Its interesting that we are being bombarded with what we`re told is community updates on the NorthConnex Tunnel and I`d like to know who`s paying for this load of garage.
Brain washing people with lies about the exhaust funnels and misleading them will come out in the future and I hope those involved get found out.
This tunnel is going ahead regardless of what the community thinks so why waste our money, just build it nothing going to change.
This whole thing smells of collaboration between Government and Toll companies.
Lining the pockets of toll companies by diverting mortorists to the M2 so they can make more money.
Trucks are headed past the M2 to the M7 so why wouldn`t you link the M1 to the M7 and bypass the M2? cause toll companies would loose the cash from the M2!
We`re not all stupid.
Your funnels are crap cause you`ve decided the filtering isn`t necessary cause the gains don`t out way the cost and no-one can stop you doing whatever you want!
I hope in the future all politicians become accountable and therefore loose their entitlements and super to pay back the community for failing!

I object to the lack of filtration proposed along with the proximity to local housing.

I believe that the lack of proposed filtration and proximity to local housing is a major oversight and should be corrected prior to the application being considered.

10 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 submission in response to the exhibition of the EIS for NorthConnex.

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. 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 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.






Ian Lin
53 Stanley Street
Chatswood, NSW 2067

Firstly I would like to state I am 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 (especially un-filtered air pollution) 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. 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.
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 its current form. People health should always be the priority.
2. I also request that alternative transport options to ease congestion on Pennant Hills Rd be considered such as an orbital surface route.

Application SSI 13_6136
I strongly object to the North Connex tunnel and in particular the lack of filtration.

I am very concerned about several issues and ask that these be carefully considered by North Connex and the Department of Planning:

1 - no filtration
2 - placement of both the North and South ventilation stacks
3 - the lack of extensive studies into the effect of small particle pollution
4 - the removal of the waste from the tunnel operations

1 - Filtration. There have been a great number of studies on small particle pollution and the conclusion of most of these is that there is no safe level. You claim that smoke from burning wood causes more pollution than cars, but that is very wrong especially with the proliferation of diesel trucks and cars. The WHO has said that diesel fumes are the asbestos of the 21st century.

2 - Placement of the ventilation stacks.
The Northern stack is placed in a valley where there is often a temperature inversion causing the pollution to accumulate in the valley and not be dispersed. the EIS did not do any studies in this are but took information from areas that are not similar!!
Same with the Southern stack placement - the EIS did not do any studies in this area. How can we be assured that the pollution will not affect us who live close and even those who live further away at the end of where the plume will fall??
3 - There was a very flawed study done by the CSIRO which claimed there was no effects from small particle pollution in the M% but that study did not measure any particles under 2.5 microns. They even admitted that the instrument used could not measure particles smaller than 2.5microns.
Are you not concerned that 200 doctors from this area and the Asthma Foundation are very concerned about the health effects of these stacks?
FILTRATION IS VERY IMPORTANT AND IS DEFINITELY NECESSARY

4 - Collection and movement of fill from the tunnelling operation: It seems that the trucks loaded with fill will be travelling along small local streets and endangering lives.

If the purpose of this tunnel is top remove trucks from Pennant Hills Road, then I have two solutions for you:
1 - Put the freight onto the rail system and upgrade that.
2 - Build a new highway/freeway from the M7 at Dean Park, across the Hawkesbury to connect with the M1 at Kariong as suggested by the Hon Marla Perlman in her review

If the decision to build the tunnel is already made (as it seems to be without any consultation with the public) and only because of an "unsolicited proposal" from Transurban, then PLEASE do appropriate studies on filtration and fit Electrostatic precipitators
Put in the very latest in monitoring equipment
and LISTEN TO AND CONSIDER THE PUBLIC'S CONCERNS.
Your latest little newsletter does not allay any of my fears and just looks like you are trying to placate us because you don't want to spend any more money. It is just trotting out the same stuff that the EIS did. The public is not stupid, just apathetic.

