Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

Acquisition or mitigation related concern

Air quality impacts

Biodiversity/offset management

Blasting impacts

Construction impacts

Ground water impacts

Heritage impacts

Noise impacts

Non-disclosure of political donations

Proponent website documentation

Surface water impacts

Traffic management

Unauthorised activity

Vegetation clearing

Visual impacts

To Whom It May Concern,
I wish to lodge my objections to the beaches link tunnel based on the following points:

1. EIS is not current and much of it was written before covid therefore the facts and data it contains are irrelevant to current situation eg with respect to travel time data, post covid - there is much less dependency on peak hour travel. many more people are working from home and will continue to do so as workplaces have become more flexible. thus a new, up to date post-covid EIS needs to be written and re submitted for community consultation.

2. the 'beaches tunnel' has been declared "worlds best practice', however, this is untrue, as 'world's best practice' would include filtration of the tunnel ventilation/emission stacks. as plainly stated in the eis, these will NOT be filtered, therefore this plan for beaches tunnel is NOT worlds best practice, therefore, until it can be deemed, "worlds best practice', it should NOT go ahead.


3. The original document signed by Mike Baird when he was premier clearly stated that in finding a solution to traffic congestion along military rd and this corridor that public transport options NOT be considered. This is a blatant abuse of the investigative process and thus excluded from the start, any real objective research into the best solution for the traffic congestion problems identified. thus, the basis of the project is biased and non-scientific and illogical from the start. therefore, the project needs to stop until a full investigation into public transport options, especially rail from dee why-chatswood can be evaluated and compared to the proposed $15,000,000,000 stretch of road /tunnel that is the .beaches link. also, there has been some mention that Mike Baird was prompted to exclude public transport option from this project plan because large transport companies like Transurban were major political party donors and also may have struck a deal to provide mike board with a post political job within the transport industry, therefore, the project begun with a false and seemingly biased , even corrupt selection process that excluded any consideration of public transport - especially trains in its analysis of best solution to traffic congestion.

5. at $15,000,000,000 this project is unjustifiably expensive for the 16 km stretch of road/ tunnel that is outlines and thus must be analysed further wrt to cost-benefit. however, since the travel data contained within the EIS is out of date by up to 5 years, this is not possible, and thus such expenditure can not be justified.

6. this project is unethical as it uses public money to make a private Toll road and as such is not for the benefit of the wider community. The tolls will be too expensive for most and this will encourage rat-racing and more traffic on local roads. thus the road/tunnel will never achieve its aim of reducing traffic.

7. due to the phenomenon of 'traffic demand' , whereby in the absence of viable public transport options, such a project will only increase car travel and thus any short term reduction in traffic congestion along military rd and similarly congested roads will soon be reversed. thus, this project is ill conceived, short sighted, un ethical and nonsensical

8. this project actually encourages car travel and further tolling in sydney. major cities around the world have all shown the negative effects of car congestion in their cbds yet this project aims to increase car travel into sydney's cbd. this is irresponsible planning and not in sydney's long term interests.

