Refresh Woolloomooloo

In areas of Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Potts Point both the stormwater and wastewater are collected in the same pipe. During heavy rain, there is an increase in the amount of water in the wastewater system. Parts of Woolloomooloo and Darlinghurst experience unpleasant odour during dry weather and this is partly due to the combined wastewater system.

We are separating the combined wastewater and stormwater systems in Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Potts Point. When we finish, these areas will have new pipes, the storm water flowing into Woolloomooloo Bay will be cleaner and odours significantly reduced. For more information about the project, what we're doing, the precincts where we're working, and contact information visit the Refresh Woolloomooloo page on Sydney Water's website.

This site is a forum for you to find out more about the project, raise concerns, ask questions and contribute to the conversation. This site is open to everyone and provides an opportunity for you to comment and see what other members of the community have to say.

In areas of Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Potts Point both the stormwater and wastewater are collected in the same pipe. During heavy rain, there is an increase in the amount of water in the wastewater system. Parts of Woolloomooloo and Darlinghurst experience unpleasant odour during dry weather and this is partly due to the combined wastewater system.

We are separating the combined wastewater and stormwater systems in Woolloomooloo, Darlinghurst and Potts Point. When we finish, these areas will have new pipes, the storm water flowing into Woolloomooloo Bay will be cleaner and odours significantly reduced. For more information about the project, what we're doing, the precincts where we're working, and contact information visit the Refresh Woolloomooloo page on Sydney Water's website.

This site is a forum for you to find out more about the project, raise concerns, ask questions and contribute to the conversation. This site is open to everyone and provides an opportunity for you to comment and see what other members of the community have to say.

  • Current day work schedule in the lead up to the end of 2019

    3 days ago

    Property connections will continue between Monday 9 December and Friday 20 December along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent intersection with Palmer Street
    • Kirketon Rd between Farrell Ave and Premiere Lane
    • Chapel Street between Crown St and Palmer Street
    • Stream Street

    Our work hours will be 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays if required.

    Property connections will continue between Monday 9 December and Friday 20 December along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent intersection with Palmer Street
    • Kirketon Rd between Farrell Ave and Premiere Lane
    • Chapel Street between Crown St and Palmer Street
    • Stream Street

    Our work hours will be 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday, and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays if required.

  • What does our work involve?

    almost 2 years ago

    Investigation work is ongoing and involves:

    Potholing – we need to find underground services along the existing combined pipe. We’ll be digging a series of small exploratory holes in the footpath, road and road reserve. Any disturbed areas will be temporarily restored to allow for continued use.

    Inspection plumbing – we need to inspect properties that have both wastewater and stormwater going to the combined system to see how they are connected. Inspections may include smoke testing, dye testing and CCTV.

    We may also need to do work within some properties and our community relations team will be meeting with you if you’re directly affected by our work.

    Construction will involve:

    • saw-cutting the road surface, rock breaking, digging in the road and affected driveways

    • installing new stormwater and wastewater pipes

    • separating the combined pipe and connecting affected properties to the new wastewater and stormwater pipes

    • building maintenance holes

    • some micro tunnelling under major roads

    • replacing and extending the height of vent shafts at existing locations

    • connecting the new pipes to our network

    • building four new trash traps.

    Where required, tree trimming and vegetation removal will be done by a qualified tree surgeon.

    These works will be noisy at times. We’ll have trucks on site and we’ll be saw-cutting the road, digging, and restricting street parking around work areas.

    Traffic control will ensure the safety of workers and the community during work.

    There’ll be a break in our work after we’ve installed the new pipes so we can test them. When testing is finished we’ll to return to connect the new pipes to our network.


    Investigation work is ongoing and involves:

    Potholing – we need to find underground services along the existing combined pipe. We’ll be digging a series of small exploratory holes in the footpath, road and road reserve. Any disturbed areas will be temporarily restored to allow for continued use.

    Inspection plumbing – we need to inspect properties that have both wastewater and stormwater going to the combined system to see how they are connected. Inspections may include smoke testing, dye testing and CCTV.

    We may also need to do work within some properties and our community relations team will be meeting with you if you’re directly affected by our work.

    Construction will involve:

    • saw-cutting the road surface, rock breaking, digging in the road and affected driveways

    • installing new stormwater and wastewater pipes

    • separating the combined pipe and connecting affected properties to the new wastewater and stormwater pipes

    • building maintenance holes

    • some micro tunnelling under major roads

    • replacing and extending the height of vent shafts at existing locations

    • connecting the new pipes to our network

    • building four new trash traps.

    Where required, tree trimming and vegetation removal will be done by a qualified tree surgeon.

    These works will be noisy at times. We’ll have trucks on site and we’ll be saw-cutting the road, digging, and restricting street parking around work areas.

    Traffic control will ensure the safety of workers and the community during work.

    There’ll be a break in our work after we’ve installed the new pipes so we can test them. When testing is finished we’ll to return to connect the new pipes to our network.


  • Google Maps

    about 1 year ago

    The following is a map of the Refresh Woolloomooloo project area and where we are working.

    To open in Google Maps, click the broken square on the right of the toolbar

      • where you can to zoom in and out of the map;
      • click on the pipes for more information; or
      • change the base map to satellite view.

    The following is a map of the Refresh Woolloomooloo project area and where we are working.

