Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

I object to the Beaches Link Tunnel on the basis of misuse of public funds. The Northern Beaches is already attached to the city with minimal traffic and delays. Studies have shown consistently that adding bypass tunnels or widening roads will lead to a decongestion for 1-2 years after project completion, and after 3 years the effects will no longer be noticeable. This project will cause 5-7 years of delays, costing and estimated $14 billion in construction, in exchange for only a year or two of increased speeds. The project is already at a negative value before the environmental and social impacts of falling groundwater and a tall unfiltered smokestack are taken into consideration. These funds could be spent in other areas, improved public transport infrastructure is consistently reported to decrease traffic, and can be more easily distrubted over areas suffering from more immediate traffic issues.

I am a resident of Clontarf and have lived on the northern beaches for 55 years, in Forestville, Clontarf and Manly. I am also a practicing architect.
I sincerely hope my objections are taken on board as I believe I have the personal and professional experience to understand that the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel has the potential to cause damage to the northern beaches both environmentally and in terms of quality of living with no economic benefits or real solutions to long term congestion.

I object to the proposal based on several factors.

The project seeks to steal premium and vital green space from the Cammeray and Lower North Shore communities and sell it to a private toll road. This is completely unethical and obscene. The reduction of green space at the Cammeray Golf Course, and indeed the Balgowlah Golf Course is not supportable. Golf is the 10th most popular sport in NSW and it is not supportable to destroy these communities and deny future and present generations from accessing these egalitarian and affordable courses. Golf provides so many people of all ages and abilities the chance to intermingle, to play a sport and exercise, and to improve their mental and physical wellbeing. One of best things about living in Australia is affordable and equitable access to facilities, sports and nature. It is simply unsupportable for the State government to undermine our society by taking away our public golf courses. Once this green space is removed from the public domain, it can never be returned. If the state government wants to sell land to a private developer/operator, such as a toll road operator, it should force the development of already developed land rather than eating into public green space that is so vital to our mental and physical wellbeing. The flippant line that appeared in the Western Harbour Tunnel determination that Cammeray Golf Club would undertake a "masterplanning exercise" is insulting to our local community - we must retain this green space not "masterplan" the patch of grass that remains, that will be too small on which to fit more than a pitch and putt. What remains of the course will not even be suitable as a practice facility as the community will not allow the light spill that this would require for a successful operation.

I also object to the new toll road on the basis that the benefits that it claims to deliver are underwhelming and not backed up by current data. A reduction of traffic by 10% along Military Road is based on pre-COVID-19 traffic and these investigations should be recalculated based on current population and trip data. Recent experience in Sydney has shown that toll roads in fact increase traffic in local areas. In the face of climbing costs of living, we can not afford more toll roads. Furthermore, the huge impacts on our local environment are not outweighed by the paltry outcome that the project seeks to deliver. Improvements to public transport have not been considered and the EIS does not consider glaringly obvious and cheaper alternatives such as light rail, rail or improved bus routes. A mass transit solution between Chatswood and Dee Why would be a much more sensible project to undertake. It is ludicrous for the state goverment to plan to spend billions of our tax dollars on forcing more cars onto already stretched northern beaches roads. The roads in the northern beaches are already at capacity, especially on weekends - where are all these private cars to go once they arrive at Balgowlah? Surely it makes more sense to invest in public transport to the area?

I object to the project based in its impacts on both Middle Harbour and on Flat Rock Gully. To dump 153,000 cubic metres of contaminated sediment from Middle Harbour in an undisclosed and unmanaged site in the sea is dangerous and ill concieved. It will compromise the health of all users of the harbour - swimmers, anglers, surfers and boaters. During the years of construction, people will not be able to swim in our harbour beaches without the threat of being poisoned by heavy metals.

