Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection

The environmental impact statement outlines too many costs to the community and the environment without any justification in the form of a business case.

We have been promised that public transport will be incorporated into the project and yet no dedicated bus lanes are evident in the details provided.

We need better public transport as a long-term solution, not more toll roads that will do little ease congestion in the short-term and will contribute to increased road traffic from personal vehicle use, and an increase in the associated pollution (especially for the local residences and schools near the exhaust stacks), in the long-term.

Thank you for the opportunity to respond. I strongly object to the project as planned.

1. More cars on the roads - why ?

I object to the project on the premise that it will encourage more people to use private vehicles. Any public investment of this size, should be focused on improving public transport to and from the northern beaches - integrating into the current infrastructure. If we can be build a tunnel for cars - why not a metro or a tunnel that prioritises public transport ?

2. Health Impact of Unfiltered smoke stacks

I am concerned that the government is willing to plan such a significant tunnel with unfiltered smoke stacks near medium density housing and new schools - how can having filtered smoke stacks not be a must ? On a personnel note, we have three children who suffer for asthma and have been hospitalised on many occasions when there is poor air quality generally. The increase in air pollution near the smoke stacks, which exit close to the school they attend - will potentially exacerbate these underlying health conditions - drawing on public health resources with hospital presentations and less time spent at school.

3. Environmental impacts

I object to the use of Flat Rock Gully as a construction site. This area of bush land has only recently been regenerated after 30 years - and now supports a diverse eco system. This cannot be replaced, regeneration will take equally as long.

4. Nosie Pollution

I am concerned that using the Flat Rock Gully as a construction site, will lead to significant noise pollution in a residential corridor. I have a mild to moderate hearing loss, which requires the use of hearing aids on a daily basis. The significant truck usage of Brooke Street for removal of waste, will amplify the background noise pollution and make communicating with my family more problematic.

Please note, I would be support a tunnel that has a public transport focus.

Regards

I

After consideration of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) ,I strongly object to the proposed building of the Beaches Link Tunnel.

The EIS outlined many disturbing aspects of construction in addition to air quality concerns from the unfiltered ventilation shaft.

The Balgowlah Golf Course site will be completely cleared of vegetation and native habitats during construction to allow for:
• parking for some of the 3000 workers daily
• enormous road headers
• concrete batch plant
• rock crushers
• movement of double trailer trucks removing spoil ( cited as 2.5 trucks per minute onto Sydney Rd and Wakehurst Parkway sites)
• acoustic shed
• cranes
• site buildings etc.
In addition, 3000 homes are identified as being significantly affected by the 24 hour site noise, dust and vibration for 5-7 years .

Traffic will be adversely impacted by the almost constant double trailer and other trucks, cranes and heavy machinery travelling along and/or blocking intersections at Sydney Rd, Seaforth shops, Wakehurst Parkway and across The Spit as they remove rock spoil and dredged waste material. Travel times will be worsened significantly for the 5-7 years of construction.

Travel time estimates to the city etc. were from 2017, outdated since the introduction of B-Line and COVID impacts on travel. However, the recent cancellation of countless Northern Beaches local bus services have forced many from their usual buses into their cars ,increasing car numbers since the beginning of the 2021 school year. Were these bus cancellations deliberate to build the case for a tunnel ?

Local streets in Manly Vale , Balgowlah , North Balgowlah and Seaforth will be gridlocked as cars Rat Run to avoid the site works . Parking in streets close to the sites will be filled with workers vehicles in addition to trucks waiting to access the sites. Parking is already very difficult to find in these areas close to the major bus routes.

The fragile ecosystems of Manly Dam are under threat by the widening of the Parkway to 6 lanes, with spoil and wastewater polluting the dam and its environs. The impact will destroy this valuable green space in our city and its protected species.

Queenscliff Lagoon will have nearly half a million litres of wastewater pumped into it daily. The lagoon and beaches will be contaminated and ecosystems downstream destroyed. Our ability to swim and surf will be under threat due to the contamination of our world reknowned beaches.

