Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Alexandria
,
New South Wales
Message
Objection to Westconnex
Name Withheld
Object
Name Withheld
Object
Alexandria
,
New South Wales
Message
Objection to Westconnex refer to pdf
Ifeanna Tooth
Object
Ifeanna Tooth
Object
Redfern
,
New South Wales
Message
Submission: WestConnex New M5 Environmental Impact Statement (SSI 14_6788)
To the Director, Major Planning Assessments, Department of Planning
I write to express my strong objection to the WestConnex New M5 motorway proposal.
International experience of major toll road construction has demonstrated conclusively that these projects are incredibly expensive and do not reduce congestion in the long term. WestConnex will increase air pollution and encourage more car use, quickly filling the increased road capacity, this has been proven on other roads like the M5 and M7. It is not a long-term solution to Sydney's congestion problem.
I object to the fact that my taxes have gone to help the State Government sign multi-billion dollar contracts for WestConnex before the EIS was placed on public exhibition. This is not democratic and undermines transparency and community confidence that this is a genuine consultation process.
This EIS only considers benefits for the project stages but does not address the negative impacts along the whole route, one of which, more traffic in the inner west directly impacts me, my family and my community.
I object to this proposal because:
1) The New M5 will have devastating impacts on our local communities and local amenities.
2) The New M5 will be a massive contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, while destroying important habitat and greenspace.
3) WestConnex and the New M5 is a financial black hole that won't solve Sydney's traffic congestion.
4) The WestConnex project including the New M5 lacks transparency and accountability.
5) The WestConnex project comes with no real evaluation of alternative options such as world class public transport.
1) The New M5 will have devastating impacts on our local communities and local amenities.
The New M5 will have irreversible detrimental impacts on surrounding suburbs and communities, including my own community in Redfern - Waterloo. It will result in more traffic congestion on existing key roads; major projected increases in traffic volumes into local roads and streets; increased pollution; displacement through forced acquisitions; negative impacts on business precincts due to inevitable clearways on major commercial strips; and significant loss of green spaces, existing parklands, mature trees and biodiversity.
From 2019, the New M5 and the existing M5 will be routed through to the proposed St. Peters Interchange. Up to 100,000 extra vehicles will be forced onto local roads, particularly onto south King Street in Newtown which will be unable to accommodate such a massive increase in traffic. This will directly affect my standard of living in Redfern and my child's school experience in Newtown. Stage 3 of WestConnex (joining the M4 and M5) is not planned to be completed until 2023 and is predicated on the sale of Stages 1 and 2 and the imposition of significantly high toll fees for decades. There is no certainty that it will even be built, leaving local inner west suburbs in constant gridlock and residents subject to unacceptable levels of dangerous pollution and destruction of their amenity. I was in King St Newtown last night and it was gridlock for 2 hours in afternoon peak hour. There is no way drivers will want to stay on this already congested road and will find back routes into our village communities of St Peters, Erskineville, Alexandria, Waterloo and Redfern to name a few. In St. Peters alone there will be more than 2,200 extra heavy and light truck movements per day for years. This will also have health impacts for our children who have to live, play sport and attend school in these areas.
2) The New M5 will be an extremely large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, while destroying important habitat and greenspace. This directly contradicts world views and political will to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid disastrous global warming, sea level rise and changes in climate.
This proposal will contribute large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, promoting global warming, making us the laughing stock of the rest of the developed world.It will encourage greater use of private cars, leading to increased fuel consumption and air pollution throughout Sydney. It will also increase demand for car parking, taking up valuable open space which is already in short supply in inner Sydney.
