Another critic, the Member for Bligh, said in a 1999 media release:
The Government's short-sighted tunnel proposal will destroy the long-term vision for a pedestrian-friendly William Street boulevard linking the city with the important tourist destinations of Kings Cross and acting as a gateway to the eastern suburbs ... Any attempt to beautify William Street is a waste of time unless traffic is removed by a tunnel and height restrictions are imposed for developments to prevent overshadowing and loss of views to Sydney and the Harbour ... Extending the tunnel under William Street will avoid the need for additional ugly tunnel portals next to the Australian Museum, with traffic from the eastern suburbs entering and exiting the tunnel from the existing Kings Cross Tunnel.
In response to public comments, the Government decided to extend the original tunnel concept to the end of William Street, on the western side of the Kings Cross Tunnel. It also decided to add a short exit tunnel coming out at SJYC in Woolloomooloo. The planning objectives for this longer tunnel reflected this expansion of the tunnel concept into Central Sydney area. It appears that this was not well understood by the public. See Exhibit 1.1B in Chapter 1.
The primary and secondary planning objectives for the project reflected community input. They were consistent throughout the EIS and Supplementary EIS. These were:
Primary objectives
■ to improve the environmental quality of Central Sydney
■ to improve ease of access and reliability of travel within Central Sydney
■ to improve the reliability and efficiency of travel between areas to east and west of Central Sydney.
Secondary objectives
■ to identify and enhance the potential beneficial effects and to identify and manage potential adverse environmental impacts
■ to achieve acceptable economic and financial outcomes.