I am making this submission as I am extremely co ver es about the proposed beaches tunnel. My concerns are that:
- the construction phase will destroy both the the Balgowlah golf club green space as well as the Burnt bridge creek ecosystem.
- the new road and associated ventilation stacks will recreate significant health threats to both the Balgowlah boys students as well as the surrounding reudents. It has been clearly communicated that fine particulate polytion is a significant health risk as per numerous reports by the WHO.
- I am concerned by the lack of public transport options associated with the project. This in particular is a concern given the environmental crisis we are currently facing.

This project is a bad idea, that should not go ahead.

In this submission I object to the main construction site being located in Flat Rock Gully, and the negative impact this is going to have on the wildlife in the area, the trees and vegetation, the disturbance of contaminated soil and the impact on traffic flows on Flat Rock Drive.

Dear NSW Major Project

I wish to record my objections to the Beaches Link Tunnel / Road project.

Overall
From the EIS documentation, at a high level I can see that the total Tunnel cost is estimated at $12 billion dollars. Further, I see an estimate of a 10% reduction in traffic along Military Road. It's an interesting equation which in my mind does not add up in any way - most especially (but not limited to) the devastation that will be caused to our local environment.

Objection: I object to the staggering waste of money on a project that will cause so much harm to the local community.

Tunnel justification
Following the impacts of COVID-19 which we have felt over the preceding twelve months, I find it utterly astonishing that any Government would seek to destroy a beautiful local environment which is invaluable to myself and my fellow local residents for the sole purpose of reducing traffic congestion along Military Road by a mere 10%. I assume the data used as the basis for this project pre-dates the impact of COVID-19, and that data and modelling assumptions have not taken into account the changed world we find ourselves in, making this whole project one that is based on false data and outdated assumptions.

Objection: I object to this project being scoped on incorrect data and outdated assumptions.

Impacts of construction
The total number of vehicles going in and out per day is over 3000, working out to be close to 1 large truck every minute from Balgowlah, or 4½ vehicles per minute across all sites. How are these numbers considered to be something that could be accepted by local residents. This is a quiet residential area - one that the Tunnel project seeks to obliterate to pieces over 7 years. Destroying our environment and causing untold noise, traffic and construction pollution over a 7 year period.
Impacts of tunnelling
The EIS states they have assessed that 853 properties in Seaforth / Clontarf will experience noise from tunnelling above 35dB(A) (the night-time limit) of which 373 are also over 45dB(A)(3). They have also assessed that 325 properties in Seaforth / Clontarf will experience vibration above the criteria for human comfort. Based on this data alone the project should not be allowed to proceed - if there has been an assessment that even 1 person will experience vibration above the criteria for human comfort a project should not be able to proceed. Why else have the limits about what is able to be managed and what is not? Why does a Government allow itself to decide that these people should suffer through something which has already been assessed as being unsuitable?

Objection: I object to the impacts of construction, including but not limited to vibration impacts, on our local community.

Pollution from exhaust stacks
The facts are that unfiltered exhaust stacks for this project will be very close to homes and schools, located:
- on Balgowlah Golf course (within 100m of homes, 300m of schools, child care facilities and aged care)
- near Kirkwood Ave, Seaforth (within 300m of homes)
- at Ernest St, Cammeray (within 100m of homes, and 300m of Anzac Park Public School).

Again, why does this Government allow themselves to decide that the people who live, work and attend school in these areas should suffer this type of toxic pollution? Why does the Government believe that they can destroy the health of residents in such an apparent way and with a total disregard for them?

Objection: I object to the placement of the ventilation stacks and the proposal for them to be unfiltered.

Impacts on the environment
The EIS states that Burnt Bridge Creek is “a vital ecological corridor of regenerated habitat that provides a range of important habitats for a diversity of local flora and fauna”(9). Despite describing the creek as “vital”, the construction and tunnelling activities are projected to reduce the natural water flow of the creek by 79%. This will have a devastating effect on the plants and animals that currently rely on the creek. As part of construction, approximately 400,000 litres of wastewater per day will be discharged into the creek from the site that will run into Queenscliff lagoon.