Burnt Creek water flow will be reduced by 96% by the end of the project, destroying the ecosystem.


High contamination risk has been cited for heavy metals and organotoxins into Middle Harbour from tunnel dredging, polluting The Spit, Clontarf and other Middle Harbour Beaches.

Environmentally , this tunnel is disastrous and for such minimal and short term time benefits as shown in the EIS tables.

Increase public transport - saving $12+ Billion, our environment and travel times.

I am objecting to the Beaches Link EIS. I am astounded by the fact that with current community awareness of the importance of green lung space, air quality and traffic amenity, that a project such as this is planned. There will be a loss of approximately 390 trees and the habitat that they provide for a 117 species of bird including two species of owl, eastern water dragons, wallabies and snakes, amongst many other inhabitants. As one who lives on the fringe of this beautiful area and walks through this area multiple times a month I have personally observed the existence of all of the above.
The task of rehabilitating this area as taken many years, and is well appreciated and enjoyed by so many including the adjacent sports fields in Tunks Park. The issue of issues pollution and noise pollution - I lived adjacent to the Lane Cover River Park for many years, and despite the efforts of the developers, the noise of truck movements across the valley was a daily imposition for many years.
Air pollution is something as a non-scientist I cannot comment on but I believe that that will increase with extra traffic and truck flows.
As Flat Rock Drive will doubtless have trucks moving in and out, probably with a traffic light the other north south arteries will be increasingly clogged already significantly affected by users now wary of public transport post Covid.
The 300,000 residents of the northern beaches peninsula will benefit to some degree until they reach the various bottlenecks at the interchanges and entry and exit points of the link.
The question arises - does a $14 billion exercise benefit them to a sufficient degree?

I am objecting to the Beaches Link EIS. I am astounded by the fact that with current community awareness of the importance of green lung space, air quality and traffic amenity, that a project such as this is planned.
There will be a loss of give or take, 390 trees and the habitat they provide for a 117 species of bird, including two species of owl, eastern water dragons, wallabies and snakes amongst many other inhabitants, (I came across a turtle, photo attached, at the exact location of the proposed dive site).
As one who lives on the fringe of this beautiful area and who walks through this area multiple times a month, I have personally observed the existence of all the above which are all in danger with this project.
The task of rehabilitating this area has taken many years and is well appreciated and enjoyed by so many including those using the adjacent sports fields in Tunks Park.
The issues of air pollution and noise pollution - I lived adjacent to the Lane Cove River Park for many years and despite the efforts of the developers, the noise of truck movements and other across the valley was a daily imposition for many years.
Air pollution that is something I cannot comment on as a non-scientist, but I believe that that will increase with extra traffic and truck flows.
As Flat Rock Drive will doubtless have trucks moving in and out probably with traffic light, the other north south arteries will be increasingly clogged, already significantly affected by users now wary of public transport post Covid.
The 300,000 residents of the northern beaches peninsula will benefit to some degree until they reach the various bottlenecks at interchanges and entry and exit points of the link.
The question arises - does a $14 billion exercise benefit them to a sufficient degree? There has been no published business case and a severe lack of transparency around this project by the NSW Government.

As a resident of Dudley Street, I object to the compulsory acquisition of my property, especially as the price I will be offered will be much lower than the price of a similar type property in a similar location. I will not be able to buy like for like. I feel you must look in to having filtered stacks, not just for the humans that live in the area, but the flora and fauna too. This project will blow out of the projected budgets and time frames, and will therefore be too small in a couple of years, just like the M2 was. It will also be a toll so expensive that not all be will be able to use it. It would be a disaster to have to extend it once finished. Why not investigate more public transport options like train/light rail, or more ferries from other locations, like Clontarf, or The Spit. Given the current crisis in the world, so many people are now working from home, why not set up more shared working hubs in suburbs on the Northern Beaches. As everyone saw during our own covid emergency, the people of the Northern Beaches respond when in a crisis and work together to get a solution. I feel we need to keep looking at other options instead of a tunnel.

