NorthConnex

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Knox Grammar School respectfully requests that serious consideration be given to the filtering of exhaust stacks in the interest of public safety.

We have followed with great interest the reports from experts in the community on a range of health and safety issues and we concur with those concerns and ask that these be considered as a matter of urgency.

We attach a copy of a letter titled "Letter of Medical Evidence opposing North Connex tunnel portal and stack placement in residential suburb" which we believe best summarises those health and safety concerns.

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

I wish to submit our objection to the project as described in the EIS for NorthConnex.

I work in the health profession and chose to reside in Wahroonga because of the healthy natural surrounds and am concerned about the NorthConnex tunnel for a number of reasons.

I request that the below be considered by NorthConnex and the Department of Planning:

1. The location of the proposed ventilation stack is within a densely populated suburban area in Wahroonga, too close to proximity of local school and pre school children. I am concerned for the health wellbeing of young children and their developing minds and bodies.

2. The proposed area for the ventilation stack is within close proximity to a large number of aged care facilities (one of which my parents recently moved for health and wellbeing reasons) and hospitals

3. The proposed location of the northern ventilation stack in the valley natural of Wahroonga where there low wind speeds increases the risk of exposure to the local community of tunnel emission dispersion.

4. I am most concerned about the large amount of comprehensive research studies around the impact of air pollutants and the risks of serious health issues including increased disease and health risks for infants and children and members of the local community. These risks include poor lung development, autism, congenital heart defects for growing children plus of lung cancer, stroke, and asthma for those in the local community. Studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems.

5. I am concerned that the project includes future provisions for portal emissions in densely populated areas, which will result in emissions remaining at ground level, and increased exposure to pollutatns tor the local population. I am also concerned that NorthConnex's claim that there will no portal emissions from current proposal when this cannot be verified.

6. I am concerned about the large amount of diesel emissions which will be emitted from the NorthConnex tunnel and it's being a heavy freight to bypass for Pennant Hills Rd. Diesel emissions are 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.


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

8. I object to 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 rather than closer to areas nearby and Prospect and the lack of any actual data on PM2.5

9. I am concerned that a full and transparent options assessment process was not undertaken for alternative designs for the project. Unlike other tunnel projects in Sydney there are alternatives for locating the stack and portals in non-residential areas and this is unforgivable to forever change such a unique suburb.

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

To address our concerns I support the CAPS Submission and 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.

In addition to the uploaded PDF below XXXXXXX has a concern that their has not been sufficient planning to take traffic off local roads during the construction stage and she is concerned that access to Copeland Road from Karloon Rd so as to keep easy access to Beecroft.
Additionally she agrees with the air filtration requirement.
I am an 89 year old who thinks the tunnel will be terrific but I am very concerned for young children and people XXXXX who have bronchial issues if the tunnel is not filtered.

pls see attached file