Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

I write to express my objection to the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Project. I have done my best to read the extensive EIS documents at this very difficult time. I have significant concerns about the justification for this project particularly given that there is no published business case, it is not high on Infrastructure Australia’s priority list, the EIS demonstrates a significant risk to health and safety and the project and an alternative public transport option has not been fully scoped and compared.

I object to the project for the following reasons:

1. The timing of release of this project at the end of what has been a very challenging year. This project impacts a large number of schools and passes through highly residential areas. Families, community groups and schools have been under a huge amount of strain throughout the exhibition stage. School P&C’s did not have the opportunity to review the documents and parents were caring for children on school holidays. The 12,000+ paged documents are very difficult to read on screen and the Library was not allowing borrowing. The project should be re-exhibited well after the COVID-19 crisis has passed and when normal life returns ad when we understand the permanent changes that it has made.

2. I object to the project due to the contamination risks it presents to the environment and to human health and the negative impact on our precious waterways and green spaces.

• I object because of the loss and damage that will occur to the great biodiversity and green spaces. We need Flat Rock Gully as it’s the lungs that keep us sane. We can’t contaminate our waters anymore, our children swim there and plenty of fish call it their home.

3. I object to the project due to the scale, extent and risk of groundworks in sensitive residential areas and foreshore environments for example, the loss of green spaces, when our planet needs them most.

4. I object to the project due to the unreasonable level of impact on the Quality of Life of residents during the tunnel construction and operation because it’s only a short sighted patch solution to transit.

5. I object to the project due to the threat to our biodiversity and green spaces. For example, the amazing Flat Rock Gully that is used by thousands of residents as a connection with nature, exercise and dog walks too. Northbridge baths and Clive park waters will be contaminated too.

6. I object to the project as it is a tolled road and there is little evidence that it will alleviate current congestion.

7. I object to the project as it has a poor climate profile at a time when we should be looking to projects which reduce our emissions.

8. I object to the project as there has been no publicly published business case and the costs demonstrated in the EIS seem to far outweigh the benefits. The EIS also fails to fully scope many aspects such as utilities and contamination which poses a risk to the project.

9. I object to the project because the B-Line buses have been successful in reducing congestion and no public transport alternative study has been done with which to compare this project.

This project is a missed opportunity to transform Sydney into a world class, healthy and sustainable city with a strong public transport system. The EIS demonstrates that this toll road will be extremely expensive to build and high risk with little benefit. I would ask that an alternative public transport feasibility study be published before any further planning occurs so that impacts and outcomes can be fairly compared.

I object to the Beaches Link EIS because the construction of the Dive Site in Flat Rock Creek Gully:
1. necessitates the destruction of 390 mature trees in Flat Rock Creek Gully,
2. will contaminate Long Bay and Tunks park
3. will devastate a rare and wonderful rainforest micro-habitat enjoyed by our community.
This is an important green corridor linking two sporting areas of Willoubghy Leisure Centre and Tunks park. It is enjoyed by families, children, young and old. it has already been closed this year for weeks while a failed sewer was investigated and is still under reparation. The planned project will kill a hidden gem of Sydney. I urge you to personally visit this beautiful place and reconsider taking measures to destroy it. There must be an alternative . It is worth saving the gully at any cost.

I know that you will probs not look at this and not care about my opinion (because I’m just one of many and also a teenager who “doesn’t know what she it talking about”) but I want to say that this tunnel idea is terrible. You are not thinking fat into the future and you are not caring about the public’s opinion which is what your supposed to be doing. As a youth I have my whole life ahead of me and I find it so atrocious that the people support to be making a better future is actually destroying mine. Flat rock valley is the only place I can be alone and enjoy the natural bush and all of its unique wildlife, and if you are going to take that away from me, you aren’t thinking of us.
Going to the valley is my main time of distressing from the already chaotic education system as well as being the only place I can relax and be at peace. Building a tunnel through that green space will destroy so many of my friends mental health as well as physical health and that should be your priority! Look it’s just really sad for me as a teenager to look at the government and wonder if it will ever think of the people that get effected. And yes I know that you won’t see this and you won’t care but I just want to say that already my generation is getting more depressed, they gave more mental health problems, and are spending less time outside because of tech. Taking away the little green space in the whole of Willoughby is giving people like me no chance to have time outside and have time away from our mental troubles. You know that what your doing isn’t right, and that’s why I have no faith in the government because they don’t care about people that will be effected by the actions in the near future. You’ll be long gone so it’s ok for u to ruin our lifes. Please don’t ruin our only place of refuge!!😭

I object to the proposal because the stacks are unfiltered and there are now reported deaths from air pollution.
I object to the proposal because of the taking of public parkland which is essential to the high density living in NSLGA.

