10 September 2014

Director - Infrastructure Projects
Department of Planning and Environment
Number: SSI 13_6136
Major Projects Assessment
GPO Box 39
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Via online form: http://majorprojects.planning.nsw.gov.au/index.pl?action=view_job&job_id=6136

NorthConnex Application Number: SSI 13_6136

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

Firstly I/we would like to state we object to the project as described in the EIS.

I/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, 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.

Jane Loiacono
190 Pitt Town Road Kenthurst NSW 2156

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues and request that NorthConnex and the Department of Planning consider these. In regards to the NorthConnex tunnel, I am concerned about:

1. The placement of the unfiltered northern ventilation stack in the centre of a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga. This is a location that would expose 9,300 school children to pollutants, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes. 


2. As a resident of the area with family members studying less than half a kilometre away from the proposed ventilation stack location, I am highly concerned about impacts of the emitted air pollutants on our health. Multiple large-scale research studies suggest that the health impacts of air pollutants are serious. These impacts include, amongst others:
a. Increased death from heart disease
b. Increased risks of lung cancer and stroke
c. Poor lung growth in children
d. Increased asthma
There is also recent research that suggests air pollutants can cause low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies also confirm that air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans, which cause the above health problems.

3. The impact of the ventilation stack emissions on the environment. Unfiltered and untreated exhaust gases will not only introduce additional pollutants but also add heat to the surrounding atmosphere and increase the temperature of the surrounding areas. This can have a detrimental effect on flora and fauna in the area, potentially leading to damage to the local ecosystem.

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

1. Due to the significant health and environmental concerns of the current project design, I request the department of planning does not approve the project in its current form. 


2. I also request that alternative transport options to ease congestion on Pennant Hills Rd be considered such as an orbital surface route.

I am a mother of 3 young children who recently moved into the area. I am extremely disturbed about this stack as proven studies indicates the impacts of air pollutants on health issues to all people in this district. Increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, heart disease, poor lung growth in children (and the 9000+ children being educated in this area both in the public and private sector), increased asthma, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Placement of a ventilation stack in the center of a densely populated residential area, including schools, hospitals, homes, businesses and aged care facilities is inhumane, atrocious and third world.

I object strongly to the use of unfiltered exhaust stacks in connection with the Northconnex tunnel. The argument that filtered exhaust stacks are not cost effective ignores the fact that they will be ""health" effective .The whole project is clearly planned to be constructed as cheaply as possible without any real regard to the outcome on local residents. This was clearly indicated by the attitude of Northconnex representatives at a community meeting I attended where questions were treated in a contemptuous manner and not answered if it did not suit them.
If the project goes ahead it should be planned and completed to the best possible quality to ensure good health outcomes for residents affected by exhaust stacks. If this is not agreed to the project should not be approved.

NORTH CONNEX SUBMISSION


Department of Planning and Environment

Filtering of Ventilation Stacks

As a resident of West Pennant Hills and within the 1 km radius of the proposed Southern Ventilation Stack I feel the need to voice my concerns about the stacks not being filtered. Because of the huge number of vehicles and trucks that will be using Pennant Hills Tunnel daily and many of these being diesel, the air from these stacks will contain carcinogens that can cause cancer. I am concerned as a resident that in future years there will be `clusters' of lung cancer in this area. This is also a `family' area with many children living and playing here and who will be exposed to these carcinogens and at great risks of asthma and even worse lung/health conditions.

There are tunnels overseas that are filtered successfully, why cant the same be done here. Even if filtration is not installed at the outset, there should be provisions to retrofit if necessary.

Air quality in the vicinity of the stack should be monitored independently throughout the life of the project. This is the only way to know if the extraction fans are being used properly. They may be switched off or run at a lower speed to save money if the air quality is not monitored.

The ventilation stack is being put in West Pennant Hills Valley to save money at the construction stage but it will need an additional tunnel to connect it to the main southbound tunnel which will run unde rthe gold course. It will also need additional fans during operation which will waste a lot of power.

In the EIS it says the best place for a ventilation stack is over the main alignment tunnel - therefore it should be on the golf course side of Pennant Hills Road, thus removing if further from houses.