9. the non-filtered emission stacks will spew forth the products from the 15 km tunnel over the suburbs of Seaforth, Balgowlah, Manly Vale, Fairlight and Balgowlah Heights where there is a high concentration of preschool, primary and secondary schools. this is unacceptable since the increased car and diesel truck exhaust fumes contain several extremely toxic substances including tiny particles that are hazardous for human respiratory and circulatory health. this effect is heightened in the bodies of young children, thus it is unacceptable that the tunnel emission stacks be not-filtered and located in such close proximity to asbestos, toxic gases and other unknown items that were legally allowed to be dumped there last century. digging at this site will also release noxious fumes and contribute to unacceptable levels of air, noise and traffic pollution. the numbers of truck movement along flat rock drive is dangerous for other drivers on the road. flat rock gully is home to several protected and endangered species including small bird populations, rock wallaby, powerful owl, lizards and many more creature catalogued by willoughby wildlife group WEPA.
plus the risk of contaminating nearby and downstream flat rock gully native wildlife corridor is unacceptable, plus further downstream contamination risk of Tunks park waters is unacceptable.
11. the proposed coffer dam to go in water off northbridge is unacceptable, as is the dredging in that area to make way for the semi-submerged tunnel. the dredging will alter silt tidal patterns and damage the seagrasses and delicate marine ecosystems located in these waters. the waters have only recently returned to a high state of cleanliness as evidenced by recent sightings of seals and even a whale a few years ba 12. the government has recently declared am 'open space' initiative/policy in which it seeks to protect precious open green spaces. this project is not in alignment with this policy as this project will result in bulldozing at flat rock gully to make way for dig site and truck turning circle, plus destruction of various golf courses eg cammeray and balgowlah.
13. the advertising material and marketing brochures for this tunnel clearly depict a bus travelling through it. however, i was told by an engineer at a northbridge information session at our local golf club that the tunnel would be too steep to allow buses to travel in it. therefore, the promotional material for the tunnel has been misleading and as such, has not been providing accurate information for community consultation. this is highly inappropriate for a state significant project, its false and misleading information and as such, the project should be halted until such time that the EIS traffic data is current, covid-relevant and accurate with respect to whether or not buses will be able to travel in it.
14. the plans for the tunnel are less than 50 % complete at this time, therefore the EIS can not provide a comprehensive impact study, therefore the EIS must be re-done and submitted for further consultation.
15. the prime objective of population growth via immigration must now be re-assessed , given that we are now living with the ongoing threat of covid. therefore, the projected need for the tunnel is lessened and thus the business case weakened in current covid - times. the EIS makes no mention of current work travel time changes due to covid and is thus out-of-date and irrelevant on many counts.
in conclusion i object to this 'beaches Tunnel' project going ahead on several counts. namely the EIS is out of date, the business case doesn't hold up, the primary objective for the tunnel is biased away from public transport options and the project is too expensive and environmentally damaging fro sydney's precious natural habitat and waterways.
i recommend a complete review of the original process in which ALL options are considered and compared to find the best way to approach perceived traffic congestion. i suggest that train options be reviewed and considered as a priority. i recommend an investigation into the original conception of the idea from Mike baird's time as premier and any undue bias towards road/tunnel projects over more viable public transport options, particularly rail. i strongly oppose Flat rock gully as main dig site as it has undergone amazing regeneration the past few decades to the extent that is now a native wildlife corridor of major significance and as such should be protected.
i strongly oppose the high cost of this project , especially when the net outcome of relatively small reductions in travel times data is evident. i recommend that similar traffic travel data outcomes could be achieved by improving current roads and public transport scheduling eg buses and trains, at a fraction of the $15 billion cost. also, if the prime objective is to on sell this road/tunnel to a large transport toll company like transurban - then the basis for this project is unjust as transurban holds a monopoly over tolled roads in sydney and thus there is no assurance of best value spending of public money - this is negligent and irresponsible. this project does not have the best interests of the general public in mind. this project os narrow minded and its focus too short term to have any lasting positive impact. ct to the

Here are some of my concerns and why I object to the proposal:
• The investigation of suitable transport alternatives has been limited and is not transparent.
• There isn’t a satisfactory business case to justify the large capital cost.
• Many authorities state that tunnels encourage more vehicles use and in a few years time the traffic congestion returns.
• A more considered approach would be to allow a gradual increase in population growth and when sufficient to consider rail transport as a more effective use of public money. In the meantime encouraging the use of improved public transport.
Should the project go ahead:
• We will experience considerable noise from the construction for a period of 7 years.
• Additional trucks using the local roads will impact on their use.
• Wanganella will become a rat run and become difficult to access from Brighton street.
• Further it is unbelievable that houses on the Eastern side of Wanganella street will be provided with noise suppressing windows because of the increased traffic.
• The tunnel design will only relocate the traffic congestion to the exit locality.
• We will experience summer traffic disaster as it allows easy access for large numbers of cars to travel to the local beaches rather than spread along the coast. Already police have had to close the road access to local beach sites. Parking becomes impossible.
• We will experience pollution from the ventilation stack located near us. This is indicated in authoritative literature.
• Already properties have lost value.
• We will loose a popular low cost golf course who regularly maintain the greens.
• We will loose many established trees in addition to contamination of local water ways.
• Excessive noise from drilling, rock crushing and earth removal by trucks every minute and unconfined silicon dust generation.
• Early morning workers parking their cars in local streets irrespective of site management control.

