I object to the construction of two unfiltered stacks within a stone’s throw of Anzac Park Public School where hundreds of school children are attending school for 6 hours or more 5 days a week including my two children. If Australia, a developed first world country, cannot afford to build filtered stacks then the government should be looking to more viable alternatives which would not irreparably damage the health of young developing bodies.

The impact on the North Sydney and Cammeray community in both the construction and operational phases is highly detrimental. There are more effective transport solutions available which have much less detrimental impacts but these are not assessed in the EIS. Isn't this a fundamental requirement of the EIS - to present an assessment of the alternatives? Surely the regulatory requirement to do this has not been met and the EIS needs to be re-done?

I object to the WHT and Warringah Freeway upgrade on a number of grounds and I believe that the project should not proceed. On this occasion I agree with Mr Alan Johns who spoke on 2GB on the 19/3/2020 and again to Gladys Berijiklian on 27/03/2020. No business case has ever been released as to why an extensive road only project was chosen over public transport options, or any other option other than a roadway. I request that the business case be released which outlined why the WHT and Warringah Freeway Upgrade has been chosen over all other options including an extension of the B-Line, a rail line from Dee Why to Chatswood and other public transport options.

Publish the business case
Publication of this business case is in the public's interest. As taxpayers we have a right to know how and why our taxpayer funds are being spent. The purpose of the infrastructure is to reduce congestion and ease traffic flow, however this is based on 2016 figures before the introduction of the B-Line buses. My understanding is that more roads mean more cars, increased pollution and increased traffic. A public transport option would move many more thousands of people per hour in comparison to numbers that can be transported via a road. Please release the business case.

I object to the project on cost grounds
The cost for the WHT and WF Upgrade is a dual project with the Beaches Link. The current cost is quoted as $16 billion. According to Alan Jones this could blow out to $20 - $26 billion. As I understand if this project goes ahead, the amount spent on each resident in the Northern Beaches is $53,000. This is an excessive amount per resident, in an area of Sydney whose population compared to Western Sydney is relatively stagnant. I also understand that there will be tolls both ways on the Harbour Bridge, as well as for the new tunnels and connections. Sydney already has the most expensive tollway system in the world. Not only do we have to pay for the building of this infrastructure as a taxpayer we have to pay as a user when we drive on the roads.

I object on the grounds of COVID 19, the EIS consultation period needs to be extended
As we are now bracing for the full impact of COVID 19 and still recovering from bushfires and floods our focus following the virus peak needs to be on rebuilding and improving infrastructure lost or damaged across the state. Upgrading rural and regional train lines could be a starting point. Money needs to be spent rebuilding the economy, spent on schools, hospitals and improved public transport not more roads. Spend money on overcrowded public schools and regional infrastructure to stimulate the economy after the impact of COVID 19.

We need more time as upon initial review as it has become evident that this is a far larger project with much broader ramifications than we had understood from the Reference Design Plans. The EIS documents are lengthy (with over 9000+ pages including appendices) and complex. The community requested clarification on the Warringah Freeway changes and a new document was issued to clarify the complex descriptions in the EIS in early March 2020. The implications of reconfiguring the Warringah Freeway alone (to accommodate two tunnels, ventilation outlets, ramps and flow management) are only now able to be fully understood.

Schools across the route boarder the Warringah Freeway and many of our catchments cross it. The safety and welfare of children is of the upmost concern. The ramifications across the route, which runs along the largest school district in Australia are complex and I believe need proper and careful consideration in consultation with community.

The commencement of the school term coincided with the outbreak of the COVID-19 Virus. Since that time, school communities and parents (such as myself) have been increasingly busy developing measures and adjusting daily activities to best protect children and our communities. The crisis is having a huge impact on people’s ability to engage with and understand this complex project. With a high proportion of working parents (often in jobs requiring travel) in the area the virus has presented a real challenge. My friends and neighbours have reported taking on extra responsibility at work to communicate and develop procedures, others have experienced constantly changing work/ travel arrangements which have impacted family and of course those that own small businesses have had to give them greater focus. Others have elderly or vulnerable family to care for, in addition to ensuring their children stay safe and well. As the weeks have passed and the threat has increased our families and community have genuinely had less time to devote to understanding the project and their emotional capacity to respond to the EIS is limited.

My other objections are as follows:-

1. The Gore Hill extension is mentioned in some sections of the WESTERN HARBOUR EIS and not others. A proper risk assessment has not been done on this portion of the project and it should therefore NOT be included a a Condition of Approval or provisional approval be given. This section will impact on Flat Rock and we strongly Object to Flat Rock being used as a dive site. The Western Harbour EIS has noted that Flat Rock is a significant water catchment area and a sensitive fish environment. It is much loved and rare green space as well as key habitat for native wildlife. A full and proper risk assessment must be completed before ANY work can commence. Please urge in the strongest terms to reassess the route and find another dive site away from the Flat Rock Catchment. Both our community and environment will not take well to disturbing it.