A High level of risk has been identified around the Warringah Freeway of serious contaminants entering the area and also at the Cammeray Mega Construction site. The testing results have not been published and the risk is radically under-assessed given the sensitive users of the area, of all ages. Meanwhile Flat Rock Creek and Burnt Bridge Creeks will have their flows diverted and thousands of litres of wastewater flushed down them daily, a tip site in amongst the best attended sports fields in the area will be opened up to risks over a five year period. Dozens of threatened species will be put at risk. The loss of 3000 trees will impact our birdlife, which is already struggling. Chopping down old trees, even if those trees are replaced elsewhere, destroys essential habitat and kills our animal life. Our animals are more important than carrying through with this project. The project leans on offsetting the loss of habitat or replacing it; this has been shown time and time again to not work. We need to retain what habitat and nature that we have.

Sports groups, especially golfers (both social and club), cycling groups, community groups, schools, water sports groups, bush walking and even places of worship will be heavily impacted by this project. Issues range from contamination of local parks, to high noise levels, dust, worker parking issues, almost 5000 construction movements daily, impacts to Flat Rock and Middle Harbour and long term roads changes. These issues will compound the impacts already being experienced from the Western Harbour and Warringah Freeway build (2021-2026). The five years of construction works for the Beaches Link (2023-2028) will end with two additional unfiltered pollution stacks in our area and no local access points - the only access is via Artarmon or Berry St North Sydney. The determination for the Western Harbour Tunnel admitted that there are no benefits to our local community; this project will further impact our environment and way of life to an unacceptable level, for negligable outcomes for anyone else either. The rat running required to access these points will simply exacerbate local traffic issues at both ends of the project.

See attached PDF

Hi,

I have numerous objections to this project. Firstly from a residents perspective:
- Pollution generated during the execution of the project (air, noise, run off etc)
- 5 to 7 years of manic Traffic congestion
- Local Parking chaos created by project staff driving their cars to site
- Disruption to public transport routes in our area
- Damage to local roads by the trucks
- Loss of mountain bike trails and increased danger to cyclists
- Loss of Balgowlah golf coarse
- Loss of our local community identity
- Risk of damage to local aboriginal rock carvings

That being said, I do understand that improve transport is required, to the Northern Beach. So, my biggest objection relates building more roads, which only encourage more cars onto the roads.

This project flies in the face of our countries commitment to lower carbon emissions. I understand the NSW Governments drive for creating jobs; but this money could be better spent on a train line, that would help to reduce the number of cars on the road.

Yours sincerely,

Michael Ford

Stop killing all of the trees. The wildlife has nowhere to live. I live here because it's green and I like to interact with the wildlife. You are destroying their habitat to save a couple of minutes travel time!!!! Shame on you. Promote public transport instead. Oh wait. You sold everything..

At the outset I would note that I object to the need for this project at all on the basis that the investment case does not make sense economically or environmentally. I do not have any confidence in the traffic number modelling or the emphasis on enabling and encouraging greater use of environmentally unsustainable transport options. It seems to me that our community (not just the Northern Beaches) would benefit more if the money was invested in health, education and community services.

If the tunnel does indeed proceed then I also object to the impact it is having on the local areas, particularly at the ends of the tunnel, but also to our harbour.

The construction process itself will be incredibly disruptive to the area with noise pollution and major impacts on daily activities for a very long and sustained period. Some children at the local schools will spend their whole time at the school working around a construction site with all the disruption that comes with it (Balgowlah Boys in particular).
A generation of young sailors will not be able to pursue their sport from Northbridge Sailing Club. Experience suggests that, despite the proposed measures, there will be damage to local river systems and the wider ecosystem from water run off and other forms of pollution

Once completed the tunnel will leave a lasting legacy which will need further actions to address. The traffic problem will not be solved, but will merely be moved to points further up the beaches road corridors (Manly Vale, Brookvale, Forestville etc). We will have permanently lost bushland and recreational areas to multilane, pollution emitting and noisy road corridors. The main issue here is the expansion of Wakehurst Parkway, but the impacts on Burnt Bridge Creek are severe. Our native wildlife do not have a say in this process but the world they live in is dying a death of a thousand cuts.

I would like to leave my children and my children's children a legacy we can be proud of. I do not believe this project will do this given the beneficiaries are a small number of already privileged people living on Sydney's Northern Beaches. Spending $15B for a marginal "improvement" to transport arrangements for 250,000 people just does not add up for me purely on a financial and equity basis, and that is before taking into account environmental and health impacts. I am one of those people and I cannot rationalise such an investment.

