NorthConnex

ATTACHED IS A SUBMISSION FROM SCAPS WHICH I ENDORSE .

NorthConnex Application Number: SSI 13_6136

I am writing to regarding issues about expected long term health impact from the proposal NorthConnex (M1-M2) tunnel polluting stack.

My name is Yuan, I am a 2 years old little girl's father living very close to the proposal northern stack, The proposal NorthConnex tunnel will be 9 Kilometers long, there are only two exhaust points at the both of tunnel end, due to traffic flow in tunnel as piston-affect, large number of diesel trucks from Pennant hill road to Newcastle through tunnel will push forward this airstream move from southern portal along the 9kms channel to Northern portal, so northern-end will experience extremely high level emission from this non-filtration stack and portal, that enormous emission would never stopped to overhead cover from center of high densely populated residential area in Wahroonga district. I have severe concern as following issues:

The location of proposal northern ventilation outlet near plenty of schools, child centre, aged care facilities, hospitals and homes, some of these local amenities are extremely close to it, such as Abbotsleigh Early Learning Centre (452m), Abbotsleigh School for Girls (452m), Waitara Public School (473), Wahroonga Preparatory School (409m), KU Wahroonga Preschool (486m), B'nal B'rth Retirement Village (597m), Balamara Preschool (633m), Neringah Hospital, Wahroonga (674m), Netherby Aged Care Facility (817m)
Explore & Develop Preschool (686m), Wahroonga Nursing Home (726m), and Prouille Catholic College (777m). The distance of these places listed are all less than 800 meters from the stack while pollutant could spread over 1kms-2kms with wind.

1. I am concerned about worldwide health research reveal the impacts of air pollutants would give human health are serious consequence.
These harmful substance from traffic emission include nitrogen dioxide, PM2.5 will bring detrimental effects to breath system cause heart disease, risk of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth and asthma to children while they spend most of their time at school near the source of contamination, these particles easier to deeply penetrate little kid organs, lung tissues and remain there causing inflammation. For pregnant women the research discovers their baby would have high possibilities to catch congenital heart defects, for vulnerable elders in aged care facilities, relevant environmental impact would cause significantly unusual mortality.
2. I am concerned about large amount of pollutant pump out from daily thousands of heavy diesel trucks and other vehicles which remaining at ground level with low wind speed in Wahroonga area while this 9kms tunnel would operate all the time. Diesel emissions have been classified as carcinogenic by world Health Organizations, all outdoor activities for local residents and kids have to under high risk-considerations in the future all the time.

3. I am concerned about the air quality within the tunnel which is shown in Environmental Impact Statement to have exceedance above standards for pollutant such as NO2, and haze from particulate matter at the ends of the tunnel.

4. I am concerned that a project options assessment process was not undertaken to assess alternative designs for project planning.
Unlike other tunnel projects in Sydney there are alternatives for locating the stacks and portals in non-residential areas, and monitoring point was set up near the stack and portal.

5. I am concerned that justification for not providing filtration for the stacks if cursory and unconvincing.

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

1. The air quality and human health impact assessment need to be amended to address the issues raised above.
2. An independent options assessment process should be undertaken to assess alternative locations for the ventilation outlet and portal.
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 claim of no portal emission is justified.
7. Portal emissions from NorthConnex in the future are banned.
8. 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.

Name: Yuan

Address: 54 woonona Ave North, Wahroonga, 2076, NSW

I am making a submission objecting to many points documented in the EIS, which are described in the attached PDF file. In particular I raise concerns about the unfiltered air quality, location of the stacks (Southbound Tunnel exit) and the use of local roads during the construction period of up to 5 years. The impact to residents of diesel fumes and noise is a major concern that homes and local road users cannot cope with. An alternate route must be found for trucks entering and exiting the construction site. Air quality must be managed to worlds best practice and properly filtered so that particulate matter equal to and less than PM 2.5 are not able to enter residents lungs through incorrect positioning of tunnel stacks. I am concerned that I have not had any feedback from Local Government and State Government that demonstrates they understand the issues brought to their attention. The elected members have failed to do their duty on behalf of residents, leaving residents to articulate and research all issues of concern. The EIS has many major gaps and fails to meet compliance standards that explain in detail what the total impact to residents are. A failure to explain the impact of particulate matter equal to and less than PM 2.5 on residents, the exclusion of filtering, the incorrect design of the Southbound Tunnel exiting of polluted air and the wrongly positioned Southbound Stack are a few examples that make the EIS a failure before moving to the next development stage. My concerns are directed at the Southbound Tunnel - I will leave the issues of the Northbound Tunnel to residents in Wahroonga.