2. Naremburn is a Conservation Area. The heritage and historical significance of the area is important as it was one of the earliest settlements on the North Shore. The church on Merrenburn Ave has been noted as a structure that would be subject to vibration impacts however most of the buildings around it are of similar vintage. The resident work hard to stabilise their homes and retain the heritage of the area. We ask you to reconsider the route to avoid the Naremburn Conservation area as we builieve many of the buildings will not suvive tunnelling works and the work will put the many families in the small area at risk. A few extra metres of tunnel could make a big difference to heritage, damage and community.

3. The EIS demonstrates that suburbs such as Naremburn, Northbridge, Aratrom and Willoughby will receive a higher dose of pollution if the Western Harbour Tunnel goes ahead. Think dispersion + more local traffic. PM2.5, one of the most harmful pollutants will be above National criteria regardless this is not a reason to make the situation worse. The World Health Organisation states that there is no safe level of PM2.5 and the Naremburn monitors showed vey concerning levels. The government should be doing all it can to reduce these levels not building in a road based solution which does nothing to address it. Having said that the EIS shows that pollution levels will increase at the most sensitive of receivers and residential areas within 1km of the project footprint. Other disparate locations have been included fin the averaged air assessment of the Western Harbour Tunnel which, given the proportion of sensitive receivers close to the project footprint, does not acurately reflect the health risk Naremburn has not CR point listed in the eastern section closest to the construction corridor however the two closest monitors indicate the following: Northbridge (at Shore Oval): Increases in Change in NO2 1hr, PM10 Annual Change, PM2.5 24hr Change measurements. The monitor closest to Bicentennial Reserve/ Willoughby Leisure Centre/ Flat Rock shows the following increases: NO2 Annual Change (one of the biggest increases across the same area), PM10 24hr and Annual Change, PM 2.5 24hr and Annual Change...due to the Western Harbour Tunnel Project. Given the large number of children using Bicentennial reserve and living in Naremburn these increases to already poor pollution levels are unacceptable. See https://docs.google.com/…/1UhJnbDh2Lf0g_mLJe8rJYbRvqz…/edit…

4. The scope of traffic modelling did not extend to Willoughby Rd which is sure it have significant impacts given the change of ramp at Miller St and Brook St.

5. We note that a Transport Plan is being developed by the proponent in conjunction wit North Sydney council but no such plan is being developed with Willoughby. Given the extreme number of truck movements (4000 + per day on the North Shore) and the changes to accessibility of the Warringah Freeway once the project opens a Transport Plan should form part of the conditions of approval. Of particular concern is trucks moving along local roads such as Brook St and Merrenburn where many children are moving due to the arrangement of school catchments. Truck movement should be restricted from school routes, school zones and should only be permitted during school hours.

6. The Rosalind St site has been identified at high risk of heavy metal contamination. This site is close to Naremburn and trucks may move contaminants through the area on tyres and surfaces. It is also close to Quarry Creek which flows to the Flat Rock catchment ....this site should not be permitted to be used and any works north of this site should be carefully checked for contaminants.

7. Naremburn will experience severe noise impacts during the Miller St to Willoughby Rd surface works stage of the project. Additional noise attenuation measures should be applied given the residential nature of the area. In addition, many buildings have been identified as eligible for noise attenuation once the project is operational (indicative of the additional traffic). These building as identified should be included as a condition of approval...this needs to be asked for despited being identified int he documents.

8. The cable to support the WHT Site now mov

Residences close to the Warringah Freeway between Miller Street and West Street in Cammeray will be significantly affected by additional noise in both the construction and operational phases of this proposed project. Parts of this area have in the past had noise walls constructed in order to mitigate freeway noise, but a gap has been left in this mitigation work adjacent to residences along Rosalind Street between Edwin Street and Miller Street. It should be a condition of approval that specific, effective noise mitigations are put in place for residences like these which will face many years of construction noise from this project and from the proposed Beaches Link tunnel. The Warringah freeway upgrade is a one-off chance to do this well. Mitigation measures could include walls between the freeway and residences (as already in place in large concrete form between West Street and Edwin Street, or in lighter-weight form as at 233 West Street). Noise walls can also be effective in the middle of the freeway to limit noise received adjacent to the freeway to only one direction of traffic. Noise reducing surfaces can also be used on the road. These mitigations should be specified as conditions of approval.