The impact of the New M5 on the largest green space in the inner west, Sydney Park is a major pitfall of this project. As well as losing a significant portion of this park, there will be tunnels, ramps, ventilation stacks and multi-lane roads with fast moving traffic, immediately bordering the park. This will make visiting and using the park much less user friendly. Many residents and visitors to this iconic area of Sydney will be cut off from the park by the St Peters interchange and the widening of Euston Road to seven lanes between Sydney Park Road and Campbell Road. All park users and local residents will be subject to high levels of pollution and noise. I regularly use Sydney Park for kids parties, recreation and relaxation. The proposed WestConnex will make it harder for me to access the Park from Redfern, whether by car or bicycle, will make it more dangerous for my child to get there on his own and detract from our outdoor experiences while we are there.
Recently it was announced that another 350 trees and 6,000m2 of land will be accessioned from Sydney Park to be added to the 8,000m2 already allocated. This may be deemed `non-permanent' by the State government's spokespeople, but the timeframe of the project is decades and this is not an appropriate use for a public park in such a closely settled area of inner Sydney where large areas of open space is rare and intensively used.
The WestConnex project will also lead to the destruction of more than 75 hectares of vegetation, including endangered Turpentine Iron Bark Forest and the critically endangered Cooks River Castlereagh Iron Bark Forest. The habitat of the vulnerable Green and Golden Bell Frog at Kogarah Golf Course at Arncliffe will also be slashed by the New M5. This is a disaster for inner Sydney where our comparatively pristine natural areas should be a showcase of environmental sustainability for tourists and visitors. This is what brings people to our city, not multi-lane toll roads; we need to fully protect our natural areas for future generations.
3) Air pollution from the New M5 will be hazardous for our health
There is strong evidence about the dangers to human health from a wide range of vehicle exhaust pollutants, especially tiny particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (known as PM10s), and particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). These tiny particles can penetrate into the throat and lungs and are known to worsen heart disease and asthma, and cause cancer. The WHO guidelines state that small particulate pollution has health impacts even at very low concentrations and that `no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed. Therefore, the WHO guideline limits aim `to achieve the lowest concentrations of PM possible.' The State government should adhere to these guidelines to protect Sydney residents and visitors. Research has shown that people exposed to diesel exhaust at high levels in enclosed spaces for long periods of time - such as truck drivers, railway workers, and miners - face up to 40 per cent increased risk of lung cancers, even after the effects of smoking are taken into account (IOSH 2014).
Most state regulatory bodies in Australia accept there is no safe level of exposure to diesel exhaust. As well as cancer, other health hazards are respiratory illnesses and heart disease.
* The results of air quality modelling for annual average PM2.5 in the WestConnex New M5 EIS, indicate that there will be an increase in the levels of this particle pollution at 63% of receptors along the proposed route.
* During the construction period, the New M5 EIS states that there will be up to 1,000 extra heavy vehicle movements (trucks) per day in the Kingsgrove and Bexley surface works area and approximately 1,240 extra light vehicle movements. The health impacts on the community and on workers from this amount of concentrated particulate pollution from diesel fuelled vehicles will be significant and is not adequately accounted for in the EIS or the updated Westconnex Business Case.
* By 2031 when the whole WestConnex project is due to be completed, total traffic demand will rise significantly, for example, demand in St Peters will increase by up to 33% and there will be significant increases in traffic on key roads within the project perimeters including sections of Parramatta Road, Broadway, King Georges Road, Stoney Creek Road, Bexley Road, Forest Road, Euston Road and many more smaller roads in local suburbs.
* There is no evidence for the claim that there will be less emissions and pollution with WestConnex due to free flowing traffic so this claim cannot be used. Total two-way traffic east-west across this part of Sydney will jump 53% by 2031, this will not improve air quality.
* Unfiltered ventilation exhaust stacks will be located less than 500 metres from homes, public schools, childcare centres, aged care facilities and hospitals in the west, south west and inner west suburbs on the WestConnex route. Vehicles that use diesel fuel are responsible for around 80 per cent of fine particle pollution from vehicles. According to a recent ABC health report, the high hazard zone for health is considered to be 150 m either side of busy roads - particularly within 50 m. And, depending on the number of vehicles on the road, the levels can be up to 10 times higher than the usual city background - which is already at levels which are considered unhealthy. So the increases we can expect in dangerous air pollution by encouraging more vehicle trips and locating dangerous ventilation stacks next to homes, schools
To the Director, Major Planning Assessments, Department of Planning
I write to express my strong objection to the WestConnex New M5 motorway proposal.