I am writing as a long-term resident of Seaforth to make an objection to the tunnel as proposed for these key reasons:

1. The fact that this is another massive investment in infrastructure for private vehicles instead of a more efficient and environmentally sensitive public transport solution like a rail link.
2. The chaos that will be caused in the Burnt Bridge Creek area during many years of construction, as well as the visual and air pollution that we will all have to live with when it opens. If we are to be stuck with a private vehicle tunnel, surely traffic from the upper Northern Beaches can be directed into just one tunnel entrance – in the unoccupied area near Seaforth Oval – which would have much less impact on houses and the community atmosphere of Seaforth/Balgowlah villages.
3. The damage the construction phase will cause to local houses, waterways and wildlife.

I object to the project in its current form and have raised my concerns in the document as attached

Please see attached submission.

Correspondence related to this submission should be sent to the following email addresses:
[email protected]
[email protected]
[email protected]

I have lived in Northbridge in proximity to the Long Bay area of Middle Harbour for 60 years. In recent years I have observed seals, kingfish, fairy penguins, sea eagles & even one whale in the bay. I never observed these in the past. I imagine that there must be heaps more little marine creatures & plants back in the environment as well, that were not there in earlier years.
I am very fearful that the disturbance from the construction of the Northern Beaches Tunnel will reverse the return of these species in what has become to date an increasingly pristine waterway, and not just for the period of the construction, but result in ongoing loss for decades to follow.
Not only is nature increasingly alive in this waterway in recent years, but human activity has dramatically increased in peaceful exercise pursuits, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, training by rowing clubs, & community involvement in the local sailing club. Is this not what the community needs for good physical & mental health?
This waterway is alive now more than I have ever seen before. It would be a lengthy & far reaching tragedy to put it back to sleep by blocking these uses, and degrading its natural environment.
Can enough be done to ensure achieving the extremely critical requirement that there be NO degradation?
I am deeply concerned that not enough has been researched & planned to protect this currently recovering natural environment. Also that planned “mitigation” will be inadequately enforced, to avert degradation.
Please protect this waterway

To whom it may concern,

In relation to Project Number SSI-8862

I declare that I have not made any political donations to any political (or other interested) party.

I am happy for my submission to be published with personal details.

I object to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway extension as it currently is proposed due to impact on the Manly Dam bushland.

This is an area of significance to the community, and with the rapid changing of appearance of the northern beaches we need to retain our natural bushland. This is a decision which will adversely impact future generations.


Regards

Steve Page
e : [email protected]
m: 0429986 830

I object to the beaches link & gore hill freeway extension because of the following reasons:

- We do not need more roads built in Sydney, we just need better public transport which will reduce traffic, traffic jams and reduce traffic pollution.
- We need our green areas preserved for the sake of the animals and plant life and to keep the waterways pollution free but also everyone knows that the green spaces help keep the air clean
- We do not need pollution from the smoke stacks for these tunnels polluting our local air or the 3 schools full of our precious children in the very near vicinity
- Manly Dam and surrounding bush land areas with their animals, plants and streams etc and even the golf course full of wildlife and green areas need to be preserved
- Plenty of bush land has already been destroyed building the new hospital. Many didn’t want that hospital either. Renovating Manly and Mona Vale hospitals would have been much better.
- We live in the Northern Beaches because of its natural beauty and because it is not too densely populated. We like having our parks and nature so close by to enjoy. We appreciate the nature.
- We do not want our area to become full of apartment buildings and overpopulation and busier roads so we do not want a tunnel making our area more accessible.
- We don’t need the extra people or apartments. We like our houses and backyards where our kids can grow up enjoying having backyards to play in and enjoy the surrounding nature where we can bush walk and explore and appreciate the beauty and not live in air polluted by expressway tunnels.
- We do not need our local roads changed with increased traffic to make way for a tunnel no one wants and we don’t need the disruption and destruction of our area for the years and years it will take to build.

We are all advocating for reducing waste, reducing landfill, reducing pollution, leaving our natural forests alone and increasing our green areas to help protect the earth from climate change.

Have you not watched the David Attenborough Mission Statement ????? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64R2MYUt394
Can you not see how much of our precious planet we have already destroyed ?? A wallaby recently had to be saved from Sydney Harbour because of all the deforestation and destruction the government is doing to the Northern Beaches forested area.

