Transport for NSW Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection Environmental Impact Statement

Roadheader tunnelling for M4 East

Building on land Cut and cover We will be building cut and cover tunnels when Tunnelling there is not enough rock cover to support the construction of the tunnels from underground. This We will be tunnelling using roadheaders. is generally where the tunnels come to the surface. Roadheaders are extremely powerful and advanced rock-cutting machines designed to excavate Cut and cover is a tunnelling method generally tunnels and caverns. They are almost always used involving excavating downwards from the surface for tunnelling on major road projects in of the ground, and installing a tunnel structure including the recently completed WestConnex M8, including a base, walls and a roof. Once the roof is New M4 tunnels and NorthConnex. in place, the tunnels are generally covered with fill and re-vegetated. Rock hammering and rock saws may be used in some areas for excavation of the tunnels, cross Cut and cover tunnels will be built where the passages and areas of sandstone within the cut Beaches Link tunnel: and cover and trough structures. • emerges within the , to the Controlled underground blasting may also be used, north of the Ernest Street bridge subject to confirmation during detailed design • emerges within Gore Hill Freeway, to the east construction planning. and west of Hampden Road bridge • off ramp to Reserve Road emerges from beneath Gore Hill Freeway The Beaches Link and Gore Hill • emerges within Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation, Freeway Connection Environmental to the north of Sydney Road Impact Statement (EIS) is now on • emerges within Wakehurst Parkway, to the public exhibition until midnight north of Kirkwood Street Monday 1 March 2021.

Beaches Link and Gore Hill Connection Environmental Impact Statement December 2020 Bottom-up construction

Stage 1 Stage2 Stage3 Stage4 Stage5 Install support piles Partial excavation to temporary Install temporary Excavate to floor level Remove temporary support strut level support strut (if required) and construct floor strut and install roof

Pile machinery

Roof Excavator Backfill Supporting Supporting Supporting piles strut strut Completed tunnel Floor

Top-down construction

Stage1 Stage2 Stage3 Stage4 Stage5 Install support piles Partial excavation Install roof Excavate to floor level Construct floor and complete tunnel

Pile machinery

Roof Roof Roof Excavator Supporting Backfill piles Completed tunnel Floor level Floor

Tunnelling stages

Stage 1. Excavation Stage 3. Finishing

We will be excavating road tunnels and building Following the fitout work, we will then install on ramps and off ramps. The depth of the the electrical equipment and systems within tunnels varies across the alignment (please see the tunnel and carry out the final finishing work. pages 28 and 29 for more details on indicative This includes: tunnel depths in your local area). • installing: – electrical cabling At our deepest point we will be around 108 signage and lighting metres (33 storeys) underground and will come – to the surface for the on ramps and off ramps. – ventilation, tolling, safety and control systems within the tunnel and operational Also, we will start building the permanent facilities operational facilities. – water treatment equipment • pavement work to connect to surface roads • line marking.

Stage 2. Fitout work Stage 4. Testing and commissioning

Once sections of the tunnel are excavated, we We have a strong history of designing and will commence the fitout work for the tunnels. building some of the safest tunnels in the world. This includes: We will carry out extensive testing before we • installing drainage systems open to traffic to make sure the motorway is • installing pavement safe for road users and the community. • installing barriers • construction of buildings for operational equipment • installing electrical conduits (plastic pipes for electrical cables to be pulled through), road signage.

Beaches Link and Gore Hill Connection Environmental Impact Statement December 2020 Artist’s impression of upgrade work and pedestrian and cycle path on Wakehurst Parkway

Surface roads Work will vary depending on the type of work required, but may include activities such as: We will be building some new roads and upgrading a number of existing roads as part of • traffic staging to safely carry out work on the surface road while minimising our impacts the project. on traffic The main areas of surface road work will include: • removing existing kerbs and pavement • integration work to connect the new tunnels • managing any contaminated materials into the Warringah Freeway encountered during the work • upgrade and integration work along the • relocating and protecting utilities like power Gore Hill Freeway and within the Artarmon and water industrial area • earthworks including excavation and • upgrade and integration work at Balgowlah preparing the foundations of the road by • upgrade and integration work along placing and compacting materials and rock Wakehurst Parkway, between Seaforth and • building retaining walls, noise barriers, traffic Frenchs Forest. barriers and flood walls This work also includes new and upgraded public • building and diverting drainage including transport, pedestrian and cyclist infrastructure adjusting existing and building new drains at Artarmon, Balgowlah, Killarney Heights and and pits, and installing pipes and culverts Frenchs Forest. • laying pavement, which generally includes a couple of layers of base foundations with a top of either asphalt or concrete • building fauna crossing infrastructure • carrying out finishing work (including line marking, installing signage and road furniture like lights and landscaping).