International experience of major toll road construction has demonstrated conclusively that these projects are incredibly expensive and do not reduce congestion in the long term. WestConnex will increase air pollution and encourage more car use, quickly filling the increased road capacity, this has been proven on other roads like the M5 and M7. It is not a long-term solution to Sydney's congestion problem.
I object to the fact that my taxes have gone to help the State Government sign multi-billion dollar contracts for WestConnex before the EIS was placed on public exhibition. This is not democratic and undermines transparency and community confidence that this is a genuine consultation process.
This EIS only considers benefits for the project stages but does not address the negative impacts along the whole route, one of which, more traffic in the inner west directly impacts me, my family and my community.
I object to this proposal because:
1) The New M5 will have devastating impacts on our local communities and local amenities.
2) The New M5 will be a massive contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, while destroying important habitat and greenspace.
3) WestConnex and the New M5 is a financial black hole that won't solve Sydney's traffic congestion.
4) The WestConnex project including the New M5 lacks transparency and accountability.
5) The WestConnex project comes with no real evaluation of alternative options such as world class public transport.
1) The New M5 will have devastating impacts on our local communities and local amenities.
The New M5 will have irreversible detrimental impacts on surrounding suburbs and communities, including my own community in Redfern - Waterloo. It will result in more traffic congestion on existing key roads; major projected increases in traffic volumes into local roads and streets; increased pollution; displacement through forced acquisitions; negative impacts on business precincts due to inevitable clearways on major commercial strips; and significant loss of green spaces, existing parklands, mature trees and biodiversity.
From 2019, the New M5 and the existing M5 will be routed through to the proposed St. Peters Interchange. Up to 100,000 extra vehicles will be forced onto local roads, particularly onto south King Street in Newtown which will be unable to accommodate such a massive increase in traffic. This will directly affect my standard of living in Redfern and my child's school experience in Newtown. Stage 3 of WestConnex (joining the M4 and M5) is not planned to be completed until 2023 and is predicated on the sale of Stages 1 and 2 and the imposition of significantly high toll fees for decades. There is no certainty that it will even be built, leaving local inner west suburbs in constant gridlock and residents subject to unacceptable levels of dangerous pollution and destruction of their amenity. I was in King St Newtown last night and it was gridlock for 2 hours in afternoon peak hour. There is no way drivers will want to stay on this already congested road and will find back routes into our village communities of St Peters, Erskineville, Alexandria, Waterloo and Redfern to name a few. In St. Peters alone there will be more than 2,200 extra heavy and light truck movements per day for years. This will also have health impacts for our children who have to live, play sport and attend school in these areas.
2) The New M5 will be an extremely large contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, while destroying important habitat and greenspace. This directly contradicts world views and political will to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to avoid disastrous global warming, sea level rise and changes in climate.
This proposal will contribute large amounts of greenhouse gas emissions, promoting global warming, making us the laughing stock of the rest of the developed world.It will encourage greater use of private cars, leading to increased fuel consumption and air pollution throughout Sydney. It will also increase demand for car parking, taking up valuable open space which is already in short supply in inner Sydney.
The impact of the New M5 on the largest green space in the inner west, Sydney Park is a major pitfall of this project. As well as losing a significant portion of this park, there will be tunnels, ramps, ventilation stacks and multi-lane roads with fast moving traffic, immediately bordering the park. This will make visiting and using the park much less user friendly. Many residents and visitors to this iconic area of Sydney will be cut off from the park by the St Peters interchange and the widening of Euston Road to seven lanes between Sydney Park Road and Campbell Road. All park users and local residents will be subject to high levels of pollution and noise. I regularly use Sydney Park for kids parties, recreation and relaxation. The proposed WestConnex will make it harder for me to access the Park from Redfern, whether by car or bicycle, will make it more dangerous for my child to get there on his own and detract from our outdoor experiences while we are there.
