Beaches Link: Planning Minister Rob Stokes promises it will go ahead, as anti-tunnel campaigners lose some appeal rights
The Beaches Link tunnel will go ahead, promises Planning Minister Rob Stokes, as he signs a declaration to restrict appeals to the $10 billion project, if it gets approved.
Manly
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Supporters of the proposed Beaches Link tunnel will welcome news that the toll road has been declared a critical piece of state infrastructure.
The declaration will restrict some appeal rights by objectors if the $10 billion project gets approved.
Planning Minister Rob Stokes revealed he has signed a Critical State Significant Infrastructure declaration in relation to the tunnel.
It comes as Mr Stokes confirmed on Wednesday that the Beaches Link, promised at the last two state elections, would be built.
The Minister said the government was “keen to get on with it” and that a decision on the planning application for the underground toll road could be made before April next year.
He said this current government would back up the commitments made by former Liberal premiers Mike Baird and Gladys Berejiklian that the toll road would go ahead.
“I just signed off the Critical State Significant Infrastructure declaration just last week,” Mr Stokes told 2GB’s Ben Fordham.
“We’re proceeding to be able to make that determination on the planning application in the first quarter next year.
“We’re keen to get on with it.
“It was a road that should have been built 40 years ago, but wasn’t.
“So we have to keep that faith and we have to deliver better and safer road infrastructure for people right across Sydney, including the northern beaches.”
When asked to make sure that locals would be in no doubt that the Beaches Link would go ahead Mr Stokes replied: “The government commitment has not changed.
“The government commitment remains the same as it was yesterday, the same as it was a year ago.”
The plan to build twin tunnels — connecting the Warringah Freeway at Cammeray and the Gore Hill Freeway at Artarmon to the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at Balgowlah and the Wakehurst Parkway at Seaforth – would see travel times to the city slashed.
The declaration, quite common for major building projects of this nature, means it has been deemed significant due to the size, economic value and potential impact it may have.
While it doesn’t change the approval process, if it is approved, its CSSI status will mean opponents of the tunnel will have fewer rights to appeal.
It comes as rumours were swirling last month that new NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet was considering ditching the expensive Beaches Link and ploughing the money into Western Sydney instead.
That suggestion sparked joy from anti-tunnel activists who are concerned about the environmental impact and the potential increase in traffic and congestion on the beaches.
Terry Le Roux, a Greens candidate in the upcoming council elections, is leading the anti-tunnel charge.
Last month he said many of those who have objected to the Beaches Link are concerned with air pollution, especially near schools, caused by vehicle exhaust gases drawn from the tunnels by large ventilation stacks at Seaforth and Balgowlah.
Others have voiced concerns that the tunnel would attract more cars and people into the northern beaches; noise and vibrations during construction and; potentially damage bushland and water course.
Mr Le Roux said after the Environment Impact Statement is determined, the Government will then have to create a business plan and the numbers won’t stack up.
“The pandemic has changed everything,” Mr Le Roux said.
“People are going to work smarter.
“If they need to go into the city, they won’t have to travel at peak times.”
He said the Government won’t be able to justify spending $10 billion on easing congestion on Military Rd.
“It is a financial dog for the Government,” he said.
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