Construction Traffic Route

NorthConnex's construction traffic route via Aiken Oakes, Eaton and Karloon roads will also have a huge impact on the air quality and traffic flow in this area with over a thousand trucks scheduled to be working. These roads are at present with the current traffic situation, difficult to get in and out of onto Pennant Hills Road, with Oakes Road being `snail's pace' during peak periods, but with the amount of traffic increased significantly with these construction trucks, and for such a long period while the tunnel is being constructed, traffic conditions will become intolerable for local residents.



Queuing in Tunnel
With no direction connection to the M2 East, vehicles will need to exit the southbound tunnel onto Pennant Hills Road and then queue at lights to join the M2 East. This will probably cause queuing in the exit tunnel at peak times. This will raise alarm as to the air quality for people sitting in their cars and queuing.


Blue Gum Creek

The amount of tunnelling water used for this tunnel (40 litres per second) is going to erode this area causing local flooding and property damage. The creek is still to be rehabilitated following the M2 construction and upgrade works. Any extra discharge to the creek will exacerbate problems.

Pearlman Inquiry

In 2007 the Pearlman Inquiry said the best route North from Sydney was a new western route with a second Hawkesbury Crossing. The Pennant Hills Tunnel is only an `interim' to solve traffic problems - this will only solve congestion for so long and then the Second Hawkesbury Crossing will have to be considered, so why not now?

This project will have a huge impact on West Pennant Hills Valley and surrounds.
Please do not rush this project - all aspects need to be carefully considered.

NORTH CONNEX SUBMISSION


Department of Planning and Environment

Filtering of Ventilation Stacks

As a resident of West Pennant Hills and within the 1 km radius of the proposed Southern Ventilation Stack I feel the need to voice my concerns about the stacks not being filtered. Because of the huge number of vehicles and trucks that will be using Pennant Hills Tunnel daily and many of these being diesel, the air from these stacks will contain carcinogens that can cause cancer. I am concerned as a resident that in future years there will be `clusters' of lung cancer in this area. This is also a `family' area with many children living and playing here and who will be exposed to these carcinogens and at great risks of asthma and even worse lung/health conditions.

There are tunnels overseas that are filtered successfully, why cant the same be done here. Even if filtration is not installed at the outset, there should be provisions to retrofit if necessary.

Air quality in the vicinity of the stack should be monitored independently throughout the life of the project. This is the only way to know if the extraction fans are being used properly. They may be switched off or run at a lower speed to save money if the air quality is not monitored.

The ventilation stack is being put in West Pennant Hills Valley to save money at the construction stage but it will need an additional tunnel to connect it to the main southbound tunnel which will run unde rthe gold course. It will also need additional fans during operation which will waste a lot of power.

In the EIS it says the best place for a ventilation stack is over the main alignment tunnel - therefore it should be on the golf course side of Pennant Hills Road, thus removing if further from houses.

Construction Traffic Route

NorthConnex's construction traffic route via Aiken Oakes, Eaton and Karloon roads will also have a huge impact on the air quality and traffic flow in this area with over a thousand trucks scheduled to be working. These roads are at present with the current traffic situation, difficult to get in and out of onto Pennant Hills Road, with Oakes Road being `snail's pace' during peak periods, but with the amount of traffic increased significantly with these construction trucks, and for such a long period while the tunnel is being constructed, traffic conditions will become intolerable for local residents.



Queuing in Tunnel
With no direction connection to the M2 East, vehicles will need to exit the southbound tunnel onto Pennant Hills Road and then queue at lights to join the M2 East. This will probably cause queuing in the exit tunnel at peak times. This will raise alarm as to the air quality for people sitting in their cars and queuing.


Blue Gum Creek

The amount of tunnelling water used for this tunnel (40 litres per second) is going to erode this area causing local flooding and property damage. The creek is still to be rehabilitated following the M2 construction and upgrade works. Any extra discharge to the creek will exacerbate problems.

Pearlman Inquiry

In 2007 the Pearlman Inquiry said the best route North from Sydney was a new western route with a second Hawkesbury Crossing. The Pennant Hills Tunnel is only an `interim' to solve traffic problems - this will only solve congestion for so long and then the Second Hawkesbury Crossing will have to be considered, so why not now?

This project will have a huge impact on West Pennant Hills Valley and surrounds.
Please do not rush this project - all aspects need to be carefully considered.

