May 2023 - Picton Wastewater Scheme connections

Sydney Water provides wastewater services to Picton, Tahmoor, Thirlmere, Bargo and Buxton, as part of the Picton Wastewater Scheme.

As communities in the Picton area continue to grow, wastewater flows to the Picton Water Resource Recovery Facility have increased, exceeding the capacity at our farm to reuse all the recycled water we produce. This impacts our ability to allow new wastewater connections to the Picton Wastewater Scheme for housing and growth.

We’ve been working on a plan to expand and upgrade the Picton Wastewater Scheme and manage the excess recycled water we produce at the Picton Facility. This includes consulting with the EPA and Wollondilly Shire Council to identify options that:

• could service growth
• are cost-effective
• maintain local waterway health.

Wastewater connection criteria and requirements

In May 2023, the EPA approved Sydney Water’s Licence Variation for its Environment Protection Licence (with new conditions), for the Picton Water Resource Recovery Facility.

Until the required improvements are completed at the Picton Water Resource Recovery Facility, proposed developments will only be able to connect to the Picton Wastewater Scheme that meet the required criteria.

The criteria, timing and our approach for new wastewater connections within the Picton Scheme will need to be in line with requirements set by the EPA for how we operate the Picton Water Resource Recovery Facility and any infrastructure that needs to be built.

We are working together with Wollondilly Shire Council to ensure that development applications are assessed as efficiently as possible, and meet the criteria and requirements for new wastewater connections.