation stack is situated in a highly residential area of Wahroonga including many schools. My son is currently attending XXXXXXXX School and 3 other children will start in the school in the near future and I am worried with the air pollution effecting his growing lungs.

This is a Submission to Director - Infrastructure Projects in Department of Planning and Environment.
In regards to NorthConnex Application number: SSI 13-6136

I am have XX young children, XXXXXXX and since our house is right next to one of the shafts I am concerned with the following points:

1. the 24 hours construction work will affect our sleeping quality. Especially the loud truck noise and digging noise at night will wake the babies up.

2. Since our house is on the lower side of the construction site, I worry the lights from the cars and trucks entering and exiting will shine into our windows at night.

3. The placement of the northern ventilation stack is situated in a highly residential area of Wahroonga including many schools. My son is currently attending XXXXX School and 3 other children will start in the school in the near future and I am worried with the air pollution effecting his growing lungs.

Please filter the northconnex tunnel.

Director - Infrastructure Projects
Department of Planning and Environment
Number: SSI 13_6136
Major Projects Assessment
GPO Box 39
Sydney NSW 2001

NorthConnex Application Number: SSI 13_6136

Please find below my submission in response to the exhibition of the EIS for NorthConnex.

Firstly, I would like to state we object to the project as described in the EIS

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues and request that these be considered by NorthConnex and the Department of Planning. In regards to the NorthConnex tunnel, I am concerned about:

1) North Connex Community update leaflet distributed to my address today 12/09/2014. Which is the last day of the public exhibition period. I lived in Hornsby for 4 years and this is the first update that I receive in regards to NorthConnex and I've communicated with my neighbors, which live in the same building, all of them states that this is the first communication leaflet that they have received as well, despite the leaflet shows it was a community update "5", hence, not enough time for community to discuss and research the pros and cons for this project.

2) Placement of the northern ventilation stack in the center of a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

3) I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems.

4) Based on the community update 5, states that NorthConnex is not the cheapest option. Is it worth for the community to "invest" in NorthConnex? The key facts states that i) saving travel time by "up to" 15 mins, means that when traffic occurs, it could be down to 7 mins or less. ii) Improve efficient movement of state and national freight, but at least half of the state and national freight transport during night time, therefore not a big effect on improving efficient, as night time the transportation time should not be as bad as early hours. iii) Deliver improvements to local air quality, where I already states on points from above, where it is an opposite effect to the local air quality.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:

1) Due to the significant health concerns of the current project design, I request the department of planning does not approve the project in it's current form.

2) I also request that alternative transport options to ease congestion on Pennant hills Road be considered such as an orbital surface route, utilizing more double decked buses.

Cheung Chun John Yiu
29/208-226 Pacific Highway, Hornsby, NSW, 2077.

I am concerned about the proposed Northern ventilation outlet which is going to be built at Woonona Ave north, it is only about 500m to our house. I realized we haven't had any opportunity to be consulted, consider the impacts to us, we are very concerned the health issues, the property value and visual impacts.

I request the proponent to carry out value assessment studies and independent valuation assessment immediately.

I support the CAPS submission.

I support the CAPS submission for abjection.

I object to the placement of a smoke stack in a residential area in Wahroonga when the long term health effects are unknown. I have considered the EIS and do not believe that it adequately addresses the concern as most of the assumptions seem flawed.

For what is a minimal extra cost I believe that the best outcome for the residents of Sydney is to have the stack relocated to an area away from residential areas. Over the life of the road, this extra cost would be minimal and worth it to cover the risk that maybe smoke stack does indeed cause further problems.

Finally, despite anything else, the decreased value (across the whole suburb) in Wahroonga property would exceed the cost of moving the stack.

I support the CAPS submission

I am 5 and I goto Abbotsleigh.

I do not want to goto school near a smoke stack. Please dont make me breath in the air that has all the yucky pollution.

Please find below my submission in response to the exhibition of the EIS for NorthConnex.

Firstly I would like to state I object to the project as described in the EIS.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues and request that these be considered by NorthConnex and the Department of Planning. In regards to the NorthConnex tunnel, I am concerned about:

1. Placement of the northern ventilation stack in the centre of a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes. This includes my two school aged children who are attending Abbotsleigh.