I am making a submission objecting to many points documented in the EIS, which are described in the attached PDF file. In particular I raise concerns about the unfiltered air quality, location of the stacks (Southbound Tunnel exit) and the use of local roads during the construction period of up to 5 years. The impact to residents of diesel fumes and noise is a major concern that homes and local road users cannot cope with. An alternate route must be found for trucks entering and exiting the construction site. Air quality must be managed to worlds best practice and properly filtered so that particulate matter equal to and less than PM 2.5 are not able to enter residents lungs through incorrect positioning of tunnel stacks. I am concerned that I have not had any feedback from Local Government and State Government that demonstrates they understand the issues brought to their attention. The elected members have failed to do their duty on behalf of residents, leaving residents to articulate and research all issues of concern. The EIS has many major gaps and fails to meet compliance standards that explain in detail what the total impact to residents are. A failure to explain the impact of particulate matter equal to and less than PM 2.5 on residents, the exclusion of filtering, the incorrect design of the Southbound Tunnel exiting of polluted air and the wrongly positioned Southbound Stack are a few examples that make the EIS a failure before moving to the next development stage. My concerns are directed at the Southbound Tunnel - I will leave the issues of the Northbound Tunnel to residents in Wahroonga.

I would like to state we object to the project as described in the EIS, please refer to the attached my submission report file: Lin Ma's EIS submission 8-9-14 for details.

8 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 our submission in response to the exhibition of the EIS for NorthConnex.

Firstly we would like to state we object to the project as described in the EIS.
We have lived for over 40 years at the corner of Bareena Avenue, very close to the planned outlet stack in Wahroonga. We have eight young grandchildren who spend extended time in our garden and we have great concern for the potential adverse health effects of this project as proposed.

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, we are 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. We are 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. We are 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. We are 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. We are 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. We are 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. We are 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. We are concerned that the justification for not providing filtration for the stacks is cursory and unconvincing.

To address our concerns we 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.

See attached letter of objection

Plse find submission attached

See attachment

8 Sep 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 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:

Northern and Southern Stacks
1. Placement of the ventilation stacks 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. The placement of the Sothern ventilation stack next to the backyard of residence but not on the eastern side of the Pennant Hills Road where RMS own lands adjoining the Pennant Hills gold club.

Concentrated Discharge of Unfiltered Vehicle Emission by 2 ventilation Stacks at each Tunnel End Only
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 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 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.
10. The addition of more exhaust stacks along the length of the tunnel at high points in industrial areas and consideration of filtering the emission stacks.

Dixon Chan
3 Ashley Avenue
West Pennant Hills 2125

8 Sep 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 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:

Northern and Southern Stacks
1. Placement of the ventilation stacks 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. The placement of the Sothern ventilation stack next to the backyard of residence but not on the eastern side of the Pennant Hills Road where RMS own lands adjoining the Pennant Hills gold club.

Concentrated Discharge of Unfiltered Vehicle Emission by 2 ventilation Stacks at each Tunnel End Only
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 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 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.
10. The addition of more exhaust stacks along the length of the tunnel at high points in industrial areas and consideration of filtering the emission stacks.

Freda Chan
3 Ashley Avenue
West Pennant Hills 2125

I strongly object to a emissions stack being located in the middle of a residential area close to schools and other community centres.

I strongly disapprove of a stack being built in a residential area. The proposed stack will be emitting concentrated, unfiltered noxious exhaust gasses from diesel engines. The proposed stack at Wahroonga is going to be built in a valley and located near many schools. The stack must be filtered and preferable moved 2 kilometres north of the M1 Wahroonga exit.

I wish to express my utter condemnation for the proposed stack in the heart of Wahroonga. The toxic pollutants emitted will be discharged in a valley and become the health issue in the future. Studies have shown that microscopic particles cause poor lung growth in children and increase death from heart disease and lung cancer in adults.

Please see submission attached

Please attached my submission.

Thank you
Katia Penfold

Dear Sir/Madam,

Please find attached a copy of my NorthConnex EIS Submission No. 1.

Kind Regards,

Victor P Taffa

Please find my submission attached below.

Thank you.

Please find my submission attached below.

Thank you.

Please find attached PDF submission