I OBJECT to the Beaches Link Tunnel.
OBJECTION #1 to the exhaust stack and its human health impacts:
The first reason for my OBJECTION is the same reason that the current Minister for Planning and Public Spaces(!) gave back in July 2017. The following is a quote from Rob Stokes which is on the public record:
“I won’t be party to putting stacks near kids. There is no way in hell that I’d support any development¬ that would put the lives of pupils, teachers and parents at risk.”
At the time of this statement by his colleague, Manly MP James Griffin suggested that Stokes (and residents) were basing their concerns on out-of-date information. Responding to Stokes, Griffin said:
“My understanding is the information relates to documents that were put to Cabinet some time ago. This was put to Cabinet as part of the business case for the tunnel it is not related to the recent geotechnical drilling or exploratory works done to date.”
Now, however perversely, Stokes finds himself in charge of putting the stacks near kids! (Although I have heard the allegation that his own sister sold out of Kempbridge Avenue, Seaforth, so it is possible—and I would allege that it may very well be the case—that his “interest” in the issue has changed on a personal as well as a professional level in the meantime. The ICAC must certainly look into this kind of thing in my opinion.) Meanwhile, Griffin has been shown to be a misleader of his constituents as the 2021 plans remain substantially the same, despite his insinuation that they were out of date already back in 2017. No doubt he was just waiting to present us with a fait accompli down the line. What a disgusting deception of the residents and public!
Thus, to reiterate, the Environmental Impact Statement shows that there is EVERYWAY IN HELL that Stokes, Griffin, and the NSW State government plan to build exhaust stacks right in harm’s way—on the edge of a valley where Seaforth drops down into Balgowlah at the Burnt Bridge Creek, next to three schools and two kindergartens (at least!), and the thousands of residents, including families with small children (whose cells are rapidly replicating) who will be forced to live by it, day and night. (The slight movement South since the previous plans is indeed a slight improvement.)
Despite or perhaps because of these dangers, it is hard to see where the exhaust stacks are to be located on the map in your literature. We must infer the location from the euphemistic “Motorway facilities building” and the icon of some kind of tower.
The NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer has claimed that,
“…using ventilation outlets and avoiding portal emissions are the most effective methods of mitigating the air quality impacts of road tunnels. These methods result in a negligible change to surrounding air quality and as such, there is little to no health benefit for surrounding communities in installing filtration and air treatment systems in such tunnels.”
However, we would counter that it is no qualification that the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer is “independent”—for to us that means a person who has no interest in the area as a resident. You must listen to the interested stakeholders—many of who suspect that the NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer would change his attitude if he lived this area. For “little health benefit” is very different from “no health benefit” and we cannot be so simply convinced by such assertions that the Burnt Bridge Creek valley area at Seaforth-Balgowlah may not become a cancer cluster in the future or simply an area with diminished health in general. The many resident families and families of students in the nearby schools who might have assumed that there was “no way in hell” an exhaust stack was going to be built in their vicinity have been deceived by Stokes, Griffin, and this government and its bureaucrats. But they can still plan their own stubborn civil disobedience campaign against this tunnel.
OBJECTION #2 to construction and broader environmental impacts:
If the government or the Chief Scientist continue to dismiss this human aspect of the impact then we note also the climate change emissions and the impact on the Balgowlah Grey-headed Flying-fox Camp as the basis for further natural environment OBJECTIONS. Finally (for now at least), one must consider and OBJECT to the thousands of trucks and heavy machines coming and going from the multi-year construction site 12 (24?) HOURS A DAY. (“At our construction peak, there will be around 495 heavy vehicle movements and 1195 light vehicle movements per day”). The State government (Matt Keen et al) has shown a complete dedication to destroying the coal-based power grid and this same climate change policy logic allows me also to OBJECT on climate change grounds to the tunnel project. For will the trucks be running on pixie dust or should we anticipate massive air and noise pollution in addition to the ongoing disaster of the exhaust stacks when the project is completed? I’m sure the trucks will run rough-shod over everything, just as your bureaucrats and politicians will bulldoze over the top of any objections.
BUT I OBJECT.