We are writing to object to the Beaches Link Tunnel and write to provide feedback and express our concerns about the latest EIS for the Beaches Link Tunnel. Please delete all personal information included in this submission before uploading to any public forums like the DPIE website.

We are very pleased that the latest design of the tunnel no longer runs under Hope St or Kempbridge Ave in Seaforth. The previous design had the tunnel running at a low level directly under our home. We are pleased the government has committed to not tunnel under houses having learned from the experience of the inner-west residents with WestConnx including property damage, noise and pollution.

We have the following objections:
1. The government is rushing the design decision on a significant infrastructure project that will impact local residents and the environment.
2. The business case doesn’t stack up ie the $10 billion project will have marginal longer term benefits for traffic congestion.
3. There will be significant environmental impacts including air, water, loss of native flora and fauna during construction and on an ongoing basis once operational.
4. The health impacts on local residents, schools and daycare centres.
5. Increased traffic and heavy vehicles during construction.

More detail on our objections:
- Air quality and visual pollution from the unfiltered tunnel stacks at Balgowlah which will impact across the valley and will visually dominate the valley as it will be a similar height to Stocklands at Balgowlah. This is a major concern as our family have significant respiratory conditions and the proximity of the local schools and daycare facilities. Also noting similar tunnels overseas spend the money to have them filtered.
- 7 years of construction at the Balgowlah Golf course. Tunnelling 24x7, night work and construction 5.5 days/week. With noise impacting 4000 homes in the day and >1000 homes at night. Years of construction noise, heavy traffic, vibrations, and pollution which could have an acute impact on my family due to chronic dust allergies resulting in severe asthma and eczema. Toxic spoil will put local residents at risk. Balgowlah Boys, Seaforth Public school and Seaforth Childcare will also be impacted due to the proximity to the Balgowlah tunnel construction and heavy vehicle traffic.
- Increased road traffic during construction and once the tunnel is completed, predictions show within a couple of years any traffic gains would be eroded. The additional traffic will cause noise and air pollution for local residents and cause major parking and road congestion issues at places like Clontarf and Manly.
- Significant environmental impacts on Burnt Bridge Creek which is a significant ecological Bushland reserve. The EIS notes: a 76% reduction in water flow during construction and up to 96% reduction in flow once operational; mature tree removal; impacts to birds, lizards, flying foxes, echidnas and the bushland; a reduction in water quality from waste water flowing into Queenscliff lagoon.
- Significant water quality impacts in the Middle Harbour including toxins in sediments that will impacts waterways, wildlife eg fairy penguins) and local swimming spots like Clontarf.
- Significant impact to Wakehurst Parkway and Manly Dam including water pollution, habitat loss from the widened road and damage to local flora and fauna.
- The business case for the tunnel does not stack up. The EIS shows $10billion construction costs will only provide an estimated 10% reduction in Military Rd traffic. The post pandemic working from home culture also significantly reduces the justification for the project.
- The government has a track record of cost and implementation overruns on major infrastructure projects like Sydney Light Rail meaning the project is likely to cost more and take more time impacting local residents quality of life and undermining the business case.
- There is limited focus on public transport and toll road operators get more return from the private vehicles rather than public buses.
- Potential for over development on the Northern Beaches which will permanently change the nature of the beaches and result in increase traffic flow which will eliminate traffic gains created from the tunnel.

We do not support the Beaches Link Tunnel due to the weak business case and the significant negative impacts on the local residents and environment.

Please do not go ahead with the beaches link tunnel. It will not solve the traffic problems. It is a complete waste of taxpayer money. More money should be spent on public transport. We need to reduce the reliance on private cars.

