MOD 3 - ventilation outlet limit

See my attachment

The change will severely compromise the health of all the residents, school children & the elderlys in the ages care facilities in the area!!!

I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

TO:
Director – Transport Assessments
MAJOR PROJECTS TEAM,
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Application Number: SSI 6136 MOD3
GPO Box 39,
SYDNEY NSW 2001
Please find below my submission in response to - EXHIBITION OF STATE SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE MODIFICATION REQUEST NORTHCONNEX(M1-M2) PROJECT- MODIFICATION- SS6136 MOD 3
Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.
We have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:
1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.
2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.
To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

My children are studying in 2 private school of Wahroonga. and I clearly want to make my objection to this request for modification of VOC (Volatile organic compounds) levels; I highly demand for filtration of the tunnel emissions from the Wahroonga ventilation stack.As I am very worry of all children's health in the local schools. My support in this matter is vital to mitigate the health risks posed by NorthConnex and ensure clean and unpolluted air for our local community.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

Melissa Lyon

Please find below my submission in response to - EXHIBITION OF STATE SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE MODIFICATION REQUEST NORTHCONNEX(M1-M2) PROJECT- MODIFICATION- SS6136 MOD 3

Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years


Dr Vivienne Hung,
I am a GP working in Macquarie Park with a 6 year old daughter attending Abbotsleigh Junior School.

Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

Your signature
Julie Leung

Dear Sir / Madam,

I would like to state that our family STRONGLY OBJECTS to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval e-11-Ventilation Outlets - Limits ie; to modify the approved Volatile Orhanic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3.

We have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:
1. The inceased level of VOC from 1-4 mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.
2. We are highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that show the impacts if air pollutants are serious. These included increased death from heart diseases, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research shows low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. The studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat, and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say there is NO SAFE LEVEL!

To address our concerns we request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to significant health concerns that wil occur in the community, particularly to our children, I request the department of planning does NOT approve the proposal modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

Why would you want to risk lives, particularly children's lives, for the sake of saving a few dollars to install proper ventilation systems???? I have had a child with cancer and trust me you do not want to go through this or any other long term disease(s), particularly if they can be prevented with simple measures. Be sensible and put the preventative filtering and tolerance measures in place!

I have not made any political donations in the previous 2 years.

Kind regards,

Maria Rundell

Dear Sir/Madam,

Here’s why I'm objecting to this modification (to increase the emission rate limit by 300% from 1mg/m³ to 4mg/m³.

1. The original emission rate limit as 1mg/m³ should be kept therefore any abnormal emission would trigger a notification for the proper handling. We should keep the normal emission rate limit as low as possible instead of allowing a spike limit to be used a daily basis one.

2. Install more air (pollution) monitor stations and collect as much data as possible. This is the proper way to have enough data to confirm if the tunnel has no impact to the local environment.
It’s the truth that the real data always beats any prediction which got calculated on paper. We need the real data for understanding if there is an impact or not.
Currently, the situation is:
-- NO air pollution monitors located in circle of 0.25km radius
-- NO air pollution monitors located in circle of 0.5km radius
-- NO air pollution monitors located on the east side of the NorthConnex in Wahroonga area
-- NO air pollution monitors located close to those two public schools:
WPS (Waitara Public School ~500m circle, and Wahroonga Public School ~1.25km circle)

3. Increase the stack to the appropriate height. The current stack height is planned as ~26m only. The height as 26m is far less than the Australia standard (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-12/documents/62.7-2017.pdf ):
"Good Engineering Practice" (GEP) Stack Test Height - The greater of:
1. 65 meters, measured from the ground-level elevation of the base of the stack;
2. Hg = H + 1. 5 L,
where Hg = good engineering practice height, measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack,
H = height of nearby structure(s) measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack,
L = lesser dimension, height or projected width of nearby structure(s)
The Department or EPA may require the use of a field study or fluid model to verify GEP stack height for the source

4. Install filters into the stack to reduce the emission
Different tunnels are with different scenarios. The excuse like "other tunnels like the Sydney Harbor Tunnel doesn't have filters" should NEVER be used as an official reason for Northconnex not to use filters in the stack.
We no longer live in 1990’s. We should stay tuned with the modern design trends.

What would be your advice if you live within the 500m radius of the NorthConnex north stack?

Thanks.
Jack

FROM:
Deepa Pillay

TO:

Director – Transport Assessments
MAJOR PROJECTS TEAM,
NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment
Application Number: SSI 6136 MOD3
GPO Box 39,
SYDNEY NSW 2001

Please find below my submission in response to - EXHIBITION OF STATE SIGNIFICANT INFRASTRUCTURE MODIFICATION REQUEST NORTHCONNEX(M1-M2) PROJECT- MODIFICATION- SS6136 MOD 3

Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

Deepa Pillay

Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The emissions from the northern ventilation stack will be in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes. There are no safe levels of emissions. The modification request indicates that the increase is required for exceptional occasions only, e.g. when a breakdown occurs and traffic comes to a standstill, but how will this be monitored - this is a 400% increase in the definition of ‘acceptable’.