Please see attached independent report from Paro Consulting containing my objections to this project

To whom it may concern
I object the project as the Willoughby, Naremburn and Cammeray areas as I have concerns that we will bear the main force of 6-8 years of disruption, safety issues, noise vibrations, unsafe level of pollution, high level of traffic on important avenues and streets, and no gain for this community.
1. Request to limit the number of trucks driving along Flat Rock Drive and Brooke Street from 7 am to 6 pm.
2. Request to limit the speed limit to 40 -50 kms/h on Flat Rock Drive and Brooke Street.
3. Request to install speed cameras on Flat Rock Drive and Brooke Street.
4. Implement safe roads, and crossing for children and residents on Brooke Street, Merremburn Avenue. Already many accidents and near misses along this road and avenue. Heavy vehicles should not be permitted to marshal or transport loads on residential roads or within school zones.
● Additional vehicle movements will be required on Flat Rock Drive - this is a key transport corridor for children accessing North Shore schools and school sport. Given
the site is contaminated the conflict between spoil trucks and children is even more concerning for the community. Flat Rock Drive/ Brook St is also a key active transport corridor for children accessing Cammeray Schools due to zoning.
5. Requets to implement safe road / install traffic lights bridging Brook Street and Slade Street.
6. Request to implement public transport - one bus stop on Brooke Street. Many buses are already taking the route through Flat Rock and Brooke Street.
7. Naremburn is one of the oldest suburbs of Willoughby with many homes built in the1800’s. Vibration and drawdown has a risk of creating property damage.
8. Concern to potential cracks in property due to settlement in Naremburn properties.
9. Spoil removal - I am requesting for:
● Contaminated spoil not to be stored onsite in Flat Rock Gully or Cammeray. The spoil should be immediately be sealed and carried away from residential areas or stored underground.
● Improve the site, remediate better than before, to compensate for pain and suffering during the 6-8 years of construction and restore ecosystems.
10. Real time monitoring and alerts around air quality at The Baseball Diamond and Netball courts at Flat Rock Gully.
11. Settlement - I request for:
● Tunneling induced movement - compensation for house cracking and settlement.
● All properties above the tunnel route to be offered a free and independent pre-construction property condition survey providing a clear record of a property’s condition before work starts. If any damage is found to be directly related to the project, the damage will be addressed at no cost to the property owner.
12. Noise - A key concern at Flat Rock Drive is the noise generated from truck air brakes as they slow down the long hill leading to the excavation site entry point at the bottom, and then the exhaust and engine noise from those fully loaded trucks accelerating up the hill from the site. This noise could be suitably attenuated by constructing a permanent acoustic wall along Flat Rock Drive fronting the bush.
Noise from the Warringah Freeway works will impact buildings between Cammeray and Naremburn during the project.
13. Loss of greenspace at Cammeray Golf Club to make way for permanent utility sheds for the Beaches Link.
14. Compensate local businesses , residents and communities that are forced to shut down, move out of their home, are unable to rent their home, or the properties are damaged.

The Beaches link document and EIS I have reviewed in detail and makes statements which grossly understates the very significant and irreversible damage it will have on surrounding air quality,middle harbour pollution,impact on our roads ,community ,quality of health and wellbeing on adults ,children and surrounding schools and community centres.the statistics from hospitals,lung disorders and pollution levels confirm this.
In addition there has been no transparent financial justification for spending our taxpayers money in the order of $14billion without proper evaluation of much less costly ,more efficient transport means with all the damage covered above for generations to come and this is being rushed through.it is completely wrong on whatever aspect it is evaluated.i trust the overselling objections will be considered and we hope the project will be cancelled .yours sincerely Tony Wetton