I am very concerned about Flat Rock Gully.
I appreciate this space regularly as a bushwalker with my family including my three children.
This is a beautiful place. It speaks to our ancient past and it is a remaining vestige of the bushland throughout Sydney that we have virtually now destroyed.
It must remain intact for future generations to appreciate what Sydney was before White Settlement.....
These spaces are being gobbled up too fast in the name of 'progress'. Please stop and think about this land.
Flat Rock Gully is important for the physical and mental well-being of current residents, and bushwalkers who choose to find the space.
It enables people to connect with the land and animals and each other.
It is the home of many animals and bird species.
Please do not let 'easy, quick or convenient' building methods destroy it. Please do what is necessary to respect and treasure this space.
It is not a 'drain'. It is a lifeline.
But if the water and land are contaminated the value of this space will be nothing and we will not be able to get it back.

I object to this project. The lack of consideration on what the northern beaches residents actually needs is evident in the lack of focus on public transport improvements the tunnel provides. Residents will experience reduced air quality due to the lack of filtration provided to the stacks - which SHOULD require filtration as a mandatory requirement for the proximity of the stacks to houses and schools. In addition, the impact on the local environment including the creek flows, threatened species such as seahorses and fly foxes is appalling. In addition, run-off into the creek leading to increased pollution in Queenscliff and the disruption of sediment from middle harbour increasing pollution in clontarf reserve are negatives to the local residents that outweigh the "positives" of this tunnel. There should have been clear discussions with PROVEN mitigation of the issues raised by the community. What this area really needs is improved public transport (instead of the reduced bus routes that occurred in recent months) and improved traffic filtering through the beaches. The lack of bus lanes in the tunnel suggests the majority of those who commute to the city (and would be the ones targeted to use the tunnel) would likely avoid catching buses which must sit in peak hour traffic versus the dedicated bus lane on military and spit road. The tunnel is not what the northern beaches needs. What we need is investment in additional bus services with a wider route and more regular services - instead of cutting the buses due to poor numbers (which ultimately is due to a global pandemic NOT because people aren't willfully choosing not to take the bus). In addition, improved ferry times and more regular intervals in the ferry would also support the movement of residents through more environmentally friendly ways.

How many people on the northern beaches actually want this tunnel? I have not spoken to a single resident who wants this tunnel.

As a resident of the Northern Beaches, I would like to formally object to the Northern Beaches tunnel. I am not someone who objects to projects. In fact this is the first time I have ever sent an objection notice. Since this project was first announced I have kept an open mind and assessed all the information provided objectively. I have been to the 'public consultation' sessions, read all of the provided information and listened to arguments from both sides. On this basis I have concluded that this project is not the interest of the residents of the Northern Beaches and that both people and the environment will suffer a major negative impact with no upside. Whilst without doubt this area is lacking the usual major transport links, this is the very reason that this is an area of incredible beauty, environmental diversity and sought after area from a residential point of view. I have spoken to many northern beaches residents and I have not found one in support of a tunnel. I also pay attention to the transport issues of Greater Sydney and I hear many many communities crying out for better transport links. Why is this tunnel - which is neither wanted by the majority of the residents and will negatively impact so much of the natural environment - being prioritised over other projects that are so desperately needed? If I now overlay recent events relating to transport links to the Northern Beaches, I am very alarmed to see that the transport links that we did have (and were very happy with) have been seriously curtailed. This makes me somewhat concerned - why would you reduce services to a community that you are saying is under serviced from a public transport perspective such that it warrants huge investment in a tunnel - one that will have a significant cost to budget, people and the environment? It feels like these cuts come at a convenient time for the tunnel. From the reaction of the community, clearly the previous bus schedule had the support of the Northern Beaches residents (the same people who also don't want a tunnel!). I am deeply troubled by what seems a rather timely move to make transport much worse on the Northern Beaches, just as the tunnel is about to start construction. It is hard not to conclude that these two events are linked. I ask one simple thing. Genuine and proper consultation (not sessions to show people what will be done irrespective of their view/objections) - which means start with what people who live here want and need. Ask the Northern Beaches residents what they want: what they value, what is working, what is not, what they want to change. And please only change it on the basis of that. This will mean you will have full community support for any major projects. Right now, from my perspective, I believe that this has not happened. And I am horrified that this project could progress when the very people it is supposed to help, do not want it. And likely won't travel on the tunnel either. This could be the biggest, most expensive, and most damaging white elephant of all time. Please listen to the residents.Stop this tunnel now. And improve bus and ferry transport instead.

