Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre
Sydney Water is building the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) in Kemps Creek and associated pipelines to support population and economic growth in Western Sydney.
Construction Information
Our delivery partner, John Holland, is building the AWRC, a treated water pipeline from Kemps Creek to the Nepean River at Wallacia and a brine water pipeline from Kemps Creek to our existing wastewater network at Lansdowne. The pipelines is built underground, mostly in road reserves and public spaces. Some sections of pipeline will need to be installed across private properties.
Construction is underway in parts of Badgerys Creek, Bonnyrigg, Bonnyrigg Heights, Cabramatta, Cabramatta West, Canley Heights, Canley Vale, Cecil Hills, Cecil Park, Elizabeth Hills, Fairfield, Green Valley, Kemps Creek, Lansdowne, Lansvale, Luddenham, Mount Pritchard, Mulgoa and Wallacia.
Our standard working hours are 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm Saturday. We will notify affected people in advance if we need to work outside these hours.
John Holland is working hard to minimise disturbance however some people may experience temporary traffic changes and construction impacts, mostly from machinery that will be used to dig trenches and lay pipes. Construction of the pipelines will occur until late 2025.
When completed in 2026, the AWRC will deliver sustainable wastewater services and high-quality recycled water to support a cooler, greener Western Parkland City, with a wide range of benefits for the entire community.
Community Benefits
Key benefits for the local community include:
- efficient and cost-effective wastewater services
- producing high-quality, recycled water for a range of potential reuses
- potential to recycle organic waste to generate energy
- protecting local waterways and aquatic ecosystems via environmental flows
- producing biosolids for an alternative to chemical fertilisers in agriculture
- enhancing biodiversity by greening Western Sydney with recycled water
- supporting the vision for the Western Parkland City, to create quality places for the community, keep water resources in the catchment to support greening and reduce heat island effects
- generating renewable energy within the AWRC
- a centre that can respond to changes in demand as our community grows.
The AWRC is Sydney Water’s largest infrastructure investment in Western Sydney and when competed will provide a foundation for a circular economy hub in the Parkland City.
Planning Process
In 2021, Sydney Water prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to describe the project and assess its environmental and community impacts.
The EIS was submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and put on public exhibition from 21 October to Wednesday 17 November 2021, giving the community an opportunity to review and make submissions on the findings presented in the document. DPE provided planning approval on 28 November 2022.
To learn more about the project’s planning process and approval, visit DPE’s Major Projects Planning Portal where you will find the below documentation:
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Submissions Report
- Amendment Report
- Submission Report – Project Amendments
- Minister’s Conditions of Approval
Please visit this page regularly for updates as the project progresses through its construction phase.
Sydney Water is building the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) in Kemps Creek and associated pipelines to support population and economic growth in Western Sydney.
Construction Information
Our delivery partner, John Holland, is building the AWRC, a treated water pipeline from Kemps Creek to the Nepean River at Wallacia and a brine water pipeline from Kemps Creek to our existing wastewater network at Lansdowne. The pipelines is built underground, mostly in road reserves and public spaces. Some sections of pipeline will need to be installed across private properties.
Construction is underway in parts of Badgerys Creek, Bonnyrigg, Bonnyrigg Heights, Cabramatta, Cabramatta West, Canley Heights, Canley Vale, Cecil Hills, Cecil Park, Elizabeth Hills, Fairfield, Green Valley, Kemps Creek, Lansdowne, Lansvale, Luddenham, Mount Pritchard, Mulgoa and Wallacia.
Our standard working hours are 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm Saturday. We will notify affected people in advance if we need to work outside these hours.
John Holland is working hard to minimise disturbance however some people may experience temporary traffic changes and construction impacts, mostly from machinery that will be used to dig trenches and lay pipes. Construction of the pipelines will occur until late 2025.
When completed in 2026, the AWRC will deliver sustainable wastewater services and high-quality recycled water to support a cooler, greener Western Parkland City, with a wide range of benefits for the entire community.
Community Benefits
Key benefits for the local community include:
- efficient and cost-effective wastewater services
- producing high-quality, recycled water for a range of potential reuses
- potential to recycle organic waste to generate energy
- protecting local waterways and aquatic ecosystems via environmental flows
- producing biosolids for an alternative to chemical fertilisers in agriculture
- enhancing biodiversity by greening Western Sydney with recycled water
- supporting the vision for the Western Parkland City, to create quality places for the community, keep water resources in the catchment to support greening and reduce heat island effects
- generating renewable energy within the AWRC
- a centre that can respond to changes in demand as our community grows.