The site is categorised as flood-prone, and it is unacceptable for any waste water, pollutants or contamination by construction soils to enter the creek system and impact all catchment areas downstream.

On this basis alone this project should be abandoned. How absolutely horrific that any one person or Government could allow a project to proceed knowing these devastating impacts on our local environment. How do the people pushing this project sleep at night knowing this environment will be obliterated?

Objection: I object to the devastating impacts on our local environment - impacts which can never be reversed.

Impacts on Local Roads
In other words, rat-run traffic will increase through North Balgowlah along Woodbine and Kitchener Streets. It will take short-cuts through Wanganella, Rickard and West Streets that will be unmanageable unless speed bumps or similar are installed to push the extra traffic to use Woodland or Condamine Streets, further increasing traffic on those streets. More traffic using these streets as rat-runs creates congestion at intersections, makes small residential streets more dangerous, and increases noise levels for residents at night.

Similar rat-running could occur south of Sydney Rd, along Ethel, Upper Beach and White Streets as traffic attempts to avoid increased delays on Sydney Rd and Condamine St.

These are quiet residential streets which are already this year in 2021 showing the strain as a result of ridiculous bus changes. These are streets where families with children and older residents live. Why does any individual or Government get to decide that they can change a local residents living conditions? It is not fair and not fathomable.

Objection: I object to the impact on our local roads.

Summary
There are multiple instances of old data being used, assumptions being outdated, guidelines being ignored, exceptions to regulations being granted, our local environment being obliterated, not to mention the devastating impacts of air / noise / traffic pollution. How we are even here discussing this project is beyond me. It does not stack up and should be shut down now, before anymore time and tax payer money is wasted on something that is not needed and not wanted.

Objection: I object to the impacts of construction of the tunnel and the impact of pollution if the tunnel ever was to be built.

I object to unfiltered smoke stacks. Filtering should be to world's best practice, not just an acceptable standard, particularly in Sydney's most densely populated area for schools. There's a potential for the government to be liable for huge amounts of compensation down the track if they get this wrong.

I object to the destruction of the highly valued urban wildlife corridor of Flat Rock Gully. I regularly see eastern water dragons, tree snakes and echidna here. This area is used extensively by a huge cross section of locals. The area may have been rehabilitated 40 years ago, but you can't tell the difference. The baseball diamond needs to be used instead if the project must go ahead. This area is cleared, buffered by sporting grounds, and only used by a very small cross section of society. Grass on pitch can be replaced when done. 40 plus years of tree growth and an urban oasis can not be replaced at flat rock Gully. This is complete sacrilege.

I object to 500 trucks travelling on Flat Rock drive every working day for 5 years during construction. This will have a huge safety impact on the countless kids in the area and residents.

I object to another toll road with the beaches link with minimal consideration given to public transport. We don't need the link, there are better options.
The project is all pain, no gain for locals and a misuse of state funds

I strongly object to the Beaches Link Tunnel for the following reasons;

The economics of the $10billion plus of taxpayers’ money to build the tunnel does not stack up and will have significant health impacts to people living in the area as well as our valued native landscape, fauna and flora. How can the government think this project is still a good idea particularly when considering the following:

