Project approvals

This portal provides information about the design and features of the M6 Stage 1. It presents key information presented in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project, in an interactive, visual and informative way to support the Department of Planning and Environment’s public exhibition process. The EIS describes the potential environmental and social impacts that may occur during construction and operation of the project, and the measures to mitigate against these impacts.

The design of the M6 Stage 1 is subject to further refinement as it progresses through the planning approval process and community engagement phase.

The M6 Stage 1 features four kilometre twin tunnels from the M8 at Arncliffe to President Avenue at Kogarah. The scope of work includes:

● Entry and exit ramps and a tunnel portal connecting to a new surface intersection at President Avenue

● Provision of underground tunnel stubs for a future connection south to extend the M6 Stage 1

● Upgrade of the President Avenue/Princes Highway intersection

● New shared cyclist and pedestrian pathways including a pedestrian bridge over President Avenue.

Roads and Maritime is seeking approval for the M6 Stage 1 as State significant infrastructure which requires assessment and approval under 5.2 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979. The Environmental Impact Statement is on public display from 7 November to 14 December for the community and stakeholders to comment on the project. A final submissions report with responses to issues raised is submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment. The report will be submitted to the NSW Department of Planning and Environment, and helps to inform the Minister for Planning’s decision on the project.

Consultation began in October 2017 with community engagement activities such as doorknocking, the distribution of community updates, pop up events at local shopping centres and briefings with key stakeholders, schools and government agencies. This feedback informed the environmental assessments on increased traffic and congestion, loss of property and green space, local air and water quality as well as noise and emissions from ventilation outlets. From June to August 2018 extensive consultation was carried out to support the release of more detailed project information and design and seek further community feedback.

Population and traffic growth in Greater Sydney places increased pressure on our transport network. The M6 Stage 1 will ease congestion on surface roads and allow users to by pass up to 23 sets of traffic lights on the Princes Highway between St Peters and Kogarah. Traffic will reduce on General Holmes Drive by around 10,000 vehicles per day, returning local streets to the local community, providing opportunities to improve the amenity around The Grand Parade and Princes Highway. Stage 1 will improve connectivity to the wider Sydney transport network.

Assessments reveal the M6 Stage 1 will deliver improved community benefits, and a direct connection to the Sydney motorway network compared with other options. A range of alternative alignments, connections and intersection options were considered. The preferred design provides a combination of benefits compared with other options including better constructability, improved access and minimal impacts on property.

Key features of the M6 Stage 1 include:

● Four kilometre twin tunnels linking the M8 at Arncliffe to President Avenue at Kogarah

● A new intersection at President Avenue with entry and exit ramps connecting the tunnel to the surface road

● The provision of underground tunnel stubs for future connection south to extend the M6 Stage 1

● An upgrade of the President Avenue/Princes Highway intersection

● A new shared cyclist and pedestrian pathways and a pedestrian bridge across President Avenue

● Motorway operation complexes at Arncliffe and Rockdale

● Reinstatement of Bicentennial Park and recreational facilities.

Construction will take around four years to complete.

The main construction sites will be located at Arncliffe (Marsh Street), President Avenue (within an area of Bicentennial Park) and Rockdale (West Botany Street).

Investigations and site establishment will occur before tunnelling and surface earthworks begin.

Permanent operational infrastructure will be built as well as drainage and water management facilities. Road pavement and finishing works will occur at the end of the project.

Standard construction hours apply from 7am to 6pm Monday to Friday and 8am to 1pm Saturday. However, some construction work such as tunnelling will continue 24 hours a day.

Construction noise will be minimised with acoustic sheds where spoil will be managed and noise barriers will be installed at site locations.

Key features of the M6 Stage 1 include:

● Four kilometre twin tunnels linking the M8 at Arncliffe to President Avenue at Kogarah

● A new intersection at President Avenue with entry and exit ramps connecting the tunnel to the surface road

● The provision of underground tunnel stubs for future connection south to extend the M6 Stage 1

● An upgrade of the President Avenue/Princes Highway intersection

● A new shared cyclist and pedestrian pathways and a pedestrian bridge across President Avenue

● Motorway operation complexes at Arncliffe and Rockdale

● Reinstatement of Bicentennial Park and recreational facilities.

During construction

A Construction Air Quality Management Plan will be implemented to minimise potential air quality impacts. This includes measures to minimise dust from stockpiles, reduce vehicle emissions and modify dust generating activities during windy weather conditions.