The AWRC is Sydney Water’s largest infrastructure investment in Western Sydney and when competed will provide a foundation for a circular economy hub in the Parkland City.
Planning Process
In 2021, Sydney Water prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to describe the project and assess its environmental and community impacts.
The EIS was submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) and put on public exhibition from 21 October to Wednesday 17 November 2021, giving the community an opportunity to review and make submissions on the findings presented in the document. DPE provided planning approval on 28 November 2022.
To learn more about the project’s planning process and approval, visit DPE’s Major Projects Planning Portal where you will find the below documentation:
- Environmental Impact Statement
- Submissions Report
- Amendment Report
- Submission Report – Project Amendments
- Minister’s Conditions of Approval
Please visit this page regularly for updates as the project progresses through its construction phase.
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May Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share May Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share May Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share May Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email May Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn May, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out of hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To read about our May works, download our notification. To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey. This survey is open until Monday 29 April 2024.
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Get Back on Track in Western Sydney Parklands
Share Get Back on Track in Western Sydney Parklands on Facebook Share Get Back on Track in Western Sydney Parklands on Twitter Share Get Back on Track in Western Sydney Parklands on Linkedin Email Get Back on Track in Western Sydney Parklands linkWe are continuing with our pipeline construction work within Western Sydney Parklands to install a 3-kilometre section of the brine like from the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre. We would like to thank the Western Sydney Parklands for working with us to minimise our impact on the newly opened Gabrugal Yana bushwalk.
Following the opening of the new Gabrugal Yana Bushwalk, Sydney Water are assisting in the promotion of other trails within Western Sydney Parklands.
Get Back on Track!
With over 70km of tracks and trails, plus playgrounds, picnic areas and parks, now’s the time to get back on track in Western Sydney Parklands: Sydney’s biggest backyard.
Get back to nature, get moving, get active and bring the family to explore Western Sydney Parkland’s 11 unique maps, with tracks and trails to suit everyone.
Explore breathtaking walking, running and cycling trails, or take time out to just breathe in fresh air and connect with open green spaces. Trails can take anywhere from 30 minutes to three hours to complete. Most tracks are paved or gravel, but some are grass tracks, fire trails or old farm roads. All trails are graded according to the Australian Walking Track Grading System.
Bring the kids and play in one, or many, playgrounds, take an easy walk around Lizard Log or Bungarribee Playground or take a short stroll or cycle to The Dairy, Pimelea Loop, Moonrise Lookout, Sugarloaf Ridge or Prospect Reservoir. There’s plenty of pram-, bike- and wheelchair-friendly paths to walk, ride or roll on.
Come and take a leisurely stroll, a quick jog after work or train for your next epic trek or marathon at Western Sydney Parklands.
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Community Day - 4 May 2024
Share Community Day - 4 May 2024 on Facebook Share Community Day - 4 May 2024 on Twitter Share Community Day - 4 May 2024 on Linkedin Email Community Day - 4 May 2024 linkSydney Water are planning and building projects across Western Sydney to support communities and deliver sustainable water resources.
Join us at the Aerotropolis and Mamre Road Precincts Community Information Drop-in Session.
Our friendly staff will be on hand to answer questions about the Advanced Water Recycling Centre and other projects in the Southwest Sydney and Aerotropolis areas.
When: Saturday 4th May
Time: 10am – 1pm
Where: Bringelly Community Centre, 5 Greendale Rd Bringelly
View the event flyer here
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April Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share April Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share April Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share April Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email April Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn April, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out of hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To read about our April works, download our notification. To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey. This survey is open until Wednesday 27 March 2024.
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Working with Western Sydney Parklands
Share Working with Western Sydney Parklands on Facebook Share Working with Western Sydney Parklands on Twitter Share Working with Western Sydney Parklands on Linkedin Email Working with Western Sydney Parklands linkWe are continuing our pipeline construction work within Western Sydney Parklands to install a 3-kilometre section of the brine line from the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre. We would like to thank the Western Sydney Parklands for working with us to minimise our impact on the newly opened Gabrugal Yana bushwalk.
Our access road crosses the eastern end of Gabrugal Yana and signage and barriers have been installed to direct visitors to a safe crossing. Please check both directions carefully for approaching trucks before crossing.
