Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link

Latest News

On 26 July 2018 the State Government released the proposed reference design for the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link. The

Project Updates - July 2018 and reproposed reference design map

provide details of where the one/off ramps, ventilation stacks and work sites will be located.

Western Harbour Tunnel Project Update - July 2018 (7MB)

Beaches Links Project Update - July 2018 (7MB)

Hard copies of the Projects Updates - July 2018 are available from Council’s Customer Service Centre and Stanton Library.

Roads and Maritime (RMS) has commenced community engagement on the reference design. This will include a series of community feedback sessions, shopping centre displays, workshops and meetings with community groups, including schools and sporting clubs. This page will be updated in due course with more information about the consultation opportunities.

To find out more about the project, or to have your say contact RMS on tel: 1800 931 189, email: [email protected] or visit: www.rms.nsw.gov.au/whtbl

Project Status

On 16 March 2017, the NSW Government announced a preferred route for the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link, the start of geological drilling, notifications of property owners and the commencement of a consultation process for the delivery of two proposed projects:

Beaches Link tunnel will connect to the Warringah Freeway, cross under Middle Harbour connecting with the Burnt Bridge Creek Deviation at Balgowlah. The Wakehurst Parkway will be upgraded to two lanes each way between Seaforth and French's Forest.

The Western Harbour Tunnel will connect to WestConnex at the Rozelle Interchange, cross underneath Sydney Harbour between the Birchgrove and Waverton areas and connect with the Warringah Freeway at North Sydney.

Preliminary plans indicated a surface interchange in the vicinity of the Warringah Freeway and Falcon Street/Military Road.

Investigative works commenced in May 2017, with up to 235 borehole sites tested along the preferred route. Further field included traffic analysis, noise and air quality monitoring, and flora, fauna and marine ecology studies.  

In late 2017, RMS advised that it lodged an application with the Department of Planning and Environment (DP&E) for the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link project to be considered State Significant Infrastructure (SSI) by lodging a State Significant Infrastructure Application (SSIA).

The DP&E issued Secretary’s Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs) for the project. The SEARs establish the subject matter that must be addressed and responded to in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

On 26 July 2018 the proposed reference design for the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link was released. Roads and Maritime (RMS) has commenced community engagement on the reference design.

Council Position

On 30 April 2018 the Council resolved (Min. No. 100) to withdraw its opposition to the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link and to work constructively with the State Government to negotiate outcomes from the project including the location of any interchange and filtration stacks and improved community infrastructure. Council resolved to take the following actions:

THAT Council withdraw its opposition to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link. THAT Council writes to the Minister for Transport to clarify the status of the project. THAT Council seeks to work constructively with the State Government to negotiate outcomes from the project including the location of any interchange, the location of filtration stacks and improved community infrastructure in exchange for the disruption that the project will create. THAT Council gives in principle support for purchasing and installing Aeroqual (or equivalent) air quality monitoring equipment at locations likely to be affected by ventilation stacks proposed in conjunction with the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link such as near St Leonards Park and near any school likely to be affected. THAT a report come back to Council’s May meeting outlining all associated costs, suitable locations near proposed stacks, and the preferred supplier. THAT the Mayor and Deputy Mayor seek a meeting with the Premier Gladys Berejiklian to discuss the growing community concerns relating to the proposed ventilation stacks near Anzac Park School and Wenona School. THAT Council request a Briefing from the Chief Health Officer regarding the planning implications for the Tunnel. THAT the information, including real time monitoring data and reports, from air quality monitoring installed be made available to the community, including the Precinct System.

On 22 May 2017 Council resolved (Min No 142):

THAT Council seek a meeting with the Premier to reinforce Council’s view that a holistic transport plan be developed for northern Sydney. THAT Council ask the Premier to release detailed plans of the proposal, including details of which properties are to be acquired and what, if any, parks or other open space will be affected by the proposal. THAT Council ask the Premier to halt the project until meaningful community consultation about the whole project is undertaken and before any expressions of interest or tenders are let or contracts signed. THAT Council coordinate a community campaign and prepare a submission to the State Government supported by any additional expert reports on traffic, planning, impacts of pollution and air quality, noise and community attitudes collated via community engagement including focus groups in respect of the proposed tunnel in the context of the proposed B-Line and transport infrastructure and traffic flows in the North Sydney LGA. THAT Council allocate funds to the campaign. THAT any interested Councillor be permitted to observe any focus groups held. THAT the community engagement portion of the submission be completed and reported to the July Council meeting. THAT Council’s website include a reference to this project on the front page and that Council establish an email subscription facility to inform and update interested community members and all Precinct Committees. THAT Council refer this resolution to Mosman Council and invite Mosman Council to work with Council in relation to all of the matters outlined above. THAT this resolution be referred to Lane Cove and Willoughby Councils.