I write this to outline significant concerns that my family and I share in relation to the proposed Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection.
We rely upon our government and the department to undertake projects which are in the best interests of the community, city and state. In this case, based upon the information presented in the submission and via the web-based sessions, we hold strong reservations around the need and approach to this particular project and proposal. We do not believe that it is in the best interests of the community here and a high price will be paid through irreversible impacts on the community and the environment for benefits which are not readily discernible.
From the outset, this project appears to have been rushed, first raised as a leaked announcement by an outgoing minister, and now based upon data and analysis which has fundamentally shifted since COVID-19. The case for this infrastructure piece needs to be adjusted to reflect current information, plus factor the changes in technology that are set to become reality during the delivery timeframe of this project. Should no data set appropriately represent the need and case, then the project should be held until such time as the benefit (a real benefit) can be appropriately ascertained. Driverless cars and higher degrees of automation will make our transport options more effective and efficient, and limiting the need for such an intrusion.
The construction of this will place a large toll on our community and the natural assets that surround Seaforth and North Balgowlah.
Of particular concern in our families case is the proximity of the tunnel to our newly constructed home in terms of the potential for impact from a noise intrusion, vibration and the potential for longer term issues. This is compounded when methodologies such as the use of road headers, rock hammering and even the potential for blasting as methodologies are adopted, over an extended duration.
Our house is frequented by wildlife such as wallabies, echidnas, water dragons, bandicoots and possums as well as a significant number of native birds. The proposed widening of the Wakehurst Parkway appears to be completely under-played with respect to the scar that this will leave on the natural surrounds. With two lanes in each direction, central median separation, verges, shared paths etc. it appears that this will more than double the existing corridor. We are concerned around the impact to the native fauna and flora, including critically endangered species (Seaforth Mintbush as particular case). We do not believe that biodiversity and the impacts socially and environmentally are adequately considered in the proposal to date.
Beyond the land-based impacts, we are concerned that the methodology for the sea-bed tunnel section may not be able to be undertaken with further impacts and works required to address ability to navigate tube sections through middle harbour, given shallower depths and through the pylons of the Spit Bridge. Changes in this may present further undocumented impacts, such as further dredging of the harbour and impacts on recreational areas such as Clontaft and around the Middle Harbour Yacht Club.
For the operational phase the location of the exhaust stacks remains in close proximity to residential premises which presents a health concern.

Overall, we would like to see the government more clearly articulate the benefit and need for the project in a current (and future) context. We want to ensure that the impacts to the environment and community is significantly reduced from present, should the project go ahead. We also want assurances that the impacts to our homes and community are appropriately addressed.

Thank you for your consideration.
Regards,
Seaforth Resident

As a long term resident of Cammeray (75 years) who grew up in this area and raised a family here, I vehemently object to the Beaches Link & Warringah and Gore Hill for a number of reasons:

1. The prospect of unacceptable, highly noxious pollution.

2. The proposal of unfiltered air stacks near schools and childcare centres is in fact unbelievable, especially considering that WHO and most medical specialists believe there is NO safe level of these particulars, especially for young developing lungs & brains.

3. Greatly increased traffic and therefore pollution on local roads. Further more there will be impeded connectivity for neighbouring suburbs. The present road system already makes moving from one suburb to the next difficult.

4. Loss of open public space (green space) Already green public space is insufficient in the North Sydney area. The construction will reek at least 5 years of havoc in St Leonards park, such a gem in an inner city suburb, and Cammeray Park which stands to lose the far sighted council storm water harvesting facility.

As we struggled with Covid over the last 12 months it has become increasingly clear that green space are vitally important for our health and well being, especially our mental health. With the proposed project many green areas will be lost forever and the nature we Australians so love will be lost too. Sections of the special green spaces cannot continually be carved off or contaminated for the movement of cars. They are greatly needed for our health and well being.

5. Unacceptable impact on priceless heritage items of state and local significance. Particularly items of Aboriginal heritage such as the rock carvings at Balls Head. Balls Head is an exceptional area of Sydney Harbour and must preserved at all costs.
Further more it is outrageous that this project could cause subsidence under north sydneys Coal Loader facility likely to render this admirable facility unsafe or unable to be rectified.

6. The lack of consideration of public transport from the Northern Beaches to the city. Sydney motorists are fed up with toll roads and sitting in slow moving traffic. This proposed system will not reduce travel times – public transport is the only solution.

Why has public transport not been investigated as an alternative to this huge, expensive disruption which cuts off very little from car travel times and only adds to toll operator profits?

Where is the comparative mass transit alternative assessment? In fact travel times, surface traffic changes and costs should be fully scoped. In other words where is the business plan?