During operation

Analysis shows the tunnel ventilation system meets in-tunnel air quality criteria for all expected traffic scenarios.

The M6 Stage 1 ventilation outlets will require an Environmental Protection Licence issued by the NSW Environmental Protection Authority to assess ambient and outlet air quality against strict controls and criteria.

Under expected traffic conditions for the project, the predicted contribution of tunnel ventilation outlets to local air quality is negligible. Any predicted changes in concentrations were driven by changes in the traffic volumes on the modelled surface road network, not by the tunnel ventilation outlets

During construction

As the safety of workers and the public is a priority for Roads and Maritime, a Construction Environmental Management Plan will be implemented and Safe Work Method Statements employed to minimise the potential for safety incidents. The effective management of dust, odour and other emissions during construction as part of this Plan will avoid human health impacts

During operation

Assessments reveal there are no person is exposed to unacceptable levels of air pollution. No adverse health effects are expected from exposures to carbon monoxide in the local area surrounding the project. The risk of health impacts on the community due to air quality is negligible.

During construction

Residents close to each construction site will be impacted by noise, but construction work, where possible, will be limited to standard construction hours. However, during tunnelling work will continue 24 hours a day.

Residents at the Princes Highway/President Avenue intersection may experience noise impacts during night work, which is required to minimise traffic impacts and for the safety of workers and the public.

Traffic noise due to earthmoving and construction equipment, spoil haulage, collection and delivery of materials and traffic movements by construction workers is expected to be minimal.

A Construction Noise and Vibration Management Plan will be implemented and two acoustic sheds will be built to facilitate spoil haulage removal. Noise barriers will be installed at construction sites to reduce noise impacts. Roads and Maritime will work closely with local residents and stakeholders to minimise the impact of noise and vibration.

During operation

Some residents will be impacted by increased noise levels requiring additional noise mitigation measures. Impacted residents will be contacted directly to implement these measures. Within 12 months of the tunnel opening, actual operational noise will be compared to predicted noise to determine the need for additional noise mitigation or management measures.

During construction

Assessments reveal the presence of grey headed flying fox in Bicentennial Park however no green and golden bell frogs or southern myotis microbats were found during surveys.

The waterway in Bicentennial Park will be diverted leading to a temporary loss of aquatic and riparian habitat and local fish will be obstructed.

Mature trees and other vegetation will be lost, but the wetlands and vegetated area will be fully reinstated after construction.

A Flora and Fauna Management Plan will be implemented during construction

During operation

The M8 motorway Green and Golden Bell Frog Management Plan and Flora and Fauna Management Plan will continue to operate.

During construction

Impacts on Bicentennial Park include the relocation of the playground, skate park and sporting fields which will be reinstated once the project is complete. Some mature trees around President Avenue will be removed. The ventilation facility at West Botany Street will have low impacts on the views from some residential areas, parks and streets when compared with surrounding buildings.

During operation

Planting and vegetation will be similar to the surrounding wetlands and recreational open spaces. Trees will be planted along President Avenue and the wetland pond will be restored. The shared pedestrian and cycle pathway will complement the surrounding landscape while the urban design includes screens, lighting and fencing to complete a well-ordered and uncluttered profile.

The M6 Stage 1 involves the acquisition of 12 privately owned properties, the partial acquisition of three privately owned properties and extinguishment of six leases for permanent infrastructure. Some below surface land will also need to be acquired. Residual project land in Bicentennial Park will be required during construction and will be re-instated for use as parkland which includes landscaping work.

A Personal Acquisition Manager is appointed and an Acquisition Assistance Line will operate following completion of the final acquisition to provide dispute resolution and relevant services.

A Residual Land Management Plan will be prepared in consultation with local councils and key stakeholders.

The social and economic impacts include assessments of demographics, connectivity, community liveability, employment, property, traffic and transport, parking, and accessibility.

Around 3,250 jobs will be created onsite during the construction period and another 2,050 jobs will be generated off-site in each year of construction.

Over the duration of construction the project will generate around $4.3 billion of local activity.

A Community and Social Management Plan will be prepared and a Business Management Plan will address the impacts to local businesses. A Construction Ancillary Facilities Management Plan will outline how noise, dust, traffic, visual and overshadowing impacts will be reduced.

Active transport pathways will benefit pedestrians, cyclists and dog walkers in the area and local business will benefit from reduced congestion on local roads.