The Dutch people recently sued their own government because they felt their government wasn’t doing the right thing by the environment. Dutch court orders government to slash greenhouse gas emissions by at least 25 per cent by 2020 - ABC News

WE DON’T WANT THE TUNNEL. WE WANT OUR NATURAL AREAS LEFT ALONE FOR OUR CHILDREN TO ENJOY AND TO PROTECT THE PLANET FROM CLIMATE CHANGE. WE DON’T WANT TO BE POLLUTED AND OVER POPULATED AND MOST OF ALL WE DO NOT WANT OUR NATURAL FOREST AREAS WITH ALL IT’S BEAUTIFUL PLANTS AND ANIMALS DESTROYED !!!!!

Kind Regards,
Kris De Laine (very annoyed North Balgowlah resident)

Dear Minister Stokes

Brightmore Precinct is a community group affiliated with North Sydney Council LGA.

We have previously read, discussed and voted upon the EIS for both the WHT (now approved) and the Beaches Link Gore Hill Freeway connection/EIS.

The objection created (and attached) by the three North Sydney Councillors below is an excellent summary of our own groups/residents concerns surrounding the second EIS.

Of most importance is that, if approved, both major projects will overlap.
We are particularly keen to seek (if approved) proper control, oversight, accountability and enforcement of provisions made to lessen these impacts on residents.
Most obviously this would apply to the huge number of large truck movements proposed, the routes utilised, noise, pollution, workforce parking and so forth.

It would be necessary for any contractor(s) to be held properly accountable.
We wholly support the objection provided by the Councillors named below.


With regards



Brightmore Precinct Committee

Please find attached objection letter attached. Please withhold names.

Project doesn't make enough of a difference to warrant construction. There are too many negative outcomes that negate any positives, eg. financially, traffic time realistically saved, environmental destruction, health hazard, tunnel leakage safety, to mention a few:
CONSTRUCTION: Massive disruption to Balgowlah/Seaforth/Mosman/Frenchs Forest communities OVER 8-10 YEARS: blasting, movement of 2685 heavy and light trucks through these suburbs PER DAY
ENVIRONMENTAL: bulldozing of thousands of trees and destruction of animal habitat

ENVIROMENTAL (cont.)

The Balgowlah exhaust stack will spread its output over three very close and large schools, and one pre-school, also over all the sporting fields planned to be built next to the stack; the degradation of Burnt Bridge Creek from natural flow to little more than a sewer (flow reduced (by 90% during construction to 78% after) running into Queenscliff Lagoon; disturbance of the sea bed in Middle Harbour bringing many toxins to the surface
TRAFFIC: Will bring an estimated 40,000 cars into the Northern Beaches at summer weekends. Traffic on the principle roads is already abysmal at weekends
VALUE: The State can ill afford the huge cost of this scheme that gives so little benefit – a 15% reduction in Military Road traffic; and of its own admission the EIS itself states that the Tunnel will reach capacity within 10-15 years

I am a resident of Cammeray responding to the EIS documentation to meet the deadline for objections by 1 March.

My major objection specifically relates to the Flat Rock Creek Drive Dive Site. The Dive Site must be relocated to the western side of the current road in the area of the existing Baseball Diamond area, which could easily be temporarily relocated to nearby Tunks Park. Such relocation must occur in the interest of the environment rather than a minority sporting use. By taking this simple action the much loved bushland to the east would be preserved. This action would:-

• Save nearly 400 trees
• Retain the current flora and fauna
• Prevent pollutants from entering the Flat Rock Creek and prevent contamination risks to Tunks Park

It is a no brainer for my suggestion to relocate the Dive Site as an environmentally friendly alternative which would be favourably viewed by the general public.

Please forward my EIS objection to TransPort for NSW.

Dear Sir/Madam,

I am North Balgowlah resident, and I am writing to share my grave concerns around the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel and its impacts on our family, local school, community, and environment.

Please see my concerns clearly outlined below.

Revisiting the Tunnel Justification

Concern - The figures put forward in the EIS indicate only a minimal reduction in the traffic flowing through Mosman for a significant and disproportionate use of public funds. I feel that many of the assumptions for traffic used as justification of the build in the EIS have not factored in changes to travel habits and working from home due to COVID-19 and into the future, treating COVID-19 as having only a “temporary” impact".