7. Contamination and Risk

I’m greatly concerned about the risk of increased contamination at various points of the project but those that particularly concern me are at Flat Rock Reserve & Cammeray.

Flat Rock Reserve is known to have been a tip where as well as household waste, dangerous industrial waste has also been dumped. The level of contaminates is relatively stable at the moment because they have been undisturbed for many years. The area has been regenerated and cared for by local residents and is a real treasure in inner Sydney. It is used by locals and visitors alike for leisure activities such as walking, running, cycling, dog walking. If this area is disturbed the contaminated run off from the area on to walking tracks, tunks park playing fields and into middle harbor would have a very significant effect on health of hundreds of people who regularly uses these area for recreation, sport and sailing to say nothing of the wildlife in the reserve and harbour.

The large amounts of waste water produced in construction and operational activities are to be released into the local creeks and thence to the harbour, the harbour we have spent years trying to clean up. And we had succeeded as witnessed by the occasional whales visiting the harbour something I never witnessed growing up here.

Stage 2 testing needs to be carried out.
Risk assessment is incomplete and mitigation measures need to be established.

Please find attached an independent report from Paro Consulting regarding this project

To whom it may concern,

Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection - SSI_8862

I write in relation to the Beaches Link and Gore Hills Freeway Connection (SSI_8862) infrastructure project and wish to submit an objection to the project, based on the points below:

1. Traffic modelling in the EIS is modelled on data gathered in 2016. Much has changed since then, including a global pandemic resulting in many people working/studying from home. A full reassessment of the traffic flows to and from the Northern Beaches needs to include data collected after 2016 considering how many people are working from home. There should be recognition that workplaces have become more flexible and will continue to be.

2. My family and I regularly scooter along the Burnt Bridge Creek path and enjoy all the flora and fauna that area has to offer. We are also regulars at Queenscliff beach. Realising the creek will become more or less a stormwater drain after construction, and the quality of water flowing into Manly Lagoon and the ocean will reduce, is distressing. We live in an era where Climate Change is very real, the Government should be looking for ways to protect eco systems rather than destroy them.

3. This project goes against Sydney’s vision to be “recognised as a leader with outstanding environmental performance and new green industries driving economic growth”. Building a tunnel that encourages car travel is irresponsible planning and does not serve the city’s long-term vision.

4. Our home is within a 1.2km radius of the unfiltered smoke stack proposed close to Balgowlah Boys School. Our immediate area is also home to a Child Care Centre and Preschool (i.e. an area with a lot of families and children). All these children will live their lives breathing in exhaust fumes and other pollutants which may lead to increased risks of cancer and other major respiratory illnesses. According to health experts, there is no safe level of exposure to unfiltered exhaust fumes, “small particulate pollution has health impacts even at very low concentrations – indeed no threshold has been identified below which no damage to health is observed” (WHO). Any stack must be filtered.

This project does not have the best interests of the general public in mind. I urge the Government to consult further with the community and agree on a plan that really solves the traffic congestion issues on the Beaches.

I object to the Beaches Tunnel project in the current format because;

Air Quality;
i) the air stacks will be unfiltered. Credible information indicates that this is not safe. Just because other tunnels have been built without filtered stacks does not mean it is safe! There are population densities around the stacks and sporting facilities/community facilities/schools eg Scout Groups, immediately adjacent to the stacks. Indeed it is presented as a ‘plus’ in the proposals that sports facilities will be ‘given back’ to the community immediately adjacent to the stacks. All have potential serious health concerns.
ii) The air stacks size and visual impact/pollution appear to be grossly misrepresented in the EIS. Other equivalent stacks are much more imposing than as shown in the EIS.

Conclusion;
Stacks should be filtered along with publically available ongoing air quality monitoring;
Visual pollution of the stacks should be more realistically presented for further comment.

Local Traffic Congestion;

No doubt a lot of time has been spent on analysis but has that really considered the reality of the situation for locals? The Balgowlah link road adds more traffic lights and more potential choke points just to enter the tunnel. The knock on effect is local traffic using the minor roads as ‘rat runs’. This is effect ‘locks in’ large areas of Balgowlah Heights, Balgowlah and Manly. Just to get away from these areas means having to navigate already congested local roads even without the intention of entering the tunnel. This adds not only to inconvenience for everyone in the area but more fumes and noise along with, perhaps most importantly of all, more danger for all residents in these areas.