I am deeply concerned about the negative impacts to the Burnt Bridge Creek that the construction of this tunnel will have. The Burnt Bridge Creek is a vital ecological corridor and provides habitat for many animals and plants, including the endangered Seaforth Mintbush and Magenta Lilly Pilly. Yet the tunnel will divert part of the creek, reducing the water flow by 79%. In effect it will become a trickle.
The creek and paths alongside are a popular walking and cycling corridor and the construction of the tunnel will ruin lovely natural environment for all locals.
I am also deeply concerned about the unfiltered stacks being so close to schools. There is no discernible benefits to the local community, only pollution, rat runs, spoilt natural environment and noise.

I object to the Northern Beaches Tunnel (NBT) for the following reasons:

1. Impacts on the environment
The EIS has identified a number of negative environmental impacts upon the flora and fauna around Balgowlah and the Wakehurst Parkway area, and inadequate solutions have been provided.

The projected reduction of water flow by 79% in the Burnt Bridge Creek will lead to the extinction of endangered plants and animals that rely on this water source. Also, the widening of the Wakehurst Parkway will result in the significant loss of bushland (including approx. 2,500 trees), which is extremely concerning.

2. Consultation
There has been a lack of genuine consultation with residents by Transport for NSW (TfNSW) and it appears TfNSW is not interested in taking the concerns of local Northern Beaches residents into account. This is evidenced by the release of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) shortly before Christmas 2020 with a closing submission date of 1 March 2021. Due to the three-week mandatory shutdown of most corporate companies over Christmas and the busy school holiday period, this has resulted in little time for people to read and understand the lengthy EIS report. Also given the EIS report is 11,000 pages long, residents should be given more time to digest the information in the report and provide meaningful submissions. The total disregard by TfNSW to extend the submission timeframe is unreasonable and unfair and it should be extended.

It was also shocking to see that the tunnel opening has moved closer to local Balgowlah schools and houses. How can the EIS claim this change was made following ‘community feedback’?

3. Public transport
The current NBT plan fails to consider alternative options, including public transport. The B-line has been a huge success, so it is not clear on what basis the EIS discounts the effectiveness of such future services from Manly and Seaforth based on the restraints of the existing road network? What studies have been undertaken to support this? Instead it appears that TfNSW is trying to encourage people to use their cars (causing more pollution) and this was apparent from TfNSW cancelling many Northern Beaches bus services that impacted the Manly / Balgowlah area prior to Christmas, thereby forcing people to use their cars, particularly parents who only became aware at the start of Term 1 2021 that many school bus services had been cancelled.

4. Pollution
I am extremely concerned about the health risks as a result of the failure to plan for filtration of the emission. I do not accept that the apparent risk to health as claimed by TfNSW is ‘minimal’. Global studies have proven that nitrous oxides when breathed into the lungs can case respiratory diseases such as emphysema and cancer - there is no safe level.