1. The pandemic and future of work has changed the way we work forever and the majority of employees are now working and will continue to work from home. A number of city employers have already reduced their property footprint to 50% of employee numbers. Not only is there less economic reason for people to get into the city, which the bline has already improved significantly, but will also dramatically reduce the amenity of working from home. The noise impact from 24 hr tunnelling, 1500 trucks per day, vibrations which we have been told will be unbearable let alone the amount of traffic and thoroughfare through local streets throughout the project, is unacceptable for the government to expect any individual to endure.
2. Permanent pollution and damage to our children and communities health. How is it ok to have a dark cloud of pollution as per drawings from the project, that covers 3 public schools at this end of the tunnel in Balgowlah and over another 2 on the other end of the tunnel. It covers our house and the school we were planning to send our boys to but cannot and will not if this tunnel goes in. An unfiltered stack at the bottom of a hill when pollutants will rise and hit the hill and penetrate into children’s lungs has the potential for cancers and other free radical illnesses to occur and I fear will impact many in the area. It breaks my heart to think that the government is spending so much money on the tunnel and yet are so penny pinching when it comes to filtering the stack. It’s inhumane!
3. Having a tunnel built will mean that our area and beaches which are not set up to accomodate significantly more traffic will be overrun particularly in summer when various beaches such as Clontarf are already being closed at 8am in the morning due to full car parks.
4. There has been a complete lack of true engagement with the community and residents of the area. Plans have been changed a few times but never with consideration to the residents, only to benefit the government and property developers pockets. How can our government be so willing to bow down to property developers and their needs vs the community needs?
5. The government hasn’t considered all other alternatives
1. Congestion tax.
2. BLine bus routes.
3. Change of school start and finish times to use buses more efficiently.
Finally, the government has not considered the impact to local streets and communities that will become rat runs for fastest routes either to get to or avoid the tunnel. Our streets are already so conjested from local schools traffic, especially violet street, and people park in our street to catch the bus.

In summary, I strongly object to the tunnel and I ask that the government look seriously into alternatives for public transport rather than make a tunnel that won’t support those in the communities around it.

Lucy Nowland

I have had numerous on going discussions with the TFNSW project team and firstly would like to state that we appreciate all of the hard work that has been done by the project team to minimise the impact to the local community. There are a number of areas however that I believe still need to be addressed not only for the Wakehurst parkway portal but across the entire project in general.
Parking for contractors/workers at the North Balgowlah BL12 and BL13 sites.
It has been noted during discussions with the TFNSW team that there will be overflow parking required at these two sites. There has not been an estimate of the overflow parking spaces that will be required as the representatives have stated that they will need to wait to provide this data once a contractor is chosen and they will then determine the parking requirements. Based on the light vehicle movement data in the EIS at this site it is clear that there is not enough parking space at BL12 and BL13 to accommodate workers and they will be forced to park on residential streets. This is an issue for the local residents for safety reasons as the roads are narrow, young children ride bikes on the residential streets, also the site lines are poor from intersecting streets and with parking congestion this will cause potential accidents. Further the loss of on street parking for residents will also create an issue for the duration of the project.
Loss of Mature trees in work zones BL12, BL13.
There are numerous large mature trees that are significant to myself and the community that exist on TFNSW land. These trees are close to the current roadway and I would like it considered to retain these trees in the worksites to buffer the impact of the land clearing further up the Wakehurst Parkway. The benefits are it will provide important shade from the Western sun and will improve the aesthetic of the site.
Emission Stack - Wakehurst Parkway
The EIS provides data that there will be no measureable impact to the air quality. I believe the stacks should be filtered to ensure air quality is not impacted. Filtering of portals is common practice in tunnel projects in other international developed cities. I moved to this area from the inner west as I have a respiratory issue and my health has improved as a result. Breathing in particulate matter at any level is detrimental to ones health and as I am susceptible to this I am concerned that this will have an impact on my health. I am currently collating all technical details regarding the statements made relating to the minimal impact to the air quality to ensure that if health issues arise for me and my family I can reference these documents to take further action.
The other issue is the size and scale of the ventilation facility as depicted in the EIS does not provide the correct image in terms of height and scale. The EIS and future documentation should provide transparent details of the true scale of this feature. The fact that this infrastructure will be located in the middle of the existing tree lined road means it will be an eyesore in this bushland setting, whichever way it is viewed. Adding to this there will need to be iron clad guarantees of the façade and treatment of this facility that should be finalised in the final EIS and not left to interpretation by the contracted party. There is no evidence anywhere in Sydney from previous tunnel projects that provide a level of confidence that this ventilation facility can be integrated into a bush setting and the concern is it will destroy the bush setting and be an eyesore for future generations.
Heavy Vehicle traffic
There is a concern with the heavy vehicle movements leaving and arriving at both the Wakehurst Parkway and North Balgowlah sites. The EIS states that there will be minimal additional traffic impact as a result of the Heavy and Light vehicle movements during the construction phase. The TFNSW representatives have stated that the routes will be dependent of the contractor and where the spoil will be required. This does not take into consideration the return journey for these Heavy vehicles . I believe that the returning trucks to site and those on their first morning pick up will use the Wakehurst parkway thus further congesting this local main road. The Seaforth/ Burnt Bridge Creek intersection is already at capacity so additional traffic through this intersection will lead to congestion. The EIS is based on a traffic study performed in 2016 with forecasted future data. It has not taken into consideration the bus changes made by TFNSW in 2020 to use Seaforth as a bus interchange area. Further to this there are some dangerous corners that trucks will need to navigate on Frenchs Forrest road and in wet. See Attachment.
Rat Runs
There are only two ways to leave North Balgowlah heading east and south. Kitchener St overpass and through Seaforth junction on Sydney road. There are concerns that once the project is completed there will be rat runs to access the tunnel entrance. There are single lane residential streets off Kitchener road that lead up to Sydney road that will encourage vehicles from North Balgowlah to turn right into the streets leading up to Sydney Road. This will block the east travelling routes down to manly. The Northern Beaches Council has also issued some concerns regarding the traffic flow data in the EIS that need to be addressed along with those of the community. These are included in their submission upon review of the EIS. Further to this with the amount of additional cars exiting the tunnels this will place pressure on Manly Vale at the Burnt Bridge creek deviation and Condamine Street. It has been stated that it will be up to council to then address the ongoing traffic issues once the project is completed.
Thank you for reviewing this submission.