Conclusion; The whole reason for the Balgowlah Link Road should be rethought/redesigned if local congestion is to be relieved (rather than exacerbated).

Construction Period;
i) This will inevitably bring congestion and parking issues to both the Seaforth and Balgowlah areas. Not only will this impact local residents but all the sporting facilities immediately adjacent. Such inadequately considered parking issues and increased traffic add not just inconvenience but also danger to local residents and all users of the sporting facilities at both Seaforth and Balgowlah.

Conclusion; More and better consideration must be given to local parking for contractor vehicles as well as the additional vehicle movements.

Environment.
i)It is noted that there will be animal bridges/tunnels across Wakehurst Parkway once the building in complete. However, this does not address the large area’s of native bush that will be destroyed nor the potential toxic run off into Manly Dam, nor the significant changes to Burnt Bridge Creek flows. Again, without further meaningful consideration this affects not just our local ecosystem but, once again, our natural enjoyment of the bush should Manly Dam/Burnt Bridge Creek become affected.

Conclusion. More meaningful consideration must be given to the environmental risks and destruction during the long construction period. In addition there must be ‘cast iron’ protection of indigenous sites both during, and most importantly after, construction

ii) There appears to be an unacceptable risk to the pollution of the pristine Middle Harbour during construction.

Conclusion; Additional and reliable protection to the environment of Middle Harbour must be included

Public Transport;
It appears the financial model is based on (increasing) use of cars. This adds pollution as well as pressure on (unsustainable) development on the Northern Beaches. It’s therefore questionable if this relieves vehicle congestion as part of the tunnels aim. If traffic use increases so potentially does congestion. It’s a bit like the treatment actually killing the patient! There has been insufficient consideration of public transport. Given the current emphasis on all of us ‘doing our bit to save the planet’ this lack of consideration is out of step! It seems very simplistic and unrealistic (and unprofessional?) to claim ‘more buses means more congestion’!

Conclusion; It is imperative that meaningful plans to include public transport and ways to encourage it’s use are made to minimise private vehicle use. This may then impact the financial viability of the proposal.

I object to both the EIS, and the actual Beaches Link Tunnel proposal.
In conclusion I object to the inadequate contents of the EIS and to the Beaches Link Tunnel project going ahead on several counts.
The EIS is out of date. Sufficient data has not been considered with the significant social changes over the last Covid impacted year.
The Business Case doesn’t appear to stack up, the project is too expensive and the benefits are unsubstantiated.
Public Transport options have not been suitably considered. Alternative options do not appear to have been adequately addressed.
The environmental damage is too high for Sydney’s precious natural habitat and waterways as compared to the benefits proposed (not even guaranteed.).
Next Steps:
My understanding is that as part of a process set out in the EP&A Act 1979, the DPIE now reviews the submissions to the EIS and is able to challenge the claims and assumptions of TfNSW in its description of how the project will be built and its claims on the environmental risks.
I request that the DPIE fully considers the needs of the Northern Beaches (less than 270,000 residents) for transport infrastructure against the significant needs of the whole of NSW.
I request that the DPIE revisit the Business Case for the BLT/GHF project with an open mind and reconsider the opportunities that $14 billion could bring with public transport solutions and a 21st Century approach to carbon emissions.
Regards, Ann Collins

I am a resident of Northbridge and the mother of two young children.
I am deeply concerned about the potential impact of this project on the health and safety of my family and on the precious environment that surrounds our home and that we cherish.
I support the comprehensive submissions filed by the Northbridge Progress Association.
Personally, I am very concerned about the unfiltered ventilation from the tunnel that will pump fumes in close proximity to local schools - so much so that I am looking for alternative school options further away for my children. I am worried that my family members’ mental health will be negatively impacted by vibrations from building works, increased heavy vehicle traffic on local roads and constant noise.
We spend our weekends enjoying boating on Middle Harbour and I am gravely concerned about the impact that this project will have on water quality - and therefore the health and safety of residents - and the abundant marine life in this area.
I am also devastated about the impact on the environment in Flat Rock Gully and concerned that digging up an old rubbish dump will release dangerous contaminants into the surrounding area.
Whilst I am not opposed to progress, I think we should increase public transport options rather than building another tunnel for car traffic only, with potentially devastating consequences for local residents and the environment.