10th September
North Connex Application number SSI 13_6136

Please find my submission of the EIS for North Connex.
I would like to state that I strongly object to the project as described in the EIS.
I have attended both forums ,one provided by the North Connex group at the Hornsby RSL and the second forum at Barker college where information was provided by independent specialists in public health and science.. These people were not paid by North Connex and what they had to say made a lot of common sense.
I have a number of issues which I am very concerned about and I request that these be considered by North Connex and the Planning department.
My main concerns are:
1 The placement of the ventilation stack in the middle of a residential area in Wahroonga when a short distance away there is an industrial area which would be better suited and safer because it is safer distance from most schools ,the hospital and homes.
2 The placement of the ventilation stack in Wahroonga where there are often reduced wind speeds which are vital to assist in the dispersion of the toxics fumes from the cars and trucks.
3 II am very concerned about many research studies that there are serious health issues associated with the ingestion of air pollutants which include increased risk of lung disease and asthma to name just a few.There is no proof that the levels of exposure to any of these toxins are safe.
4 I am concerned about the large amount of diesel emissions which will be emitted from the North Connex tunnel as thousands of trucks will be using this tunnel every day to bypass pennant hills rd. Diesel emissions have been classified as carcinogenic by the World Health Organisation.
5 The air quality within the tunnel is shown in the EIS to exceed above standards for pollutants such as NO2
6 I have a number issues with the air quality studies of the northern stack in the EIS which include data from other weather stations which are not relevant to Wahroonga ,the local topography and the valley location. The background air quality being based on air quality from Lindfield and Prospect and the insufficiency data on PM25.
7 I feel that there was not enough research done to assess alternative designs for this project.Thereare some very obvious alternatives for locating the stack and portals in non residendial areas
To address my above concerns I would like to see the following actions undertaken:
An independent study to assess alternative locations for the ventilation stack and portals
Independent analysis and assessment for the provision of filtration
A detailed independent study on residents in areas impacted by stack discharges.
An air quality monitoring program to be implemented
The air quality and health impact assessment needs to be revised to address concerns listed above.
It is important to point out that as a resident of Wahroonga I am not against a tunnel as such.,but I am absolutely against putting the stack right in the middle of a residendial area especially with all the surrounding schools hospitals and aged care facilities .
Due to the significant health concerns of the current project design, I request that the Department of Planning does not approve the project in its current form.

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

Firstly I would like to state that 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.

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 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.

Andrew Noble
21 Mahratta Avenue Wahroonga

I am particularly concerned that untreated and non-filtered engine exhaust wastes, especially particulates, will be disseminated across a wide area to the health detriment of residents adjacent to both the North and South tunnel exhaust stacks.

This is an unconscionable act in no way remedied by political double-speak from proven, largely corrupt governments and by profit-seeking contractors.

10th September 2014
Director - Infrastructure Projects
Department of Planning and Environment
Number: SSI 13_6136
Major Projects Assessment
NorthConnex Application Number: SSI 13_6136
Submission
1. I am highly concerned about the health research studies that suggests that the impacts on health are serious. These range from increased death from heart disease, increased lung cancer, stroke to increased asthma and more. These studies show that air pollutants have deleterious effects on humans which can cause serious health problems. What will be the effects on people who live in close proximity to the proposed stacks both long term as well as short term?
2. I am very concerned that ALL vehicle emissions will not only be pumped out at the southern and northern ends of the tunnel but will be pumped out unfiltered. This is in addition to the emissions from vehicles which will continue to travel along Pennant Hills Rd.
3. I am concerned about flaws in the air quality modelling including meteorological data from other weather stations which do not reflect local meteorlogical and local topography
I object to the NorthConnex project as stated in the EIS
To address my concerns I request that the following options be undertaken:
1. The health of the community is highly important! Due to significant health concerns of the current project design, I request that the Department of Planning does not approve the project in its current form
2. I also suggest that alternative options to ease congestion on Pennant Hills Rd be considered