My concern is the traffic flow of the trucks during construction. Laden trucks trying to cross 3 lanes of traffic on Pennant Hills Rd to turn right at Phyllis Ave is just plain dangerous. As a victim of a serious car accident on that corner over 15 months ago (from which I am still recovering) I am so conscious of the dangers. Pennant Hills Rd is curved near the point where the trucks will enter it and oncoming traffic will not see the trucks in time. What is the planned speed limit on Pennant Hills Road during construction?
Entry and exit to the site should be on Pennant Hills Road and should be controlled by traffic lights with the kerbside southbound lane designated for the trucks only. The lights should be synced with the Duffy Ave and Phyllis Ave lights and should allow the trucks to turn both North and South. This will avoid the use of Loch Maree and Phyllis Avenues which are already busy with local traffic (both residential and commercial). This will be much less disruptive to local residents and much safer for commuters and will also avoid the use of Phyllis Ave as a truck turning bay. I also feel that if the trucks are entering the site via Loch Maree Ave, any delay will result in residents being stuck on Pennant Hills Road unable to turn into the street while the trucks are waiting to turn into the site.
I would also like a guarantee that the permanent smoke extraction system is for emergency use only and not for vehicle exhaust fumes.

I am concerned by the fact that a large number of heavy vehicles will be using local roads in connection with the tunnel construction. Aitken, Oakes, Eaton and Karloon Roads are quiet residential streets which were never intended to carry traffic of this kind. Many of these roads are already severely affected by commuter parking during the week and Oakes Rd in particular is affected by peak hour traffic trying to bypass Castle Hill Rd. This will be made worse when tunnelling begins on the Northwest Rail Link at Cherrybrook. Apart from the high potential for traffic gridlock there must also be an increased risk of traffic accidents with commuter, local and heavy vehicles competing for space on local roads.
Eaton Rd is one of only a few roads that give West Pennant Hills Valley residents convenient access to Pennant Hill Rd. The introduction of a large number of heavy vehicles each day will make the situation intolerable.
Who will pay for the damage to these local roads caused by this excess traffic? presumably local ratepayers via council rates.
Northconnex should not be permitted to use local roads as a cost saving measure but should be required to find alternative routes that do not impact on the local neighbourhood.

NorthConnex Application Number: SSI 13_6136

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

Firstly I/we would like to state we object to the project as described in the EIS.

I have 4 children who go to school in Wahroonga and am really concerned about the long term impact the ventilation stack will have on their health.

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/our 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.

To Whom This May Concern, 10/09/14

I am a resident of Loch Maree Avenue Thornleigh and I am writing in response to my concerns over the Trelawney Street Tunnel support facility.
Like most residents, I am seriously concerned at the level of noise, dust and congestion that the heavy duty trucks will cause if permitted into our street. There are a few factors that are particularly concerning.
My husband and I are in our sixties and we have had our share of health issues. I have faced chronic insomnia in the past and have suffered severe migraines as a result. I do believe that the added layer of noise and the dust in the air will aggravate these problems. The proposed time frame of the construction has caused our entire family great distress as we are faced with the prospect of a living with noise and the dust from the trucks removing debris at all times of the day and night for over two and a half years.
With the high number of trucks entering and leaving Loch Maree it is obvious that congestion will be another problem that we will have to face as we go about our daily work. Being seniors, our confidence in terms of driving has diminished over the years. Thinking about the future of having to navigate in and out of our street amongst the trucks to simply go out and buy a loaf of bread is alarming.
Another issue involves my role as a key carer of my grandchildren who live across the road. My grandchildren are required to cross Loch Maree Ave multiple times each day as my husband and I look after them while their parents are at work. My grandchildren are 1 and 3 years old, still an age where they may easily stray onto the road. I am fearful at the prospect of them living in front of and having to cross a road that will have a heavy load of trucks, adding to the existing number of vehicles that currently go through this street.
I understand that there was a previous proposal that involved the trucks moving in and out of the complex from Pennant Hills Road. I ask that those on the committee reconsider revisiting this proposal in light of the real mental and physical issues the new design poses to the residents of our street.
For the sake of both the young children and the elderly people who live on this street, I hope that the committee for this project will think of more positive alternatives that can work for all the stakeholders involved.

Yours sincerely,
Concerned resident