To whom it may concern,

I am writing to inform you that I object to the proposed Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection project. I have detailed my main reasons for the objection below.

1. Health impacts

a. Unfiltered Smoke stacks
I am extremely concerned about the impact of the Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connections will have on the health of my family and the community. I am most concerned about the impact the unfiltered smoke stacks will have on our health. My three children all suffer from asthma and have been hospitalised on a many occasions since they were born. The increase pollution from the unfiltered smoke stacks will inevitably lead to further deterioration in their asthma symptoms. Worsening of their asthmas symptoms inevitably leads to increased presentations to hospital, increased requirement to use medication and reliance on steroids, which are harmful to growing children. The poorer air quality caused by the unfiltered smoke stacks will also impact their education as it will lead to reduced attendance at school/ day-care and our productivity as parents as we will be unable to attend work.

b. Construction of the tunnel – Brooke Street
The construction phase of the tunnel will also cause deterioration in air quality with increased truck use along Brooke Street making it unsafe for us to walk to school at Cammeray Public School.

c. Impact of construction on our health

I am concerned about the toxic chemicals that will be unearthed when the dredging is completed in the harbour. This will make it unsafe for recreational use of the harbour.

2. Noise pollution
I am very concerned about the placement of the construction site near Brooke Street Naremburn. We live on Market Street in Naremburn in close proximity to Brooke Street. My three children (5, 3 and 1 years of age) as well as my husband all have hearing impairment. They all require hearing aids in order to assist them in their daily living. Our children also require extensive early intervention with speech therapists to ensure that their speech and language skills are able to develop along with peers who have normal hearing, The increased noise from trucks along Brooke street will severely impact on our family and their ability to function and communicate within our home. The amplification of background noise such as large trucks will impact their ability to hear conversational speech and therefore impact communication within our home. I am concerned about the impact this will have on them in their social and academic development.

In order to mitigate the sound pollution created during the construction phase we request that the NSW government take the following steps. First we request that a Sound Wall be constructed along Brook Street to reduce the impact of the noise on Market Street and Garland Road, Naremburn. We request that this sound wall include a safe pedestrian and bike corridor to allow safe access to Flat Rock Gully for residents.

Second, we request that the NSW government fund the purchasing and installation of double-glazed windows and doors in our home and other homes along Market Street, Slade Street and Garland Road in Naremburn.

3. Public transport
I object to the premise of the project in that it encourages people to use private vehicles and does not have a primary focus on public transport. In an attempt to encourage the use of public transport and discourage private vehicle use the tunnel should have a designated bus lane in both directions. Furthermore the NSW government should be working to develop a fleet of electric buses, which would reduce the air pollution.

I also recommend that the NSW government consider rapid buses from the Northern Beaches to the Chatswood Metro. This would increase the available public transport.

4. Environmental impacts and impact on green space
I am extremely concerned about the proposed construction site at Flat Rock Gully. This is a beautiful area of regenerated bushland that is so rare this close to the CBD. This area supports a diverse ecosystem. The community, government and council have worked tirelessly over the past 30 years to return this area to nature and the community. It will be devastating to see this area cleared especially some of the old trees. I request that any damage done to the environment be mitigated by extensive investment in returning the area as quickly as possible to its current condition. This would include planting mature trees. I also request that the government consider the environmental impact of removing trees and mitigate this by pledging to plant an infinite number of trees for every tree lost in this project.

In line with the current Liberal/ National Governments pledge to “work together to protect our current, and future public green space” (Rob Stokes, 17th February 2021). Given the governments above pledge I cannot see how the use of Flat Rock Gully as a construction site is viable. It goes against the wishes of the community and even the current Liberal Government’s desire to protect public green space.