2. I am highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve the proposed modifications.
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

Emma K Gow

The increase of limit from 1mg/m^3 to 4mg/m^3 is described in a rough and unprofessional way.

Although it is mentioned in the provided document as email exchanges that it is for the need when dealing with temporary situations in the tunnel, but there is no regulation or due operation described on how to handle it in practice without affecting the nearby residence and schools.

In such situation, there should at least warnings sent to local people and schools (for suggestions of activities), and also official guarantee of the best effort in reducing the time.

We believe this is the least that should be added in the proposal.

Firstly I would like to state that I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I have a high level of concern regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am/are highly concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOC's, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOC's and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my our concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.

I have not made any political donations in the previous two years

Your signature
Ellie Yang

Dear Sir/Madam,

Here I'm commenting to object this modification (to increase emission rate limit by 300% to 4mg/m3. The reason are:
1. Keep the original emission rate limit 1mg/m3 unchanged, so that any abnormal emission can be exposed and trigger a notification for proper handling
I don't think a emission rate limit is used to allow a spike (meaning occasional incident).

2. Install more pollution monitor stations, and collect as much as we can so that, in the future, we have data to verify if the tunnel has no impact on our environment
This is very important, because we should NOT depends on our engineering prediction (calculated on paper) without monitoring the real pollution.
Currently, there is
-- NO pollution monitor in circle of 0.25km radius
-- NO pollution monitor in circle of 0.5km radius
-- NO pollution monitor on the east side of the NorthConnex in Wahroonga area
-- NO pollution monitor close to those two WPS (Waitara Public School ~500m circle, and Wahroonga Public School ~1.25km circle)

3. Increase the stack to appropriate height; current stack height is ~26m only
I doubt the 26m height is higher than the buildings close to the stack. E.g. Waitara Public School, which has ~960 students, is on the top of the mountain just ~ 500m away. I think the top of the stack isn't higher than WPS's location.
According to an Australia standard(https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-12/documents/62.7-2017.pdf ):
"Good Engineering Practice" (GEP) Stack Test Height - The greater of:
1. 65 meters, measured from the ground-level elevation of the base of the stack;
2. Hg = H + 1. 5 L,
where Hg = good engineering practice height, measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack,
H = height of nearby structure(s) measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack,
L = lesser dimension, height or projected width of nearby structure(s)
The Department or EPA may require the use of a field study or fluid model to verify GEP stack height for the source

4. Install filter into stack, to actually reduce the emission
First, existing use case like "other tunnel like the Sydney Harbor Tunnel doesn't use filter" should NOT be used as a reason for Northconnex not to use filter in stack. Every tunnel has its special situation; they are independent. Even we say the "Sydney Harbor tunnel" is a okay not to use filter, I do think the following reasons which makes it okay:
1) It's much shorter, and its depth is much less than NorthConnex
2) There are far fewer trucks passing the "Sydney Harbor Tunnel"; most of them are general sedans/cars. While NorthConnex is built for heavy trucks
3) when "Harbor Bridge Tunnel" was built, it was not designed for today's high traffic per day
In short, it's not an excuse to refer to the "Sydney Harbor Tunnel" as the reason for no filter in stack

In short, I don't think 1) it's a good idea to increase the emission rate limit 2) we need more actions to improve the air quality.
What would be your advice, if you live here within 500m scope of the NorthConnex north stack? Appreciate your time and advice!

On behalf of my family, especially my children attending schools local to the ventilation outlet, we strongly object to this modification request. The reasons for this objection are as follows:

A) The project has been approved by the Minister with ventilation stack outlet pollutant discharge limits for Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) of 1mg/m3. Since it is well documented and researched that VOC exposure is carcinogenic to humans (I refer to the NSW Govt Chief Scientist's Initial report on Tunnel Air Quality and the International Agency for Research on Cancer), it is abhorrent that a 400% increase in allowable carcinogenic pollutant discharge be even contemplated. Do not allow it.

B) Whilst I see that NSW Health defers to the EPA on guidance on this matter, who rely on AECOM's findings about potential pollution impacts, the study was funded by NorthConnex who have a vested interest in seeing the project go through. This seems like a conflict of interest.

Asthma, just one of many respiratory and cardiovascular diseases caused or exacerbated by traffic related air pollution such as VOCs, has high cost to the community, and high direct costs to NSW Health. From the National Asthma Strategy 2018 and Deloitte Access Economics' 2015 report, The Hidden Costs of Asthma, I estimate NSW Health spends $100M or more per year on asthma. Per Year! Asthma has long term effects, and allowing an increased level of concentrated pollutants in close proximity to vulnerable populations (many school students in the vicinity) will no doubt increase the costs directly to NSW Health, and to my family as a taxpayers. This is only part of the community cost of asthma and other adverse health impacts of concentrated pollutant discharge in community areas.