Recently it was announced that another 350 trees and 6,000m2 of land will be accessioned from Sydney Park to be added to the 8,000m2 already allocated. This may be deemed `non-permanent' by the State government's spokespeople, but the timeframe of the project is decades and this is not an appropriate use for a public park in such a closely settled area of inner Sydney where large areas of open space is rare and intensively used.
The WestConnex project will also lead to the destruction of more than 75 hectares of vegetation, including endangered Turpentine Iron Bark Forest and the critically endangered Cooks River Castlereagh Iron Bark Forest. The habitat of the vulnerable Green and Golden Bell Frog at Kogarah Golf Course at Arncliffe will also be slashed by the New M5. This is a disaster for inner Sydney where our comparatively pristine natural areas should be a showcase of environmental sustainability for tourists and visitors. This is what brings people to our city, not multi-lane toll roads; we need to fully protect our natural areas for future generations.
3) Air pollution from the New M5 will be hazardous for our health
There is strong evidence about the dangers to human health from a wide range of vehicle exhaust pollutants, especially tiny particulate matter less than 10 microns in diameter (known as PM10s), and particulate matter that is less than 2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5). These tiny particles can penetrate into the throat and lungs and are known to worsen heart disease and asthma, and cause cancer. The WHO guidelines state that small particulate pollution has health impacts even at very low concentrations and that `no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed. Therefore, the WHO guideline limits aim `to achieve the lowest concentrations of PM possible.' The State government should adhere to these guidelines to protect Sydney residents and visitors. Research has shown that people exposed to diesel exhaust at high levels in enclosed spaces for long periods of time - such as truck drivers, railway workers, and miners - face up to 40 per cent increased risk of lung cancers, even after the effects of smoking are taken into account (IOSH 2014).
Most state regulatory bodies in Australia accept there is no safe level of exposure to diesel exhaust. As well as cancer, other health hazards are respiratory illnesses and heart disease.
* The results of air quality modelling for annual average PM2.5 in the WestConnex New M5 EIS, indicate that there will be an increase in the levels of this particle pollution at 63% of receptors along the proposed route.
* During the construction period, the New M5 EIS states that there will be up to 1,000 extra heavy vehicle movements (trucks) per day in the Kingsgrove and Bexley surface works area and approximately 1,240 extra light vehicle movements. The health impacts on the community and on workers from this amount of concentrated particulate pollution from diesel fuelled vehicles will be significant and is not adequately accounted for in the EIS or the updated Westconnex Business Case.
* By 2031 when the whole WestConnex project is due to be completed, total traffic demand will rise significantly, for example, demand in St Peters will increase by up to 33% and there will be significant increases in traffic on key roads within the project perimeters including sections of Parramatta Road, Broadway, King Georges Road, Stoney Creek Road, Bexley Road, Forest Road, Euston Road and many more smaller roads in local suburbs.
* There is no evidence for the claim that there will be less emissions and pollution with WestConnex due to free flowing traffic so this claim cannot be used. Total two-way traffic east-west across this part of Sydney will jump 53% by 2031, this will not improve air quality.
* Unfiltered ventilation exhaust stacks will be located less than 500 metres from homes, public schools, childcare centres, aged care facilities and hospitals in the west, south west and inner west suburbs on the WestConnex route. Vehicles that use diesel fuel are responsible for around 80 per cent of fine particle pollution from vehicles. According to a recent ABC health report, the high hazard zone for health is considered to be 150 m either side of busy roads - particularly within 50 m. And, depending on the number of vehicles on the road, the levels can be up to 10 times higher than the usual city background - which is already at levels which are considered unhealthy. So the increases we can expect in dangerous air pollution by encouraging more vehicle trips and locating dangerous ventilation stacks next to homes, schools