Amanda Green
19B Market Street Naremburn 2065

I live in Coral Street in Balgowlah and object to this project. After reading the EIS I believe that this tunnel development is going to severely impact my amenity and enjoyment of the area where I live for the following reasons:
- extreme increase in cars coming to the area relating to workers who are attending the site. There is not enough parking in this area currently so thousands of additional -cars will not be able to be accommodates
- excess traffic and noise with nearly 500 trucks a day transporting waste
- a concrete plant to be built on the current golf course creating visual pollution as well as noise and pollution
- expected noise and vibration levels at my property impacting on my enjoyment of my property
- severe impact on the environment with loss of trees, Burnt Bridge Creek reduced to a trickle and impact on wildlife
- local roads such as Ethel Street to become "rat runs"
- cost of project is excessive, $14 billion dollars to save commuters 38 mins in travel. I don't believe this takes into account the new hybrid work models implemented since COVID and likely to continue
- lack of a filtration system on the stack causing dangerous pollution and the excessive nature of the stack which will be tallest structure in the area
- reduction generally in green space.
I believe this project is ill thought through, benefits some at the expense of other, will have a severe impact on the environment and our lifestyle in the Northern Beaches and is a waste of taxpayer money

Complaint - Objection
We have heard all the research on the unfiltered stacks, their impacts and proximity to schools and residents. Is the cost of a filter honestly more important than the health of our children? I’m not sure how in this day and age this kind of activity could be legal - or even considered by the government or council. Who would be the liable party for the ongoing health issues that this will create? The air quality in the area is currently of a very high standard - the pollution caused from the stacks would leave this area at an ‘acceptable’ level, however still worsened. Is that ok?
Unfortunately this activity will also force longstanding residents to sell and pull their children out of local schools - just to protect their families. Something the government doesn’t seem bothered about at all - incredibly disappointing.

I object to the project in it’s current form. There is absolutely no sense in building a tunnel with no public transport. The beaches are already clogged with cars. This tunnel will just bring in more cars and is backward looking in terms of reducing carbon emissions. At the very least there should be an express bus lane. Ideally there would be light rail or similar.

Until the state government becomes more forward looking and ensures the tunnel includes some form of public transport we will not support this project.

We are also very worried about the capacity for Sydney Rd to accommodate increased flow of traffic that will be fed into it.

With everything we now know about how humans are impacting the environment, it’s hard to read the EIS and see that many of the environmental impacts are pushed aside and given token answers.
More work needs to be done to protect the natural ecosystem as well as the health of all residents by including air filtration system on the vent stacks.

By acknowledging that there will be an increase in air pollution and to save some money by not providing air filtration is just disgusting. The government should be looking out for all residents now and put air filtration into the proposal from the start, not waiting to see what happens in the future when it will be too late.

Please look to include air filtration in all the vent stacks and relook at the environmental impacts of expanding Wakehurst Parkway.

As a local parent and resident I am concerned about this project. I cannot see how the impacts, interruptions and cost will be worth the positives the proposed project will deliver. Most concerning is the impact on local schools in the Cammeray area (my children attend Anzac Park Public). I am especially concerned about the unfiltered ventilation stacks and potential impact given how close these will be to school where kids play outside and walk past on way to and from school. The impact on the environment to deliver this along with the cost just does not add up for me. We do not need another toll road in Sydney. This was the case pre-Covid but even more so now. Most employees are working from the office less hence will be commuting far less. Even still we should be investing in more appropriate sustainable transportation options such as train or light rail.

We do not support the construction of the Beaches Link Tunnel. We feel a better solution could be found that has far less environmental impact. Points of concern are the destruction of bushland; the loss of habitat for vulnerable species; and contamination risks from disturbing the old tip at Flat Rock Gully. Other issues for concern include noise and vibration, airborne contaminants, emissions from ventilation stacks, potentially contaminated land as well as biodiversity and habitat loss. Marine life is also under threat due to sludge in Sydney Harbour that contains alarming levels of toxins would be dug up during construction.
We are fully against this project and do not feel it's in the best interests of our community.

Further to the information session last Tuesday (Kirkwood/Judith Streets Seaforth) 2/2/21, I would like to suggest that since Ausgrid is planning to dig a trench from Burnt Street along Kirkwood Street to run power lines up to the worksite, the opportunity is taken to remove all overhead wires in this section of Kirkwood Street and put them in the trench too.
This will:
- improve the amenity of the street,
- showcase what is surely should be under under consideration for every street in NSW,
- and be a small goodwill gesture to the residents of Kirkwood and Judith Street for enduring what will be considerable inconvenience during the life of the WHTBL project.
Let me know your thoughts.

