Beaches Link tunnel: noise mitigation, trees, traffic changes released after 1500+ submissions

The latest changes to plans for the Beaches Link Tunnel have been revealed including what will happen to 86 homes set for major disruption. See the fresh plans.

More than 80 homes in Sydney’s north have been earmarked for accelerated noise mitigation measures to address the sound of around-the-clock construction works on the city’s next motorway tunnel.

Laminated glass, door seals, and acoustic curtains are among the fast-tracked measures that would be offered to homeowners in Artarmon, Balgowlah and Seaforth expected to be most impacted by noise disturbances from the proposed Beaches Link Tunnel.

Updated plans for the motorway project show 86 homes across the three suburbs have been flagged for accelerated noise treatments including 28 in Seaforth, 24 in Artarmon, and 17 each in Balgowlah and North Balgowlah.

The tunnel would link the northern beaches to the north shore.

Transport for NSW said the homes were included in the list due to their proximity to an “extensive program” of night-time works outside construction hours at the Gore Hill Freeway in Artarmon, the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation and Sydney Rd in Balgowlah.

“While the project would aim to carry out work during standard construction hours where possible, work would be needed outside these hours to maintain traffic capacity on the road network and for the safety of road users and construction workers,” plans added.

The mitigation program would include replacing windows and doors, adding new acoustic rubber seals to windows and doors, sealing wall vents, and treatments for roofs and skylights.

An artist impression of entry and exit points at Artarmon.

Mechanical ventilation systems would also be on offer to maintain fresh air flow when doors and windows are sealed shut.

The noise mitigation measures were released as part of revised plans for Beaches Link project following more than 1500 submissions from residents, community groups and government agencies during consultation.

The changes include planting two trees for each tree removed during construction – an increase from the one-to-one ratio originally proposed – and completing road condition reports before any local road is used by heavy trucks and restored if damaged.

The removal of trees in Cammeray as part of the Western Harbour Tunnel project prompted backlash from residents earlier this year.

There will also be new rounds of consultation with the 1st Northbridge Sea Scout Group and 1st Sailors Bay Sea groups on management measures to address construction activity in Middle Harbour.

But critics say the updated plans have done little to address various concerns raised in consultation including traffic congestion, air pollution from unfiltered ventilation stacks and the location of construction sites at Flat Rock Reserve and the Cammeray Golf Club.

Georgina Taylor – a member of North Sydney’s registry precinct – questioned why there were various modifications aimed at maintaining BMX tracks on the northern beaches while the location of ventilation facilities on the north shore remain in place.

The tunnel will connect to the Warringah Freeway and Gore Hill Freeway.

“Pollution was one of the biggest concerns raised in consultation and there was nothing in the response in terms of how the unfiltered stacks will be managed,” she said.

“The stack in Cammeray will take the car exhaust from the Western Harbour Tunnel and the Beaches Link – it’s right next to schools and densely populated areas.

“Adding filtration is such a simple thing to do something about and the cost in scale to a $14 billion project is nothing.

“They seem to be more about maintaining tracks for mountain bikers at Wakehurst Parkway.”

John Moratelli – a member of the Willoughby Environment Protection Association group – raised concerns over lack of major changes to the use of Flat Rock Drive as a construction support site including historic contamination at the site which has been revegetated.

Environmental concerns have been raised over impacts at Flat Rock Gully.

Transport for NSW said it would develop a “Flat Rock Drive Social Value Strategy” one year before construction begins at the site as part of plans to “enhance” and rehabilitate the site once works are completed.

It said it would also work with Willoughby Council on the final form of the construction support site in consultation with residents.

Other project changes include encouraging workers to use public transport to get to work to address impacts on parking, and biodiversity awareness training for contractors.

The Beaches Link would connect to the Warringah Freeway.

Works at the Spit West construction site will include floating markers spacing out a 30m boundary for barges to follow to address impacts on Mosman Rowing Club.

In Artarmon, Transport for NSW said it would investigate reducing or offsetting the permanent loss of parking spaces during “further design development”.

Water quality monitoring in Middle Harbour will also be extended to assess dissolved oxygen, temperature, salinity, turbidity and sediment oxygen demand 12 months before construction works begin.

The list of homes eligible for fast rack noise mitigation in Artarmon include homes on Parkes Rd, Hampden Rd, Milner Rd, Barton Rd, Cleland Rd and Reserve Rd.

In Balgowlah, the list includes homes on Sydney Rd, Boronia St, Serpentine Crescent, and Whittle Ave and in Seaforth all homes are located on Hope St.

Transport for NSW said it would carry out noise treatment assessments at properties which meet the screening criteria across the full route of the tunnel once a decision on the project is determined.