Beaches Link and Gore Hill Connection Environmental Impact Statement December 2020 Bridges Operational facilities We will be building, upgrading, modifying and We will be building permanent operational replacing a number of bridges across the project facilities for the ongoing management and including modifying the existing Reserve Road operation of the tunnel. These facilities will be bridge and Hampden Road bridge in Artarmon, located at Cammeray, Artarmon, Balgowlah, and replacing the existing pedestrian bridge Killarney Heights and Frenchs Forest. across Wakehurst Parkway south of Aquatic Drive. The facilities will include: Work will vary depending on the type of bridge being built, but may include activities such as: • a motorway control centre (Artarmon) • relocating and protecting utilities like power • tunnel ventilation systems and water • tunnel support facilities • relocating and managing traffic, pedestrian • an operational wastewater treatment plant and cyclist lanes and installing traffic and • substations. environmental controls • construction of the foundations, such as piling and pier installation • using cranes to place pre-built concrete or steel beams to form the bridge • modifying or upgrading the existing bridge structures • laying asphalt or concrete on the top of the bridge • marking lines, installing barriers, drainage and road furniture as required.

Artist’s impression of operational facilities and entry and exit points at Artarmon

BeachesTransport Link for and NSW Gore Hill Connection Environmental Impact Statement December 2020 How to make a submission

How to make an online submission You can post your submission to: Attention: Director, Transport Assessments 1. Visit DPIE’s Major Projects website at Planning & Assessment, Department of Planning planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects Industry and Environment 2. Create a user account by clicking the ‘Sign Locked Bag 5022 In’ icon in the top right of the homepage or Parramatta NSW 2124 under the ‘Services’ tab and then click the ‘Have Your Say’ link Donations and Gift Disclosure 3. When you are logged in, fnd the Anyone lodging submissions must declare Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway reportable political donations made in the previous Connection project and click the two years. To fnd out what is reportable, and ‘Make a Submission’ icon. for a disclosure form, go to planning.nsw.gov.au/ How to make a hard copy donationsandgiftdisclosure or phone 1300 305 submission 695 for a copy. You can also submit a hard copy of your Privacy submission. If you want DPIE to delete your Before making your submission, please read DPIE’s personal information before publication, please Privacy Statement at planning.nsw.gov.au/privacy make this clear at the top of your letter. or phone 1300 305 695 for a copy. You need to include: DPIE will publish your submission on its website 1. your name and address, at the top of the in accordance with their Privacy Statement. letter only 2. the name of the application and application number: SSI_8862 Submissions must be received by 3. a statement on whether you support or DPIE before midnight Monday 1 object to the proposal March 2021. 4. the reasons why you support or object to the proposal 5. a declaration of any reportable political donations made in the previous two years.

nswroads.work/blportal Visit our interactive web portal Read the EIS, fnd out more or ask our 1800 931 189 team a question. [email protected] nswroads.work/blportal Customer feedback Transport for NSW, Locked Bag 928 Our phone line is monitored 24 hours North Sydney NSW 2059 when work is taking place.

Translating and Interpreting Service

If you need an interpreter, please call the Translating and Interpreting Service (TIS National) on 131 450 and ask them to telephone Transport for NSW on 1800 931 189.

Chinese (simplified) Italian Portuguese 若您需要口译员，请拨打 131 450 致电翻 Se avete bisogno di un interprete, Se necessitar de um(a) Intérprete, por 译与口译服务处(TIS National)，并要求他 chiamate il servizio traduttori e interpreti favor, ligue para o Serviço de Tradução e 们转拨 1800 931 189致电 Transport for (TIS National) al numero 131 450 e Interpretação (TIS National), através de NSW。 chiedete di telefonare a Transport for 131 450 e peça o telefone do Transport NSW al numero 1800 931 189. for NSW, através de 1800 931 189.

Privacy Transport for NSW is collecting your personal information in connection with Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection (”the Project”). In addition to collecting your name and contact details we may collect other information such as your submissions and other communications with us. We will retain and use this information for consultation purposes, including communications and analysis in connection with the Project. We will not disclose your personal information to third parties unless authorised by law and if we include your submissions in any public report we will not identify you. Providing your personal information is voluntary but if you do not provide it we may not include you on our stakeholder database and you might miss further consultation opportunities. Your personal information will be held by us and you can contact us to access or correct it. Please write to us at either [email protected] or Transport for NSW, Locked Bag 928, North Sydney NSW 2059.

Beaches Link and Gore Hill Freeway Connection EIS December 2020