    To open in Google Maps, click the broken square on the right of the toolbar

      • where you can to zoom in and out of the map;
      • click on the pipes for more information; or
      • change the base map to satellite view.

  • Week Starting 1 July 2019

    6 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Monday 1 July
    - Tuesday 2 July
    - Wednesday 3 July
    - Thursday 4 July
    - Friday 5 July

    - Main laying will continue along the following streets

    • Riley Street between Liverpool Street and Burton Street

    - Monday 1 July
    - Tuesday 2 July
    - Wednesday 3 July
    - Thursday 4 July
    - Friday 5 July

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Monday 1 July
    - Tuesday 2 July
    - Wednesday 3 July
    - Thursday 4 July
    - Friday 5 July

    - Main laying will continue along the following streets

    • Riley Street between Liverpool Street and Burton Street

    - Monday 1 July
    - Tuesday 2 July
    - Wednesday 3 July
    - Thursday 4 July
    - Friday 5 July

  • Week Starting 27 May 2019

    7 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Monday 27 May
    - Tuesday 28 May

    • Liverpool Street and Riley Street intersection

    - Monday 27 May
    - Tuesday 28 May
    - Wednesday 29 May
    - Thursday 30 May
    - Friday 31 May

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Wednesday 29 May
    - Thursday 30 May

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Monday 27 May
    - Tuesday 28 May

    • Liverpool Street and Riley Street intersection

    - Monday 27 May
    - Tuesday 28 May
    - Wednesday 29 May
    - Thursday 30 May
    - Friday 31 May

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Wednesday 29 May
    - Thursday 30 May

  • Week starting 20 May 2019

    7 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Monday 20 May
    - Tuesday 21 May

    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection
    • Liverpool Street and Riley Street intersection

    - Monday 20 May
    - Friday 24 May

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Wednesday 22 May
    - Thursday 23 May

    • Riley Street between Busby Lane and William Street

    - Friday 24 May

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Monday 20 May
    - Tuesday 21 May

    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection
    • Liverpool Street and Riley Street intersection

    - Monday 20 May
    - Friday 24 May

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Wednesday 22 May
    - Thursday 23 May

    • Riley Street between Busby Lane and William Street

    - Friday 24 May

  • Week starting 13 May 2019

    7 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street between William Street and Stanley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane between Riley Street and Yurong Street
    • Stream Street
    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection

    - Monday 13 May
    - Tuesday 14 May
    - Wednesday 15 May
    - Thursday 16 May
    - Friday 17 May
    - Saturday 18 May - 8 am to 1 pm

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Tuesday 14 May
    - Wednesday 15 May

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street between William Street and Stanley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane between Riley Street and Yurong Street
    • Stream Street
    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection

    - Monday 13 May
    - Tuesday 14 May
    - Wednesday 15 May
    - Thursday 16 May
    - Friday 17 May
    - Saturday 18 May - 8 am to 1 pm

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Tuesday 14 May
    - Wednesday 15 May

  • Week starting 6 May 2019

    8 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street between William Street and Stanley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane between Riley Street and Yurong Street
    • Stream Street
    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection

    - Monday 6 May
    - Tuesday 7 May
    - Wednesday 8 May
    - Thursday 9 May
    - Friday 10 May
    - Saturday 11 May - 8 am to 1 pm

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Tuesday 7 May
    - Wednesday 8 May

    • Riley Street between Busby Lane and William Street

    - Thursday 9 May
    - Friday 10 May

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street between William Street and Stanley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane between Riley Street and Yurong Street
    • Stream Street
    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection

    - Monday 6 May
    - Tuesday 7 May
    - Wednesday 8 May
    - Thursday 9 May
    - Friday 10 May
    - Saturday 11 May - 8 am to 1 pm

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street

    - Tuesday 7 May
    - Wednesday 8 May

    • Riley Street between Busby Lane and William Street

    - Thursday 9 May
    - Friday 10 May

  • Week starting Monday 29 April 2019

    8 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street between William Street and Stanley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane between Riley Street and Yurong Street
    • Stream Street
    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection

    - Monday 29 April
    - Tuesday 30 April
    - Wednesday 1 May
    - Thursday 2 May
    - Friday 3 May
    - Saturday 4 May - 8 am to 1 pm

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Riley Street between Busby Lane and William Street

    - Thursday 2 May
    - Friday 3 May

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street between William Street and Stanley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane between Riley Street and Yurong Street
    • Stream Street
    • Burton Street and Crown Street intersection

    - Monday 29 April
    - Tuesday 30 April
    - Wednesday 1 May
    - Thursday 2 May
    - Friday 3 May
    - Saturday 4 May - 8 am to 1 pm

    Night work hours 10 pm to 5 am

    - Property connections

    • Riley Street between Busby Lane and William Street

    - Thursday 2 May
    - Friday 3 May

  • Week Starting Monday 22 April 2019

    8 months ago

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane
    • Stream Street

    - Tuesday 23 April
    - Wednesday 24 April
    - Friday 26 April
    - Saturday 27 April - 8 am to 1 pm

    Day work hours 7 am - 6 pm

    - Property connections will continue along the following streets

    • Sir John Young Crescent between Riley Street and Crown Street
    • Riley Street
    • Busby Lane
    • Yurong Lane
    • Stream Street

    - Tuesday 23 April
    - Wednesday 24 April
    - Friday 26 April
    - Saturday 27 April - 8 am to 1 pm