I am writing to state my objection to the Northern Beaches Tunnel. I have read the EIS documents and have trouble understanding the justification for this project especially as that as there is no published business case, the EIS shows a significant risk to health and safety, extreme negative environmental impacts on existing green corridors all while delivering poor outcomes and not registering high on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list.

I object to the project on the grounds of declining clean air (as per EIS) and the impact on people’s health as a result of the tunnel and failing to even attempt to mitigate this by filtering stacks. Global health experts, based on numerous independant studies, agree that pollution from traffic exhaust poses serious health risks. Emissions include nitrous oxides and particulate matter that, when breathed in, causes respiratory diseases such as asthma and emphysema, and cancer. This is of particular concern in North Balgowlah where the suburb is to be sandwiched between the two stacks (Seaforth and Balgowlah) and due to the local topography, the valley (Burnt Bridge Creek) already struggles to clear smoke and pollution from far away bush fires that settles above the creek for days. The dangerous fumes and particles pumped out by the stacks and from increased local traffic trying to get to the tunnel or rat run away from the tolls will also sit in the valley increasing respiratory disease and cancer risk ( as per EIS). Premier Gladys Berejiklian was quoted in 2008 in reference to the Lane Cove tunnel stating “It is not too late, the government can still ensure that filtration is a possibility. World’s best practice is to filter tunnels". She also stated in 2018 “the proposed ventilation stacks are now away from schools, away from where people live” this is patently false and Education minister Rob Stokes has also said there is “no way in hell he will countenance exhaust stacks being built anywhere near a school”. Yet the current design places exhaust stacks within 100m of homes, 300m of schools, child care and aged care facilities. I strongly object to the current placement of the stacks and the ignoring of global best practice as well for the filtering of stacks for tunnels of this length. Of particular concern is The Balgowlah exhaust stack is as it is located at a low point in the valley distributing exhaust emissions over homes and schools on the hills around it. Also Balgowlah Boys High School was not included as a community receptor for modelling, despite being within 300m and directly overlooking the exhaust stack, this is disingenuous at best and corrupt at worst as children from age 11 and up will be directly exposed to the stack 6+ hours a day and their well-being cannot be considered if there is no data reflecting the exposure levels at the high school. Personally, living directly between the stacks with a child who has had to be resuscitated numerous times, an 84 year old mother with COPD and having recently beaten breast cancer myself the accepted, predicted increase in hospitalisation as per the EIS terrify me.

I object to the project based on poor Traffic and Congestion outcomes. Why spend all this money when it will fail to ease the congestion in the medium and longer term? A light rail or mass public transport option would be far more useful and have longer term benefits. The squeezing of six lanes into 2 where the tunnel come out at Balgowlah will just increase traffic time and in fact the EIS states that at Frenches Forest their local commutes will increase by 10%. This seems counterintuitive and implies a flawed design for the tunnel as it stands at present.

I object to the project due to the poor climate and sustainability outcomes and the negative impact on our precious waterways and green spaces. I object to the planned damage to Flat Rock Gully. I also strongly object to the impending destruction of Burnt Bridge Creek an important waterway that feeds directly into the Queenscliff Lagoon. 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” Even though the creek is described 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. It also states that during construction approximately 400,000 litres of wastewater per day will flow into the creek from the site that will run into Queenscliff lagoon. I also object to the fact that over 15 hectares of native vegetation will be removed across the project areas at The Wakehurst Parkway, including some threatened flora species as well as potential habitats for threatened fauna species. I alo object to the potential risk to Manly Dam, it's rare and endangered species and its places of indigenous significance.


The EIS also reveals that 1979 mature trees will be removed in Garigal National Park / Bantry Bay and Manly Dam Reservewith only 339 being replaced and those with young saplings rather than mature trees. This is in no way acceptable and like must be replaced with like.