I own 14/15 King Street Balmain approx. 80 metres from the tunnel location in NCA 11.5. I am very concerned that Noise and Vibration due to boring work will impact my property even at Dba 30-40 levels. And the stream of heavely laden tipper trucks rumbling constantly through the narrow heritage streets of Balmain is horrible to contemplate. I have little confidence in the Risk Analysis that deems the impact of work 24/7 will be LOW after mitigation down from HIGH, particularly after reading that the assessment of the Water Quality impact from the dredging of marine contaminants has been deemed secret "commercial in confidence."
Broadly I believe that a road tunnel that will spill thousands of cars into the area cannot be deemed Sustainable Development and is a 1960's attitude to what a liveable city should be. Public transport must be the preferred option. After the COVID 19 disaster funds for infrastructure must be wisely spent not splurged on a bottom-less pit.Funneling more cars means merely moving the traffic-jam as proven time and again round the World.
Air quality will be a major issue with exhaust stacks merely dispersing the toxic emissions in the atmosphere. The recent World's worst air quality due to the bush-fires and hazard burning are forecast to occur more regularly. We are in different times and we must recognise this. The tunnel ventilation cannot be allowed to proceed without filtration. Monitoring only is not adequate particularly as the tunnel will be a privately run toll road. It defies belief that they would close the road if pollution above "acceptable" levels is detected.
Arguing that a motorway is a sustainable transport solution is disingenuous. A privately run toll road has as it's business model to maximise traffic volumes not limit them. This ignores the broader public interest in pollution and emission controls to minimise the imminent Global Warming crisis.
The decision to hide the contamination of marine sediments behind the cloak of 'Commercial in Confidence' makes all the claims in the Risk Analysis suspect. What are we not being told in other areas as well?
Sydney is suffering from cumulative impacts already so we don't need another huge and unnecessary disruption with huge traffic impacts.

I object for the following reasons:
Unfiltered smokestacks adjacent to a school is a health hazard. This will increase society health costs and reduce quality of life for decades to come.
Public transport alternatives must be fully explored. This would be in line with sustainability priorities, especially in light of recent bushfire season and predicted future risks. The project as it stands will increasef traffic and reliance on cars.

I object to the outrageous expenditure of the proposed project.

I object to the lack of community consultation - the refusal to postpone the EIS objections despite social distancing principles being implemented is a perfect example of this!

I object to the fact that no business plan has been released to public.

I object to the fact that stacks are to be unfiltered in a residential area - my 2 siblings are asthmatic are will no doubt be impacted our close proximity to the proposed stacks.

I object to the loss of community space in our area and impact that heavy vehicle/machinery movements will have on our lives over the construction period.

The financial, social and environmental costs of this proposed project are unfathomable. The fact that the business plan is being withheld from the population show the government is aware that this is the case.

I object wholeheartedly to this project and insist that the NSW Government consider alternate options such as metro, light rail or heavy rail. They must consider the fundamentally flawed nature of this proposal.

I object strongly to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade (SSI-8863) project works on the basis that explosives for rock-blasting likely to be stored at the Cammeray Golf Course work site.

I am a resident of Cammeray and work in the Sydney CBD, my husband works in North Sydney and our children attend Anzac Park Public School and a childcare centre in Crows Nest. I strongly request that a condition of approval for this project is that assurance of safety is provided for local residents, workers, students, teachers and road users.

Good Evening,

I am writing this proposal to object to the Tunnel Project in relation to the issue of what will become of available parking on the intersection of Alfred and Bent Street, Neutral Bay. I have just bought an apartment and moved into the area under an expectation that there would be a reasonable amount of parking available. As it would have been communicated to you via other residents in other objections, the parking in this vicinity is limited enough as it is. In some cases, depending on the time of day, it can be a lottery as to whether you can find a spot or not. There are individuals that use our parking area for other means than simply living local or seeing other local residents. For example, it does not take long to walk from our area to North Sydney Station and avoid (most likely) having to worry about parking fees.

The following proposal that has been put forward by the Planning Committee for the Tunnel will severely amplify the difficulty in finding available parking within the area. Adding to that, our area already is very close to the Warringah Freeway and a proposal of this nature will only result in poorer air quality in our area. Adding to that, noise would become a further factor too because there would be more avenues from where noise can be generated. It is disappointing that the proposal has not considered enough the concerns of the residents that live within the nearby area and is more tailored towards residents that do not live in the local area. I believe that you should instead place greater concern on the local residents that have to live in this environment on a 24/7 basis rather than improving the lives of residents from the Northern Beaches by a few minutes.

Even though the proposal is meant to improve overall traffic conditions, it will only further serve as a bottleneck in our neighbourhood thanks to a few particular factors:

1) Further limited parking within the local area.
2) Increased difficulty at accessing the Military Road Ramp exit coming back from the City.
3) Public transportation issues because there would be more individuals using their cars from the Northern Beaches than taking the bus.

In summary, the proposal will not only cause environmental issues and parking problems, the end result of the tunnel will only heighten traffic and congestion issues within our local area and serve only as a hindrance to our overall quality of life. I urge you to reconsider this proposal and put forward as your primary concern, the residents of the local area that reside here.

Yours Sincerely,

A Very Concerned Local Resident

Hi
I wish to add to my earlier submission.
I object to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Warringah Freeway Upgrade because it will have a serious impact on my property and my quality of life.
During construction when the Warringah Freeway is closed, traffic volume in Bent St (where I live) is estimated to increase from 30 cars/ hr to 280 cars/hr (EIS Traffic and Transport App F) . My bedrooms face the street.
My property (Receiver ID 12752) is identified as having noise impacts from the project and is identified as needing noise mitigation measures. I oppose the project, but should it go ahead request that my unit which faces the street, receive noise mitigation treatment. The document seems to give conflicting information as to which unit is entitled to noise mitigation measures.