About Gabrugal Yana
Opening to the public 22 February, Gabrugal Yana boasts spectacular views to the city and Blue Mountains, as well as a series of unique Aboriginal artwork trees. The new bushwalk is an 11km return walk from Cecil Park to Middleton Grange, that celebrates local Dharug Aboriginal culture by transforming six landmark trees into Aboriginal artworks that represent Dharug seasons. Gabrugal Yana means walk of the Gabru or Cabro people, who traditionally lived in the Fairfield and Liverpool area.First Nations artists Shay Tobin and Djon Mundine OAM worked with Dharug community members to bring the change of seasons to life through artworks that depict well-known Sydney plants and animals such as the blue tongue lizard and the eel, as well as fire. The trees share Dharug names and language which is accessible through audio which can be heard along the route.
The walk begins at the Wylde Mountain Bike and BMX bub in Cecil Park before winding south through Cumberland Plain woodland and old farmland to Middleton Grange.For more information and updates before your visit, check the Western Sydney Parklands website.
In choosing the route for the brine pipeline Sydney Water have minimised the impact on busier areas of the Parklands however, visitors may come across our construction. Please take care around our construction areas and look out for signage that will direct you to safe crossing points.
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March Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share March Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share March Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share March Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email March Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn March, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out of hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To read about our March works, download our notification. To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey. This survey is open until Thursday 29 February 2024.
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February work look ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share February work look ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share February work look ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share February work look ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email February work look ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn February, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out of hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To read about our February works, download our notification. To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey. This survey is open until Tuesday 30 January 2024.
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January Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share January Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share January Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share January Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email January Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn January, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Fairfield. This includes standard hours and out of hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To read about our January works, download our notification. To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey. This survey is open until Friday 22 December 2023.
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December Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share December Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share December Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share December Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email December Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn December, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Fairfield. This includes standard hours and out of hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To read about our December works, download our notification. To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey. This survey is open until Thursday 30 November 2023.
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November Out of Hours Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC
Share November Out of Hours Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Facebook Share November Out of Hours Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Twitter Share November Out of Hours Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC on Linkedin Email November Out of Hours Work Look Ahead - Pipelines and AWRC linkIn November, out of hours work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment in Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg and Cabramatta West.
We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
To learn more about the measures we implement to minimise noise and vibration, download a fact sheet.
If you would like to provide feedback about our out of hours schedule and mitigation measures, you can complete a short survey.
Who's Listening
To find out more about this project please contact us:
Phone 1800 064 127 (complaints and enquiries line)
Email uppersouthcreek@sydneywater.com.au
Post Upper South Creek Project
PO Box 160
Kemps Creek NSW 2178
FAQs - Project Overview
- What is the project’s scope?
- Who is delivering the project?
- What are the project’s benefits?
- What areas will be serviced by the AWRC?
- How much water will be processed per day?
- How will wastewater reach the AWRC?
- How can I connect to wastewater services?
- How can I get access to recycled water?
- How can I find out more about water treatment, wastewater and recycled water?
FAQs - Project Planning and Environmental Impacts
- Will the treated water released from the AWRC cause flooding or make flooding events worse?
- What are the benefits of environmental flows?
- What about flora and fauna? Will they be impacted by construction?
- Will the new infrastructure cause odour issues?
- What is circular economy?
- What is an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS)?
- Why does Sydney Water need to remove trees along Park Road?
- Could the treated water pipe have been placed somewhere else?
- Will Sydney Water be replanting the vegetation that was removed?
FAQs - Construction Approach
- What it is the project’s timeline?
- How will you minimise construction impacts?
- Will Sydney Water need to take out easements or acquire land for the project?
- Will there be increased truck movements and road closures?
- Will there be noise and vibration impacts during construction?
- AWRC
- Pipelines
- What construction techniques will you be using for the pipelines?
- Where do the pipelines go?