Council further resolved on 22 May 2017 (Min No 143): 

     21. THAT Council specifically include the B-Line as part of its community campaign in respect of the proposed Western Harbour Tunnel.    

MM03 North West Harbour Tunnel (76KB)

Council Letter to the Parliamentary Secretary to the Premier and Treasurer (114KB)

Council's Position - information sheet (2MB)

Background Information - presentation slides  (2MB)

On 1 May 2017, Council resolved (Min No 137) to write to the Premier; the Minister for Transport; the Minister for Roads, Maritime and Freight; the Member for North Shore; the Greater Sydney Commission and Infrastructure Australia expressing its concerns regarding the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link projects, and recommend that work on both projects be suspended until the Greater Sydney Commission, in collaboration with Transport for NSW, undertake a robust options assessment that considers all possible solutions to the transport problems afflicting the Northern Beaches and the flow on effects on the Lower North Shore. That the letter includes a submission that the Government undertake a formal options assessment to address a holistic transport plan for the capacity issues from the Northern Beaches through to the Harbour Bridge.

CiS08 Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link (946KB)

Council Letter to the Premier and Ministers responding to 1 May resolution (89KB)

Earlier Consultation A Public Meeting was held on 26 July 2017. Approximately 300 people attended and some press. The meeting was facilitated by Professor Roberta Ryan and Margaret Harvie.

Council Position & Project Background presentation (656KB)

Dr Michelle Zeibots - transport planner presentation (4MB)

Council resolved 22 May 2017 to consult the community to ascertain attitudes regarding several State Government transport proposals. In particular, the Council wants to hear the community's attitudes towards the planned Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link project, to inform the development of our submission to the State Government, which will present Council's vision for integrated transport within the North Sydney local government area.

Council conducted community consultation June-July 2017, using the following methods:

Survey Submissions Mapping Tool - pin point issues/concerns online Focus Groups - a mix of randomly recruited and self-nominated residents participated in these sessions to ensure representation of a broad cross-section of the North Sydney community’s views.

The feedback was analysed by Council's appointed external consultant Straight Talk. The outcomes report was presented to the 24 July 2017 Council meeting.  

For more information email [email protected] or call Council on 9936 8463.

Community Meetings 

A number of Precinct Committees have jointly held community information sessions:

Session 1 - July 2017 Session 2 - October 2017 Session 3 - March 2018

A report was submitted to Council at its meeting on 30 October 2017 regarding three recent Precinct meetings with the NSW Government about transport infrastructure projects.

Council resolved:

1. THAT the Q&A session transcripts from all the meetings, once finalised with TfNSW and RMS, be circulated and/or published to all stakeholders.

2. THAT Council accept and follow up on the RMS offer (arising from the 12 October 2017 meeting) to present again at a precinct/community meeting with their air quality expert in response to their key “take away”, that exhaust fumes/stack ventilation/air quality remains a major community concern.

3. THAT Council write to the State Government asking for a moratorium on all infrastructure works relating to the B-Line that have been proposed to take place in Cremorne and Neutral Bay for six months in order to undertake a trial of the B-Line bus service to collect real-time data and that such a trial not take place over the Christmas/ New Year period.

4. THAT Council write to the Member for North Shore requesting a copy of her correspondence to the Minister for Transport in relation to the B-Line.

5. THAT Council thank Council staff and in particular Jenny Gleeson, for organising the public meetings that have been held over the past 4-6 weeks in relation to the Western Harbour Tunnel and Beaches Link and the B-Line.

CiS11: Special Precinct Meetings - Transport Infrastructure Related Projects (275KB)

Back to Listing