2. The placement of the northern ventilation stack in a valley in Wahroonga where there are often low wind speeds, which will result in poor dispersion and exposure to community to high levels of tunnel emission.

3. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems.

4. I am concerned about the project including future provisions for portal emissions in densely populated areas, which will result in emissions remaining at ground level, and hence exposing the local population to pollutants. I am also concerned that NorthConnex's claim that there will no portal emissions from current proposal cannot be verified.

5. I am concerned about the large amount of diesel emissions which will be emitted from the NorthConnex tunnel, as it is being designed for heavy freight to bypass Pennant Hills Rd. Diesel emissions have been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation, and also contain a larger number of fine particles which penetrate deep into lung tissue and remain there causing inflammation.

6. I am concerned about the air quality within the tunnel which is shown in the EIS to have exceedences above standards for pollutants such as NO2, and haze from particulate matter at the ends of the tunnel.

7. I am concerned about the multiple flaws in the air quality modelling of the northern stack in the EIS. These include:
a) extrapolation of meteorological data from other weather stations which do not reflect the local meteorology, local topography, and the valley location.
b) The use of a coarse topographical model
c) The failure to consider polluted intake air from the Pennant Hills/M2 interchange as part of the project contribution to air quality at Wahroonga
d) the background air quality being based on air quality at Lindfield and Prospect and the lack of any actual data on PM2.5

8. I/we am concerned that a full and transparent options assessment process was not undertaken to assess alternative designs for the project. Unlike other tunnel projects in Sydney there are alternatives for locating the stack and portals in non-residential areas.

9. I am concerned that the justification for not providing filtration for the stacks is cursory and unconvincing.

To address my/our concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:

1. The air quality and human health impact assessment need to be revised to address the issues raised above.
2. An independent options assessment process should be undertaken to assess alternative locations for the ventilation stack and portals.
3. To undertake a Life Cycle Analysis and assessment for the provision of filtration
4. A long term health study on children and residents in areas impacted by stack discharges be included as part of the conditions of approval.
5. A comprehensive air quality monitoring program is developed and implemented.
6. An independent review of the ventilation system is undertaken to ensure that NorthConnex's claim of no portal emissions is justified.
7. Portal emissions from NorthConnex in the future are banned.
8. The Submissions Report/Preferred Project be exhibited to allow the community to respond to the revised information contained in the report.
9. The Department does not approve the project in its current form as it clearly does not meet the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development as required by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Thank you for taking the time to consider my submission.

I endorse the CAPS group submission in its entirety.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues and request that these be considered by NorthConnex and the Department of Planning. I am concerned about a ventilation stack in the centre of a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, near so many school children, homes and hospitals.

I am worried that the stack wont be filtered and that it should be placed in a more reasonable area away from homes and in a position where the wind can more effectively disburse the smoke. I appreciate the need for the tunnel but it should not come at a cost of health by concentrating the pollution in one residential area.

The EIS does not seem at all robust and should be subject to an independent review not completed by the proposed owner of the tunnel.

The tunnel should also be open to a public tender to see if others can offer a better solution.

I OBJECT o the proposal. I have concerns regarding the pollution stacks. My understanding is that in the EIS the pollution stack will not have appropriate filtration. I have concerns that the concentrated emissions that will be produced in the tunnel will not disperse once released in the stack and will have great detrimental effect to the air quality of surrounding areas. I also have concerns regarding the placement of the stacks. While there is not many appropriate places they could be located I believe the proposed spot is not appropriate especially considering there will be no filtration. I can not believe that no or even minimal filtration of a pollution stack would even be considered this day in age when the ill effects from poor air quality are well documented. Please do not put budget over quality of life

I have two grandchildren who will attend Abbotsleigh for the next 18 years and the placement of a smoke stack so close to their school is of a major concern to me. I request that consideration be given to having either more smoke stacks spread evenly or that the current proposed one be relocated to a less residential area.

Thank you.