What is concerning is that the Government has reneged on its promise to build ventilation stacks away from schools and homes. However, the facts are that this is not the case as evidenced by:
1. Balgowlah Golf course (within 100m of homes, 300m of schools, child care facilities and aged care)
2. Near Kirkwood Ave, Seaforth (within 300m of homes)
3. At Ernest Street, Cammeray (within 100m of homes, and 300m of Anzac Park Public School)

5. Road safety
The Beaches Link EIS states “Surface connections at Balgowlah would attract traffic demand from both east and west of Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation. The additional traffic from North Balgowlah could travel via Kitchener Street to access the new access road from Sydney Road east. This could increase traffic volumes on local roads between Kitchener Street and Sydney Road, unless local area traffic management is also put in place to minimise increased traffic on local roads. Local area traffic management on Wanganella Street, Rickard Street and West Street would result in traffic demand using Woodland Street and Condamine Street instead, which is more appropriate to the function of these roads”.

It is evident from this statement that rat run traffic will increase through North Balgowlah along Woodbine and Kitchener Streets. This will result in short cuts through Wanganella, Rickard and West streets, which will be unmanageable unless a traffic management plan is implemented to encourage traffic to more appropriate and wider Streets such as Condamine and Woodland Streets. This will result in normally quiet residential streets becoming unsafe and intersections to bank up, not to mention increased noise levels for residents.

It is apparent that similar rat running will occur along Ethel, Upper Beach and White Streets as traffic attempts to avoid delays on Sydney Road and Condamine Street. White Street is already is a major rat run for people wanting to avoid the traffic lights on Sydney Road, and there is no existing speed bumps or the like on Lauderdale Street and White Street which will become even more congested. This poses a high risk to the students attending St Cecilia’s Catholic school, and it is unclear what plan is in place to push traffic away from this area to protect the safety of students.

Also concerning is that one of the Northern Beaches largest high schools is opposite the NBT construction site, and this poses a high risk to the students of that school.

The construction in flat Rock gully will destroy the valuable and irreplaceable natural environment. The area is used daily by residents and is an important part of the character of Willoughby. Construction should be taking place on already developed parcels of land nearby. The environmental impact of these works is being ignored for monetary savings by developers and that is an irresponsible and negligent action that the government is condoning.

I object to the Northern Beaches Tunnel on the following grounds.

1. There are serious risks posed by the unfiltered exhaust stack. The proposed Balgowlah unfiltered smoke stack is located less than 500m from a number of schools and day care centres, including NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus, Seaforth Public School, St Cecilias Primary School, North Balgowlah Public School and Punchinello Kindergarten. Concerningly, despite being just 300m from the exhaust stack, NBSC Balgowlah Boys Campus was not included as a community receptor for modelling. The Balgowlah exhaust stack is particularly problematic as it is located at a low point in the valley, meaning exhaust emissions will be distributed over homes and schools on the hills around it. Emissions could potentially impact a large area of homes and businesses including Stockland Balgowlah, Ellery Pde Seaforth, Woodbine St North Balgowlah and Maretimo St Balgowlah. Thousands of residents, including those already vulnerable with respiratory issues, are at risk of be exposed to increased pollution levels. Globally sourced evidence proves that the levels of airborne toxins from other similar tunnel projects greatly exceed recommended health levels. Japan and Norway are global frontrunners in tunnel design and development, their exhaust stacks are universally filtered.

2. The absolute ruination of local nature areas. These areas are homes to flora and fauna, as well as recreation areas beloved by residents - Burnt Bridge Creek will be severely impacted, Balgowlah Golf Course removed, beautiful Manly Dam will suffer unimaginable damage. The proposed dredging of Middle Harbour and the subsequent release of toxins into the harbour will travel to nearby recreation spots such as Clontarf reserve according to the EIS report.

3. Seven long, loud, filthy and careless years of construction - The Balgowlah Golf Course and Kirkwood St, Seaforth will be the main locations for the construction site. The EIS report states that there will be over 3000 vehicles entering and exiting every day of construction, which equates to 1 large truck every minute. As a result there will be heavy diesel exhaust, idling trucks, traffic queues, noise and increased danger to other traffic and pedestrians. The main intersection around the site is already extremely busy so the potential for incredibly heavy daily delays is high. Site workers will arrive in the early hours and need parking for their own vehicles, potentially on local streets and residents have no authority to stop them.