I object to and oppose the approval and construction of the Northern Beaches Tunnel (NBT) on the grounds detailed in the submission below. The case for constructing the NBT is based on flawed economic modelling, flawed traffic modelling (using pre-Covid and pre “work-from-home” traffic data). If built the NBT will disrupt the amenity, endanger resident health and disrupt traffic in Balgowlah for 7 years during construction, and in perpetuity pollute the environment with runoff, dust and unfiltered tunnel emissions. The NBT should not be built. I detail the reasons as follows:

I object to construction of NBT and Balgowlah Golf Course Access road and exhaust stack based on the negative impact on residents and local workers, specifically health risks, pollution, stress, and disruption:
To properties adjacent to Balgowlah Golf Course, it is expected that construction of NBT will cause about 7 years of disruption and negative health effects due to noise, dust and pollution starting in 2023. I object to the large and inevitable negative impact of construction traffic and construction employee parking, noise and dust pollution will have on my family at our home which borders on Balgowlah Golf Course.

There will be significant noise, particulate and dust pollution due to projected movements of one large truck per minute from Balgowlah using the local roads daily from 7am to 6pm weekdays and 8am to 1pm Saturday also causing additional local road congestion and traffic disruption.
· underground Tunnelling is planned 24 hrs a day 7 days a week; a large number of properties will experience noise from tunnelling above 35dbA and some 45dbA when tunnelling occurs below them.
· Early hour NBT construction workers, contractors and subcontractors will park in local streets irrespective of site prohibition.
· The Balgowlah Golf Course area will be subject to excessive noise from drilling, rock crushing and earth removal.
· Uncontained Silica dust generation and exposure from release and ‘track through’ will endanger local residents and workers putting them at increased risk of respiratory illnesses such as asthma, silicosis and lung cancer.
· The residences surrounding the underwater section of the NBT will be subject to loud construction noises greater than 75db from impact piling of cofferdam walls over 12 months.
· Possible sediment disturbance generating unsafe levels of heavy metals, lead hydrocarbons etc in middle harbour including the Sandy Bay area and Clontarf beach.

