Community invited to share feedback on Sydney’s third harbour crossing
The Western Harbour Tunnel project is charging ahead with its proposed new plans to tunnel under Sydney Harbour.
The Modification Report proposes a major change to the construction technique used to cross the harbour.
A Transport for NSW (Transport) spokesperson said the proposed use of Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs), was a positive change to the approved project and provided many benefits for the environment and local communities.
“The change proposed is the use of TBMs to dig the tunnel under Sydney Harbour, which is a different technique to the approved Immersed Tube Tunnel (IMT),” the spokesperson said.
“Using TBMs provides substantial environmental and social benefits, by tunneling deep under the harbour seabed, removing the need for dredging which will reduce the impact to the marine ecology and nearby communities.
“It will also see the removal of the cofferdams on Sydney Harbour, some changes to a temporary construction site at North Sydney and a new construction support site at Emu Plains to fabricate concrete segments for the tunnel lining.
“The local manufacturing of these concrete segments is a great win for the people of NSW, generating local employment opportunities.
“The use of TBMs will be a positive outcome for many reasons. It will reduce the number of construction sites needed, it will minimise impacts on the harbour and best of all it allows us to bring forward the delivery of the parkland at Berrys Bay, which will be an asset to the community.”
A Transport spokesperson said the changes in construction require a modification to the project’s original approval, which was received in January 2021.
“The community is now invited to view the plans in detail and provide a submission via the NSW Department of Planning and Environment website,” the spokesperson said.
The Modification Report is now on public display. To read the Report and make a submission, please visit: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/modification-2-construction-method-change-tbm.
Dates and times for the upcoming community information drop-in sessions are available on the project website: nswroads.work/whtportal
All submissions must be received by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment by 15 August 2023.