Request - There are many new data points to factor in given the impact of COVID-19 on lifestyles long term and I stand with Viable Transport solutions in asking the government to halt the development process to allow for a suitable review, and to publicly release the results of the review.

Construction Impact

Concern - The construction phase of the project will undoubtedly impact North Balgowlah residents with dust, noise, vibration, and heavy vehicle traffic in the area. North Balgowlah will have construction surrounding most of the suburb and the EIS indicates that during construction there will be.
• Over 3,000 vehicles per day across all sites.
• 1,690 vehicles per day at the Balgowlah Golf Course site alone.
• 1.5 heavy vehicles every minute or 4.5 vehicles (total) every minute.
• Over 4,000 homes subjected to excessive noise
• Construction work to proceed 24/7 for up to 7 years.

Request – Reconsider how to ensure that the impact of trucks/vehicles is not felt on the suburban streets that are already hard to navigate with local traffic and buses. Ensure areas around schools and parks are not impacted and are safe for families and children to walk or ride around the local community. Disincentivise commuters looking to use our streets as a rat run to save time from congestion and money from using the toll roads.

Ventilation Stacks

Concern - Global health experts agree that pollution from traffic exhaust poses serious health risks. Emissions include nitrous oxides and particulate matter that, when breathed into the lungs, causes respiratory diseases such as asthma and emphysema, and cancer. In addition to my own family’s home, there are several schools, preschools, childcare centres, and sporting fields within the vicinity of all the proposed ventilation stacks and as a parent, the increased level of pollution is unacceptable.

Request - If the tunnel were to go ahead that the stacks be equipped with full filtration to minimize these impacts. At the very least the air pollution is to be kept at the current levels.

Environmental Impact

Concern - We are fortunate to live in an area that incorporates some spectacular bush land, reserves, and beaches and would urge that further consideration is given to the major environmental impacts, including but not limited to:
• Movement of contaminated sediment to Clontarf and Middle Harbour (The Spit) potentially causing pollution of the neighbouring beaches.
• Destruction of Burnt Bridge Creek and surrounds (e.g., bushland, wildlife etc) due to a possible 96% reduction in water flow.
• Discharge of 428,000 L per day of wastewater into Queenscliff Lagoon & Beach, resulting in health hazards for people and animals who swim in the waterways.
• Pollution of Manly Dam reserve, resulting in the potential extinction of rare flora and fauna and the last remaining areas of Duffy’s Forest, and meaning that one of the only swimmable dams in NSW is no longer safe for public use.
• Loss of recreational activities with the mountain bike trails that are used for riding, walking, and running.

Request – We want assurances that future generations get to experience the natural wonders of the area in all its glory. That wildlife can live in the shadows of residential houses, not shadows of construction and pollution. What is the point of making the northern beaches more accessible if the very heart of what makes the northern beaches so special is destroyed?

I understand that in life, it is important to move forward, but not at all costs. We must look after what we have got, protect the environment and our children’s futures. We must find ways to progress more sustainably.

I DO NOT BELIEVE THE TUNNEL IS THE ANSWER and would urge you to reconsider.

Yours Sincerely,

Dear Ms Scott,
Please find attached/uploaded the delegated advice from the Heritage Council of NSW.
Hendry Wan
Senior Heritage Officer - Major Projects
Heritage NSW | Community Engagement | Department of Premier and Cabinet

Please see attached document for my submission objecting to the project. Kind regards, Michelle

This is a submission in connection with the EIS for the Northern Beaches Link tunnel.

Growing up in the Davidson area since the late 1980s, I have seen the water quality in the waterways and swimming holes all through the Garigal National Park diminish to the extent that it is now no longer possible (nor permitted) to swim in those areas, for health reasons. This has been as a result of earth and fill works to areas surrounding these waterways such that the waterways are now too contaminated for human activity.

Manly Dam offers an opportunity for people to swim in relative safety and amongst this beautiful reserve. Not only do local children, including my own, enjoy learning to swim, paddle and kayak here, but also the Warringah Triathlon Club has, for many years, used the dam as a swimming training area at 4pm every Sunday. I have joined the Club on many of these swims over the years. My concern is that the construction works, and disruption to groundwater systems, associated with the Northern Beaches link, would put all of this at risk. Manly Dam would be relegated to being another waterway that can be viewed, but not enjoyed.