This tunnel in no way improves the amenity of Northbridge. It removes 3 exits on the Freeway. It compromises the Flat Rock Gully bushland. It will compromise the air quality of our suburb - while boosting property prices on the Northern beaches with yet another toll road for vehicle access. If this was a true environmentally sustainable project then this would be a train link. There is no issue for me as a resident to the Northern beaches. The issue is the Spit Bridge - but Northbridge will be the suburb who will benefit the least and in fact come out with far less than what we already have.
I object to the lack of transparency. I am worried for the native fauna and flora associate with Flat Rock Gully.

I strongly object to the Northern Beaches Tunnel development for the following reasons.

More Traffic on our already busy roads:
I believe the construction of the NBT creating an easy and quick way for private cars to visit the Northern Beaches will create a major problem which will impact the whole Peninsula. Already traffic on our roads is bad, it will be disastrous with more cars on the roads. Parking is already nearly impossible on weekends, it will absolutely be impossible with more cars coming into the area, this will likely lead to more frustration and anger from drivers potentially resulting in road rage incidents and accidents.

I have no problem with more people coming to the Northern Beaches to share its beauty and relaxed lifestyle. I do not understand why there has not been more investigations undertaken into a public transport system that allows easy access to the Northern Beaches. The NBT is a multi-billion project, surely an underground train system (eg. UK Tube system or linking in with our existing train system) could be effective? For the health of our environment surely our aim should be to reduce traffic on roads?

The success of the B-Line has proven that a good public transport system does work. And this was proven during a Pandemic when many people were working from home and not commuting to the city. This service should be expanded to Manly, Seaforth and Balgowlah areas to further reduce traffic on the roads.

Locality to local schools:
Both Balgowlah Boys and Seaforth Public school will be impacted by both the construction noise of the NBT and the pollution the completed tunnel will expel. Like cigarette smoke, no amount of exposure to emissions is safe. This is our future generation we are talking about, it is inconceivable that placement of the emission stacks is so close to these schools, approximately 300m from Balgowlah Boys! I shudder to think of the potential health impact on our children.

Environment:
We are extremely lucky to have natural habitat ecosystems in our local area. The impact of the construction of the NBT on these areas is likely to be dire. As per the EIS it was identified that there will be a number of serious negative environmental impacts from the development of the NBT. The Burnt Creek is likely to be reduced to a trickle which will lead to the death of many native animals and fauna that rely on it. There is potential that the Manly Dam will be impacted by construction, making this pristine recreational nature park unswimable. In addition the loss of all the trees along the Burnt Creek Deviation will be devastating to its local habitat. I do not understand why these areas are not fiercely protected by the government for our future generations?

Safety:
The amount of heavy vehicles that will be required to move through our local streets frightens me. The impact of this could prove to be fatal as heavy vehicles will be passing by as school children make their way to and from school. The main entrance to the NBT construction site is located directly opposite Balgowlah Boys who numbers now exceed 1000 boys! I only hope there will be no loss of life as a direct result of the construction of the NBT.