4. Impacts of tunnelling - The EIS have assessed that 853 properties in Seaforth / Clontarf will experience noise from tunnelling, and 325 properties in Seaforth/Clontarf will experience vibrations. Residents on similar tunnelling projects in Sydney have experienced this. At a site in Carrington St, North Strathfield, many residents suffered severe cracking in their homes from tunnelling 40 metres below them, and had difficulties ensuring contractors and the government accepted responsibility for extensive repairs.

5. The danger of new rat-runs - Changes to traffic patterns as a result of the Beaches Link tunnel are projected to significantly increase delays on local roads and intersections including Condamine St at Manly Vale / Balgowlah, Sydney Rd and Warringah Rd / Wakehurst Parkway, despite recent road upgrades. These delays will encourage rat-runs on smaller local streets, increasing travel times and making local streets more dangerous.

My main objection to this project is the utter lack of regard for existing residents and citizens of the Balgowlah, Manly Vale, Clontarf and Seaforth areas who are looking down the barrel of seven years of misery, increased traffic, increased pollution, decreased recreation areas and little benefit from the tunnel itself, given the location of the entry/exit. There has not been anywhere near enough investigation of other transport solutions, especially that of improving public transport to the beaches. Instead buses have recently been taken away from our area, forcing more cars onto the road. Call me cynical but increasing traffic congestion at the same time a project such as this is proposed, does not seem like an accident.

I strongly urge for this project to be delayed until other less disruptive viable solutions are properly investigated. I also believe that these tunnels are being built simply to on sell to a toll operator at a loss and will only encourage more traffic on the roads. Is this really what we want for our beautiful city, and our gorgeous Northern Beaches?

Bec Christensen

Improved public transport, with parking nodes at key joining points, is what is needed , not more multi-billion dollar predominantly private vehicle roads and tunnels, which will only in the short-medium term become filled and ultimately jammed with the more and more cars being registered. It's a no-win vicious circle. When will planners recognise cities have defined areas so the roads they build will just get filled up again with expanding populations of people and vehicles. In the long term, these mega projects will become white elephants as the population moves away from private vehicle ownership. We did it in 2000 with the Olympics, we can do it 20 years later--shift us to public transport. These billions of dollars are needed elsewhere: health care workers wages, affordable housing, early education.

The project as currently conceived contradicts the policies of the NSW Government and undermines the safety and amenity of bike riders, local people and the wider community. We have provided recommendations to improve the project and to ensure this once-in-a-generation investment delivers for the people of NSW

I support the project. There is an urgent need to reduce traffic congestion on Spit Bridge and Military Road, as well on Warringah Road and Roseville Bridge. Without the Beaches Link project, traffic will become impossible as population on the Northern Beaches continues to increase. This project is a way to resolve the situation. There are concerns about air pollution at the exhaust outlets and concerns about bush destruction on Flat Rock Drive, but these will be no doubt be fixed over time. It would have been better to have a rail-based tunnel but I accept that the topography makes this impossible.

My submission is as an attachment (as it exceeds 10,000 character)

My objections relate to a number of issues but I feel most strongly about the following:-

Air quality safety this relates to the general increase across the county in illnesses close to this sort of mass long term build.
My particular concerns are with the close proximity to schools - these kids are developing in their organs still this is why we discourage smoking and drinking at these young ages it is our responsibility as elder to do what ever we can to protect them they should be protected - This is a residential area there are countless kinder gardens and 3 schools in this basin. I can not image how anyone would think this is ok these kids are our future we shouldn't be focused on $ but sadly we are more and more lets not make this another case of "more at the cost of health and no foresight"

Driving time basically it takes me 35 mins to drive to the city in peak hour from Balgowlah how is this going to save me 30mins have you invented a teleportation device in which case why do we need these?
I can poke holes in your responses I implore you to keep the conversation open and your ears open Thankyou