For my children, and all the other children attending schools in the vicinity of this ventilation stack, it is unconscionable for NSW Planning to contemplate allowing the potential to impair lung development in children which persists later into life and increase risk of heart disease and cancers, adding cost to NSW Health and the community.

C) The Premier of NSW leads a government promoting key policy priorities of: a strong economy, highest quality education, well connected communities with quality local environments, putting customer at the centre of everything we do. Do not approve this modification request because:
- adding a health cost drag to NSW Health and the community does not promote a strong economy;
- highest quality education includes doing so without placing our children in avoidable health damaging environments;
- allowing increased pollutant discharge does not provide quality local environments;
- your customers do not want higher levels of pollution to be permitted.

Again, we strongly object to this modification request. It would not align with the stated goals of the government or community expectations of reducing harmful pollutants especially in concentrated form over vulnerable groups.

I don't want to support this, as it will give harm for the people living in the area, please add more protect facliities.

Dear Sir/Madam,

Here’s why I'm objecting to this modification (to increase the emission rate limit by 300% from 1mg/m³ to 4mg/m³.

1. The original emission rate limit as 1mg/m³ should be kept therefore any abnormal emission would trigger a notification for the proper handling. We should keep the normal emission rate limit as low as possible instead of allowing a spike limit to be used a daily basis one.

2. Install more air (pollution) monitor stations and collect as much data as possible. This is the proper way to have enough data to confirm if the tunnel has no impact to the local environment.
It’s the truth that the real data always beats any prediction which got calculated on paper. We need the real data for understanding if there is an impact or not.
Currently, the situation is:
-- NO air pollution monitors located in circle of 0.25km radius
-- NO air pollution monitors located in circle of 0.5km radius
-- NO air pollution monitors located on the east side of the NorthConnex in Wahroonga area
-- NO air pollution monitors located close to those two public schools and some private schools, pre-schools, childcare centres:
(such as Waitara Public School ~500m circle, Wahroonga Public School ~1.25km circle, Wahroonga)

3. Increase the stack to the appropriate height. The current stack height is planned as ~26m only. The height as 26m is far less than the Australia standard (https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2017-12/documents/62.7-2017.pdf ):
"Good Engineering Practice" (GEP) Stack Test Height - The greater of:
1. 65 meters, measured from the ground-level elevation of the base of the stack;
2. Hg = H + 1. 5 L,
where Hg = good engineering practice height, measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack,
H = height of nearby structure(s) measured from the ground-level elevation at the base of the stack,
L = lesser dimension, height or projected width of nearby structure(s)
The Department or EPA may require the use of a field study or fluid model to verify GEP stack height for the source

4. Install filters into the stack to reduce the emission
Different tunnels are with different scenarios. The excuse like "other tunnels like the Sydney Harbor Tunnel doesn't have filters" should NEVER be used as an official reason for Northconnex not to use filters in the stack.
We no longer live in 1990’s. We should stay tuned with the modern design trends. I also suggest to install filters to old tunnels to improve the environment of NSW.

Thanks.
Resident of Waitara

The stack does not have a filter or higher enough to avoid the bad chemical from the tunnel.

I OBJECT to the modification request by RMS to amend condition of approval E-11- Ventilation Outlets-Limits. That is to modify the approved Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) limit from 1mg/m3 to 4 mg/m3.

I am very concerned regarding the following issues:

1. The increased level of VOC's from 1mg/m3 to 4mg/m3 will increase the concentrations of emissions from the northern ventilation stack in a densely populated residential area in Wahroonga, where 9,300 school children will be exposed, as well as multiple aged care facilities, hospitals, businesses and homes.

2. I am very concerned about the multiple large scale research studies that suggest the impacts of air pollutants on health are serious. These include increased death from heart disease, increased risks of lung cancer, stroke, poor lung growth in children, increased asthma, and recent research suggesting low birth weight for pregnant women, increased autism, and congenital heart defects. These studies confirm air pollutants have prothrombotic and inflammatory effects on humans which cause the above health problems. Specifically, many of the VOCs, including benzene and formaldehyde from vehicle exhaust, are classified as Group 1 carcinogens to humans (IARC 2009). When VOCs and NOx react in the presence of sunlight, ozone is formed. In the short term, exposure to ozone can result in reduced lung function and exacerbation of asthma and chronic respiratory diseases, as well as irritation and inflammation of eyes, nose, throat and lower airways. In the long term, as well as causing cancer, there is a growing body of evidence to support that exposure to ozone increases death from respiratory and cardiovascular causes. There is currently inconsistent evidence to indicate there is a threshold below which exposure to ozone is not associated with adverse health effects. That is to say, there is NO SAFE LEVEL.

To address my concerns I request that the following actions are undertaken:
1. Due to the significant health concerns that will occur in the community, I request the department of planning does not approve of the proposed modifications
2. That the ventilation outlet emissions are filtered before release into the air, as per Recommendation 13 in the December 2018 NSW Parliament Legislative Council Public Accountability Committee Report on the Impact of the WestConnex Project.