NBT lacks an accurate and supportive business case, and has poor environmental and social cases:

· The NBT was presented as a done deal by government. There was no community consultation on the reason for constructing a new $12- 14 billion road tunnel in comparison to the cost and advantages of rail or other public transport enhancement alternatives.
· The NBT is justified as meeting the need for an additional transport route to alleviate traffic along Military road. This provides only a 10% traffic reduction and is based on incorrect traffic modelling assumptions using traffic data that pre-dates Covid and the likely permanent shift to Work From Home and the reduction on commuter traffic.
· There is no proper business case to justify the $12-$14 billion cost estimate.
· Instead of encouraging an increased use of public transport, the tunnel encourages “Induced traffic demand” which expert modellers calculate will neutralise the promised time savings within 3-4 years, leaving Northern Beaches commuters worse off at the end of that time.
Aside from Induced demand from existing commuters, if the tunnel is built, it has
potential to induce demand for an additional 40,000 cars to travel to the local beaches during summer causing loss of street parking.
· In order to support the weak business case for the NBT expensive tolls $7-8 each way are proposed, this will be a significant new impost on residents of $70-$80 per week ($4,000 annually).
· Tunnel avoidance due to these expensive tolls will lead to worse traffic along Military road.
· Some of the hypothetical time saved on travel to the city during peak times will be lost due to local traffic congestion and bottlenecks.
· Introduction of traffic lights in Sydney road and at the tunnel entrance will impair current traffic flow along Sydney Road and Burnt bridge creek bypass.

I also object to construction of NBT based on negative impact on the Environment, specifically:
· The provision of unsightly, unfiltered exhaust stacks 8 – 10 stories high exhausting polluted air containing fine particulates collected from a 7km tunnel length near schools (Balgowlah Boy’s High and several Primary Schools) and in the middle of proposed public playing fields.
· Unnecessary loss of green space such as the Balgowlah golf course (which is also used by the community for walking / dog-walking) and due to widening of Wakehurst Parkway.
· The loss of approx. 400 mature trees and potential impact of a further 150 mature trees.
· Reduction in property values of homes, including my home.
· Loss of nearly 2,000 mature trees due to widening of Wakehurst parkway.
· Detrimental effect of runoff from the widening of Wakehurst parkway into Manly Dam.
· Risk to and loss of endangered Flora and fauna.

I object to construction of NBT but if it is given planning approval the following mitigation measures must be stipulated and enforced in contracts with Construction company and Operator:
I strongly object to the building of the Northern Beaches Tunnel and proposed related access road and unfiltered smokestack at Balgowlah Golf Course, however Northern Beaches Tunnel (“NBT”) is given planning approval despite the widespread opposition from affected local residents,
I require the following measures to be put in place to minimise negative impacts on health, amenity and property values:
Surface work and construction vehicle movements must not occur outside the times of 7am to 6pm weekdays and 8am to 1pm Saturday and must not occur on Sundays and Public Holidays.
Respite periods – especially during noisy works phases. These respite periods must be communicated in advance to the Residents to allow for planning of business calls / zoom meetings / child sleep periods etc.
• All construction traffic must be fitted with noise and pollution control devices (including ‘croakers’ or ‘quackers’ to reduce the impact of tonal reversing alarms).
• No construction vehicles must be permitted to wait or idle in Brighton St, Wanganella St, or other local roads.
• All staff, workers, contractors and sub-contractors (“Employees”) must park only in designated parking hubs (away from residential areas) with a regular shuttle service to the Balgowlah construction envelope.
• The vehicles of all Employees are to be badged for ease of identification.
• Employees must, as part of their engagement contract, be prohibited from parking outside of designated parking hubs and be required to comply with local road and traffic rules, with a suitably deterrent penalty system put in place for any breaches reported by members of the public.
• Appropriate onboarding/induction for all Employees to educate them around local road structure and school zones. This induction needs to be maintained throughout construction of the NBT.
• A site-specific construction 24/7 hotline and website (“Balgowlah NBT Website”) must be established for the receipt of complaints and breach reports from members of the public (“Complainant”). As part of this process there also needs to be a formal complaint handling mechanism in place requiring:
1. responses to be provided to Complainants within 5 business days of receipt of a complaint / breach report, detailing what investigative, remedial or penalty action has been taken, or is to be taken (and when);
2. penalties to be applied if the response time limit in 1) above is not met; and
3. a designated department within TfNSW be given responsibility for the escalation of complaints or breach reports (where a similar transparent complaints handing mechanism must be implemented).
• The emission stacks must be filtered. This is non-negotiable. This is regarded as ‘best practice’ for tunnels of similar length in Europe.
• Better health protection measures must be implemented for the control of silica dust created from the tunnelling through sandstone. The current measures proposed are inadequate. ‘Track through’ dust pollution from site vehicles will not be adequately controlled by proposed measures.
• Air Quality Monitors need to be installed and operated 24/7 at the end of Brighton Street, near Balgowlah Boys campus and Seaforth Public School, with real time readings to be publicly available on the internet and a system for text alert notifications to be automatically sent to Residents if pollutant safety levels are exceeded.
• Clear suitably deterrent penalties must apply to the NBT Construction Entity and NBT Operator for every occasion when pollution level limits are exceeded.
• All penalties relating to the NBT project that are imposed as a result of pollution, complaint time limits, parking, or other road or traffic infringements must be published on the Balgowlah NBT Website.