I request that further thought is given to a design that does not impact these existing vital green corridors in such a devastating and irreversible manner.


I object to the lack of updated travel statistics and the impacts of such on the project since Covid 19 has had a substantial effect on travel to and from the beaches since early 2020. This must be updated if we are to be able to trust the planning process.

This project could be a fantastic opportunity to transform Sydney into a world class, healthy and sustainable city with a strong public transport system. So I would also ask that an alternative public transport feasibility study be published before any further planning occurs so that impacts and outcomes can be fairly compared.

Yours sincerely,

Brigitta Merchant
9 Burringbar St
North Balgowlah
NSW 2093

I object to the project on a number of bases:

1.This project has been conceived and designed with no consideration to the changes we must make to transport systems to mitigate the effects of climate change. Investing billions of dollars on a project that relies on an increasing number of individual motor vehicles to make it viable is simply absurd in a climate constrained world. An investment of this size should be used to change transport systems not deliver an inadequate version of "business as usual".

2. As a resident of Forestville, I have experienced the decline in ease of use of local roads that the new intersection at Warringah Rd and Wakehurst Parkway has created. Delivering many more vehicles to an intersection that is already woefully inadequate in the morning peak (a mere 18 or so months after completion) does not seem to be a way of improving life on the Northern Beaches.
3. With the construction of the Northern Beaches Hospital and associated roadworks, the area has already lost a great deal of mature vegetation. The projected loss of a further 2000 trees along the Parkway is unsustainable, further destroying vital connectivity between disappearing islands of remnant vegetation and placing ever more pressure on the remaining fauna.
4. Construction of the vehicular tunnel will tie the Northen Beaches into a car based future that will only add pressure to what's left of our natural environment. It will make 6 lanes to Narrabeen "essential" , leading to the destruction of bushland and further threatening the ecology of Narrabeen Lake and its catchment.
5. The NSW government has not examined any alternative options in any detail or provided a any sort of cost benefit analysis. An investment of this size demonstrates that we have the financial capacity to deliver some variety of mass public transport solution that will add to the amenity of the Northern Beaches and Sydney, without all of the harms the Beaches Link Tunnel will deliver.

The tunnel should not be built.

I object to the Beaches Link Tunnel being built as I believe the environmental impact will be devastating. Not only will many species of native animals lose their homes but also the fact that the creeks will dry up, not only affecting ecosystems but I believe it will also have a negative impact on the surrounding land which ultimately could affect the homes and structures in the area.

I object to the people in Dudley Street being forced from their homes and people in Pickworth Street and surrounds having their peace and outlook destroyed.

I object to the Beaches Link Tunnel being built due to the predicted 6 years of construction and traffic noise, the parking issues of tunnel workers needing to park, and the chaos in and around our area - during and after the fact.

I object to the Beaches Link Tunnel being built as I believe people should be encouraged to use more public transport to reduce the number of cars on the road. By building the tunnels people are only being encouraged to drive more. More cars = more traffic congestion and pollution. This goes against the NSW Government’s push for a greener Sydney with fewer cars!

I realise that the traffic around our area can sometimes be unbearable but I believe it will become even more unbearable than it is during and after construction. Getting out of our street (Lodge Street) is already at times difficult and with Woodland and Condamine at either end of our street I can’t imagine how it will be when we have people not only using our road as a shortcut to try and avoid traffic in surrounding streets but Condamine and Balgowlah roads are no doubt going to have streams of cars from Manly and Balgowlah Heights trying to get onto the Burnt Bridge Creek deviation and into the tunnel. With cars coming from the north and turning in from Kenneth Road; and all the traffic lights in the area I see gridlock particularly around peak times and school drop-off and pick-up times which are already a nightmare.

I object to the Beaches Link Tunnel being built as I believe the reported unfiltered exhaust towers are going to impact on general health of people living, studying and working in and around the area.

Do we really need to be able to get into the city 10 minutes faster (as predicted) - at the cost of destroying the environment, suburbs and way of life? Has any consideration been made for parking for all the visitors to the area, having been encouraged to drive rather than catch public transport?