Related Documents
- Upper South Creek AWRC EIS Overview Brochure.pdf (3.83 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek AWRC EIS Brochure Vietnamese (1.59 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek AWRC EIS Brochure Simplified Chinese (1.64 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek AWRC EIS Brochure Arabic (1.6 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek AWRC Stage 1 - Staging Report (1.26 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek Urban Design Landscape Plan Stage 1 November 2023.pdf (31.5 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek AWRC Independent Environment Compliance Audit (13 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek AWRC Sydney Water Response to Independent Audit Findings (29 KB) (pdf)
- Environmental Mitigation Measures (134 KB) (pdf)
- Community and Stakeholder Engagement Plan (CSEP) - USC AWRC and Pipelines.pdf (5.49 MB) (pdf)
- Key Policies and Procedures - complaints.pdf (60.7 KB) (pdf)
- Managing Director's letter to the community (122 KB) (pdf)
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Approvals
- EPL 21800 John Holland Pty Ltd Approved and In Force.pdf (373 KB) (pdf)
- DPE Approval Letter (142 KB) (pdf)
- Commonwealth Notification of Approval EPBC 2020-8816.pdf (2.11 MB) (pdf)
- Conditions of Approval - Upper South Creek AWRC (1.86 MB) (pdf)
- Conditions of Approval MOD2 - Upper South Creek AWRC.pdf (1.53 MB) (pdf)
- L11 (0503 2307 SWC USC AWRC Pipelines RAP) Rev 0.pdf (8.38 MB) (pdf)
- 240324 - Approval of Plan Strategy or Study - RAP - Signed.pdf (193 KB) (pdf)
- 0677828_JH USC Pipelines RAP_Final_rev01.pdf (10 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek EPL 21800 Premise Maps_Rev 08 March 2024.pdf (3.94 MB) (pdf)
- Water Access Licence - WAL44922.pdf (229 KB) (pdf)
- Maps
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Construction Management Plans
- Upper South Creek Construction Environmental Management Plan CEMP (Rev A) (10.3 MB) (pdf)
- Upper South Creek - Waste and Resource Use CEMP Sub-plan (Rev A) (1.02 MB) (pdf)
- Air Quality CEMP Sub-plan (Rev A) (135 MB) (pdf)
- Revision A - Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) and sub-plans_ER approval (212 KB) (pdf)
- Flood Emergency Response CEMP Sub-Plan (158 MB) (pdf)
- Soils and Contamination CEMP Sub-Plan (17.1 MB) (pdf)
- Surface Water Groundwater CEMP Sub-plan (Rev C)_COMBINED.pdf (170 MB) (pdf)
- Traffic and Transport CEMP Sub-Plan (140 MB) (pdf)
- Biodiversity CEMP Sub-plan (Rev D) Part A.pdf (2.47 MB) (pdf)
- Biodiversity CEMP Sub-plan (Rev D) Part B.pdf (63.2 MB) (pdf)
- Biodiversity CEMP Sub-plan (Rev D) Part C.pdf (128 MB) (pdf)
- Heritage CEMP Sub-Plan Part 1 (156 MB) (pdf)
- Heritage CEMP Sub-Plan Part 2 (66.1 MB) (pdf)
- Sustainability Management Plan (8.86 MB) (pdf)
- Construction Noise and Vibration Impact Statement Acoustic Advisor Endorsement (302 KB) (pdf)
- Construction Water Reuse Strategy - Part A (1.66 MB) (pdf)
- Construction Water Reuse Strategy - Part B (535 KB) (pdf)
- Construction Water Reuse Strategy - Part C (2.5 MB) (pdf)
- Construction Water Reuse Strategy - Part D (8.46 MB) (pdf)
- Construction Water Reuse Strategy - Part E (6.65 MB) (pdf)
- Construction Water Reuse Strategy - Part F (1.51 MB) (pdf)
- Noise and Vibration CEMP Sub-Plan Part 1 (1.71 MB) (pdf)
- Noise and Vibration CEMP Sub-Plan Part 2 (167 MB) (pdf)
- Noise and Vibration CEMP Sub-Plan Part 3 (52 MB) (pdf)
- Noise and Vibration CEMP Sub-Plan Part 4 (80.9 MB) (pdf)
- Managing Noise and Vibration Impacts.pdf (120 KB) (pdf)
- Vibration Monitor Results (15 MB) (pdf)
- Community Agreements
- USC Project - 2023 DI Public Reporting WIP FINAL.pdf (1.19 MB) (pdf)
Related Sydney Water Projects
Life Cycle
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Planning Stage (Completed)
Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre has finished this stageDuring this stage, Sydney Water sought community and stakeholder feedback as part of early planning process.
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Environmental Impact Statement and planning approvals (Completed)
Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre has finished this stageDuring this stage we sought comments and feedback leading up to and during the public exhibition period of the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Our EIS Submissions Report responded to the feedback we received from community and stakeholders during the EIS exhibition period.
An Amendment Report was also prepared to reflect minor amendments to the project based on feedback from community and stakeholders. We also prepared a report that responded to the feedback we received from community and stakeholders during the Amendment Report exhibition.
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State and Commonwealth Government Approvals (Completed)
Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre has finished this stageDuring this stage, the project was approved by the State government and Commonwealth governments.
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Construction Planning (Completed)
Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre has finished this stageWith the relevant State and Commonwealth approvals granted, the project moved into construction planning. We prepared construction environmental management plans and early works and heritage investigations were undertaken.
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Construction Commencement (Current)
Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre is currently at this stage
Useful links
To view Sydney Water's Growth Servicing Plan, please click here.