I endorse the caps group submission in its entirety

I OBJECT to the proposal. I have concerns regarding the pollution stacks. My understanding is that in the EIS the pollution stack will not have appropriate filtration. I have concerns that the concentrated emissions that will be produced in the tunnel will not disperse once released in the stack and will have great detrimental effect to the air quality of surrounding areas. I also have concerns regarding the placement of the stacks. While there is not many appropriate places they could be located I believe the proposed spot is not appropriate especially considering there will be no filtration. I can not believe that no or even minimal filtration of a pollution stack would even be considered this day in age when the ill effects from poor air quality are well documented. Please do not put budget over quality of life

I endorse the CAPS group submission in its entirety.

I cannot believe that these stacks are being built in the middle of suburban areas of Wahroonga and West Pennant Hills. There are many other viable options - create a ring road, build higher stacks, filter the stacks, don't build stacks in a valley that are better solution than the suggested ones. Seriously why would anyone knowingly pollute the population? The solution given is obviously about cost savings, without regard for the impacts on the population and future costs in regards to health care. When did our government stop representing the people? Why can we not have vision and create a better future for all of us?

12 September 2014

Director - Infrastructure Projects
Department of Planning and Environment
Number: SSI 13_6136
Major Projects Assessment
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001


NorthConnex Application Number: SSI 13_6136

Please find below my/our submission in response to the exhibition of the EIS for NorthConnex.
Firstly I/we would like to state we object to the project as described in the EIS.

I/We have a high level of concern regarding the following issues and request that these be considered by NorthConnex and the Department of Planning. In regards to the NorthConnex tunnel, I am concerned about:

1. Placement of the northern ventilation stack in the centre of a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. The placement of the northern ventilation stack in a valley in Wahroonga where there are often low wind speeds, which will result in poor dispersion and exposure to community to high levels of tunnel emission.

3. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems.

4. I am concerned about the project including future provisions for portal emissions in densely populated areas, which will result in emissions remaining at ground level, and hence exposing the local population to pollutants. I am also concerned that NorthConnex's claim that there will no portal emissions from current proposal cannot be verified.

5. I am concerned about the large amount of diesel emissions which will be emitted from the NorthConnex tunnel, as it is being designed for heavy freight to bypass Pennant Hills Rd. Diesel emissions have been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation, and also contain a larger number of fine particles which penetrate deep into lung tissue and remain there causing inflammation.

6. I am concerned about the air quality within the tunnel which is shown in the EIS to have exceedences above standards for pollutants such as NO2, and haze from particulate matter at the ends of the tunnel.

7. I am concerned about the multiple flaws in the air quality modelling of the northern stack in the EIS. These include:
a) extrapolation of meteorological data from other weather stations which do not reflect the local meteorology, local topography, and the valley location.
b) The use of a coarse topographical model
c) The failure to consider polluted intake air from the Pennant Hills/M2 interchange as part of the project contribution to air quality at Wahroonga
d) the background air quality being based on air quality at Lindfield and Prospect and the lack of any actual data on PM2.5

8. I/we am concerned that a full and transparent options assessment process was not undertaken to assess alternative designs for the project. Unlike other tunnel projects in Sydney there are alternatives for locating the stack and portals in non-residential areas.

9. I am concerned that the justification for not providing filtration for the stacks is cursory and unconvincing.

To address my/our concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:

1. The air quality and human health impact assessment need to be revised to address the issues raised above.
2. An independent options assessment process should be undertaken to assess alternative locations for the ventilation stack and portals.
3. To undertake a Life Cycle Analysis and assessment for the provision of filtration
4. A long term health study on children and residents in areas impacted by stack discharges be included as part of the conditions of approval.
5. A comprehensive air quality monitoring program is developed and implemented.
6. An independent review of the ventilation system is undertaken to ensure that NorthConnex's claim of no portal emissions is justified.
7. Portal emissions from NorthConnex in the future are banned.
8. The Submissions Report/Preferred Project be exhibited to allow the community to respond to the revised information contained in the report.
9. The Department does not approve the project in its current form as it clearly does not meet the principles of Ecologically Sustainable Development as required by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act.

Karen and Nathan Rangiwananga
22/2 Woonona Ave
Wahroonga