I object to the Beaches Link Project proposal for the following reasons:
1.Sydney does not need more tunnels – what is needed is an integrated public transport service solution that takes cars off the road, not put more cars on the road.
2. The EIS is flawed. There is no discussion of the climate change impact that this project will ultimately have given the increase in road traffic it will generate. Road transport accounts for approximately 15% of total CO2 emissions (source: ourworldindata.org) - global efforts are focused on reducing road transport, not increasing it. Why is Sydney moving in the other direction?
3. The Sydney CBD is making it increasingly difficult to drive around, and parking is either astronomically expensive or non-existent. Likewise, all the other destinations listed in the EIS as being made easier to get to by the proposed Beaches Link all have issues with local road infrastructure and parking availability. Why is there a proposal to build infrastructure taking more cars to the CBD, when the CBD is trying to reduce traffic?!
4. Similarly, many of the roads in the northern beaches are a disgrace. There is no mention in the Beaches Link proposal of how this road infrastructure will be upgraded so that the Beaches Link tunnel doesn’t just move a bottleneck from one location to another. I.e. there are no proposals to improve the road infrastructure, and so the residents of the northern beaches will be left to live with yet more congestion.
5. It has not been made clear how much the Beaches Link Project will cost to build, but rumours are it will be A$8bn+. If the NSW government can raise this sort of financing, it would be much better spent on public transport infrastructure focused on taking cars off the road (such as a Dee Why to Chatswood rail link), rather than adding yet more infrastructure that will contribute to road congestion in other parts of the city.
6. I have spoken to a significant number of northern beaches residents, and have yet to find support for this project here. Certainly amongst the people I have discussed the project with, the consensus is that we will end up in a situation paying substantial tolls for a piece of infrastructure we will have limited options but to use (given that traffic will be restricted going over the Spit Bridge) and that will make the overall quality of life in the northern beaches worse. Not a great trade-off.

Beaches Link EIS
I strongly object to the Beaches Link Project as I am very concerned about the environmental consequences, impact to local traffic in Northbridge area and noise and pollution to my residence which overlooks Flat Rock Gully. Please note my submission as attached.
Kind Regards
Leonie Fraser

The air ventilation stack at Ernest Street. The design of the stack is an eye sore and looks relative to the trees and other buildings in the area. To minimise the visual impact and to to blend the stack into the environment I would suggest that the stack be installed with a vertical garden or similar. A simple vine that requires little maintenance would also suffice. There are precedents for this as per the B Line cark park In Manly Vale ..for example in Condamine street in manly vale

I am lodging an objection to the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel due to the following:
Lack of sufficiently effective internal (tunnel) and external( wider environmental) ventilation. The Proposal in its existing form constitutes a danger to public health ( please refer to relevant research studies to identify world best practice in systems of tunnel ventilation)
The proposed processing, distribution and storage of highly toxic middle harbor sedimentation constitutes a extreme danger to public health. This process in
its present form, should be urgently reconsidered on the basis of the short and longer term implications of sediment toxicity on the health of all, involved and living in adjacent areas
The project proposal lacks a clearly laid out, transparent cost-benefit analysis . The proposal should make clear and publicly available, relevant social costs and benefits associated with the proposed project before further consideration of construction
The rapacious nature of this project will likely lead to the wanton destruction of current green space, likely loss of animal and bird life and negative impact on the amenity of several adjacent suburbs, including (inter alia) Cammeray, North Sydney, Neutral Bay, Cremorne, North bridge . All of which makes the project completely untenable. There is an urgent need to reconsider this project and identify a much less socially destructive, much less dangerous alternative

Dr Barry Partridge

I object to this major project as it pertains to the Northern Beaches Link Tunnel for the following reasons:
1. Fiancially the cost to provide only a partial answer to traffic congestion is not justfiable. There are cuurently under 300,000 residentson the Northern Beaches and the cost per capita is not justifiable. There are other more financially acceptable ways to improve traffic flow from the Northern Beaches to the city including most importantly improving public transport.
2. The project does not address traffic flow further up the Northern Beaches from Collaroy to the proposed tunnel. Unless this is addressed then this the tunnel will become an expensive white elephant that has been born with considerable collateral damage.
3. The collateral damage is-
a. environmental damage in the loss of the precious little remaining undeveloped land in and around Manly Dam, the pollution of the water feeding Manly
Damage, the loss of rare and ancient trees with the loss of specimens of Duffy Forest; removal of wildlife corridors and the eventual loss of endangered animals
such as the Pymy Possum ,the flying fish and the rare reptile living in the Manly Dam area;
b. loss of heritage in that Manly Dam has heritage significance as the only "natural" war memorial park in the state;
c. loss of aboriginal heritage in the loss of meeting areas and rock paintings contained within Manly Dam in that the areas are more and more exposed to vandalism
with the eating way of the park boundaries;
4. To proceed at present is premature. We should wait until the "benefits" of the Western Harbour Tunnel have been realised and we should wait until the business case
is reassesd after an Dee Why to Chatswood B-Line has been intrduced and until there is an analysis of changing traiffic movements post COVID -19.

For the reasons given above I object to the project. Judith Kerr.