To who it may concern
I object to the Beaches Link tunnel for the following reasons:

Traffic Congestion:
I live in the area and are already fully conversant with the vehicular gridlock that happens every Saturday morning and almost gridlock that happens every weekday day at about 4-5pm. The Northern beaches already has enough car problems. A new tunnel pumping an an exorbitant amount of additional vehicular traffic into Manly Vale and the Frenches Forest intersection is just plain madness on an logic level. On summer weekends locals and visitors cant get a park at the beach. Local residential streets are often closed as residents cannot get to their home. There is nothing wrong with people coming to share the beautiful places near where we live on the Beaches, however the cars cant fit. So bringing them in by efficient public transport will enable access without the congestion. Claims are false and misleading that in 2037 the time savings for drivers from the lower Northern Beaches will save 30 minutes to drive to the city and the airport and beyond when it currently takes less than 35 minutes to drive from Balgowlah to the City. The math behind this claim is required to be full of assumptions and verified that this tunnel is not needed.

Cost and Programme:
The NSW State Governemnet has very little credible track record on Capital Infrastructure Cost Management. At $10-14B (or considerably more given Gov track record) this project simply doesn't stack up on cost, environmental or benefits metrices. Specifically when this solution is pitch this against light rail and other transport options.
A seven year construction programme:. With the proposed truck movements at Maritimo street will render the Bally Boys students at a significant disadvantage with noise, dust and pollution, and transport logistics. General amenity and right to peaceful enjoyment whist student undertaking one of their most critical elements and stage of life, senior high, will be significantly eroded. Imagine remembering your high school years...... living in the construction zone for a massive freeway tunnel.

Project Impact:
The expansion of the ridge at wakehurst parkway will have significant impact on wild life crossing and water run off etc.
The construction zones and traffic will be intolerable to local residents and destroy our local streets, roads and community.
The project will consume and destroy Balgowlah Golf Course. More people now than ever before are playing golf. It’s good for the mind and body and many older people in the community rely on their local affordable Golf Clubs for their essential and limited weekly social interaction and if they are still good enough, a bit of fitness, fresh air and exercise. In many cases, these clubs are their whole social existence. Taking this away from this section of the community to pave it with a freeway that they cant afford to drive on, when better options are available, is destructive, heartless and absurd.
The permanent pollution outcomes for residence and a number of schools is unhealthy, unreasonable and potentially immoral. This is a project with poor environmental outcomes and significant changes of causing health issues to children.

Public Transport Options:
The transport options appear to be steadily being eroded to ensure that this tunnel stacks ups. The residents don’t want a tunnel. Everyone knows that traversing the Northern Beaches via car is a frustrating and ineffective. What the city needs is:

an effective and frequent light rail system throughout the norther beaches with links to Chatswood, the CBD, North Sydney and St Leonards;

Maintaining a decent Harbour transport capability like our Jet Cat services, existing large Ferries on the weekend etc.

This tunnel doesn’t stack up on a number of technical, commercial, physical and ESG levels and most people know that there are better transport outcomes available at far less cost and impact than this proposed tunnel. I appreciate that the Government may be trying to do the best for it’s constituents, unfortunately on this occasion the solution needs a wholesale reconsideration.

Thanks you for your time.
Regards
Craig Brighton