During construction

During excavation and construction of the cut and cover tunnel, land in Bicentennial Park that has been contaminated may be disturbed, potentially releasing landfill gases into the air causing odours. There is also a risk of soil erosion around waterways and slopes. New drainage infrastructure may be required around Cooks River, Muddy Creek and Scarborough Ponds.

A Construction, Soil and Water Management Plan and a Hazardous Building Materials Management Plan will be implemented. Construction water treatment plants will be in operation and an Acid Sulfate Management Plan will also be prepared.

During operation

Erosion may occur during the landscaping and re-establishment of vegetation at Bicentennial Park. At the tunnel portal, water may be discharged leading to impacts on water quality in the environment.

During construction

Assessments reveal that potential groundwater impacts may include reduced groundwater levels and changes to groundwater quality.

The planned groundwater monitoring program may trigger remedial action based on the results of water monitoring.

A detailed Groundwater Model will be developed to predict inflow rates and volumes within the tunnels and at ground level. A Groundwater Monitoring Program will also be implemented. A

During operation

A water treatment plant will be constructed to manage and treat groundwater from the tunnel before it is discharged.

Surface water and flooding have been assessed for impacts to surface water hydrologic and geomorphic processes, erosion of soils and banks, and changes to the flow and volume of water quality in waterways.

A Flood Management Strategy will be implemented and surface and groundwater monitoring will take place in the Rockdale wetlands prior to construction.

Ground water will be treated at the operational water treatment plant or disposed offsite if pollutants are present. Negligible impacts on water quality at Scarborough Ponds, Cooks River and Muddy Creek were recorded.

The non-Aboriginal heritage impacts include tree-clearing at the Kings Wetlands and a strip property acquisition at the Patmore Swamp during construction.

A Construction Heritage Management Plan will be prepared and implemented. The plan will detail measures to minimise impacts, such as replanting trees and procedures to manage unexpected heritage finds.

Based on the assessment of Aboriginal cultural heritage, the impacts are said to be minimal during construction. No Aboriginal sites or objects were identified in the area.

A Construction Heritage Management Plan will be prepared and implemented.

If Aboriginal objects or human remains are discovered during construction, they will be managed with the Standard Management Procedure: Unexpected Heritage Items (Roads and Maritime, 2015).

During operation

Place making and urban design will incorporate interpretive signage to highlight key resource areas or the presence of Aboriginal people.

Operational impacts such as noise, vibration or air quality are said to have a minimal impact on Aboriginal cultural heritage.

During construction

Waste will be generated during site establishment, demolition, earthworks and tunnelling when spoil from the tunnels is being excavated. Spoil reuse is a priority and can be used within the project or at other locations. Spoil haulage routes will be confined to major arterial roads and contaminated spoil will be segregated on site and disposed of at a licenced facility.

Roads and Maritime will manage waste appropriately by implementing a Waste Management Plan and Spoil Management Plan.

During operation

The tunnels will include a drainage system to capture stormwater, groundwater and any fire operation spills that will be treated and discharged to the Cooks River.

During construction

The climate change risk assessment identified direct and indirect risks such as extreme rainfall, sea level rise and storm events.

The design of mechanical and electrical systems will be energy efficient and low emission construction materials will be investigated. Locally produced goods and services will be used to reduce transport fuel emissions.

Greenhouse gas emissions targets will include using green power and other renewable energy sources as part of the Sustainability Management Plan.

During operation

It was revealed that greenhouse gas emissions from traffic volumes on the road network will be reduced due to less congestion and stop-start driving. Average speeds will increase due to the operational efficiency of the tunnels, with reduced intersections and stopping frequency.

The project is part of the Future Transport Strategy 2056 and is designed to contribute to long-term environmental, social and economic outcomes while being committed to the NSW Government’s target to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

During construction

The plan will consider whole of life environmental, social and economic factors and ensure the efficient use of energy, land and water to conserve future climate change considerations. Waste management will be treated in an environmentally-friendly manner.

Roads and Maritime will implement a Sustainability Management Plan to protect and enhance the natural environment and local heritage.

During operation

M6 Stage 1 will contribute to a more liveable local community, ease congestion and revitalise urban areas. It will provide faster connections to other communities and contribute to Sydney’s long-term transport goals while improving land use.

The project synthesis summarises the technical details and findings of the Environmental Impact Statement including a summary of the project and existing environment. It details how impacts can be minimised through the project design and outlines any uncertainties and approach to design refinements.

Key impacts and management measures are included as well as achieving performance outcomes in the SEARs. The project justifications including objects of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 are included.