Northern beaches tunnel causing concern for would-be home buyers

HOMEBUYERS are nervous about the Seaforth and Balgowlah property market with fears around the location of ventilation stacks and uncertainty over the exact route of the Beaches Link tunnel.

Locals say they are in limbo waiting for answers on the Beaches Link Tunnel. Picture: Tara Croser.

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HOMEBUYERS  are nervous about the Seaforth and Balgowlah property market with fears around the location of ventilation stacks and uncertainty over the exact route of the Beaches Link tunnel.

Meanwhile, existing residents say they are “in limbo” over the lack of information available with several public meetings being held near Seaforth and Balgowlah public schools.

Stone Real Estate Seaforth’s Maria Cassarino told the Manly Daily buyers had shied away from three separate properties in the area within the last month, all due to the tunnel.

The housing market in Seaforth and Balgowlah has slowed.

“All three properties have now sold, but it took longer than we would have hoped and (sold) at the lower end of what was expected,” she said.

President of the NSW Real Estate Institute John Cunningham confirmed that unknown elements of the tunnel had created a negative atmosphere.

However, Mr Cunningham, the managing director of Cunningham’s Property in Balgowlah, urged would-be sellers to hold off until they had all the facts.

“We don’t know where they (tunnel and ventilation stacks) are going,” he said. “You are better off not selling, unless you have to, until we know more.”

Matt Brady, principal of Belle Property Seaforth also said the lack of information meant a lot of people were “sitting in limbo”.

Mr Brady urged the Roads and Maritime Service to provide more details.

“The mystery can sometimes be worse than the ­reality. It is unknown where everything is going,” he said “I think it is unfair. At least let people know whether they are going to be acquired so they can plan their lives.”

Manly state Liberal MP James Griffin defended his Government, saying he had been in contact with concerned residents, including through more than 30 face-to-face meetings.

John Cunningham, Real Estate Institute NSW President.

Resident Kerrie ­Cassie said she had put her life on hold, stalling renovations and lifestyle changes in fear of how the suburb could change.

Ms Cassie, who lives ­opposite Seaforth Public, School has attended several meetings held by community members doing their own research.

“People are a bit scared because we don’t know anything,” she said. “There is a mishmash of information flying around.”

Western harbour beaches link tunnel concept map.

She said her life was “in limbo” until plans were outlined by the Roads and Maritime Service.

“I am not going to spend a lot of money making my house better if it is going to be next to a tunnel entrance but I don’t want to do nothing for the next five years until they figure out what they’re doing,” she said.

Greens candidate for the Northern Beaches Council Madeleine Charles attended a tunnel meeting on ­Sunday and said the community felt it was being kept in the dark.

“There was definitely a lot of frustration,” she said. “People are calling for the tunnel to be stopped, others want to be involved.”

Former Warringah mayor Michael Regan attended a meeting at Balgowlah North last week.

“The biggest problem is they (residents) feel like they are going to find out the details of the tunnel when it is all too late and that the RMS will ­present a fait accompli,” Mr Regan said.

A spokesman for the RMS said no decision on the route or location of ventilation had been made.

“The project is at the concept design stage with extensive testing, design work and community consultation being carried out for the next 12 months,” he said. “RMS has held 16 community feedback sessions which were attended by more than 2000 people.

“This is in addition to the more than 322,000 flyers circulated throughout the community, the 12 pop-up displays at local shopping centres and numerous meetings.”