Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre

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Indicative diagram of how the centre will work, treating water to the highest standard and distributing it for agricultural use and environmental flows.

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:

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:

Please visit this page regularly for updates as the project progresses through its construction phase.




  • Upcoming Pipe Laying Work in Western Sydney Parklands

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    The Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre project is working closely with the Western Sydney Parklands as the project progresses.

    Starting Monday 23 October, the project will install a section of pipe through the east and west side of the parklands, near to Cecil Hills access and near to Kemps Creek access areas. This work will include excavation of trenches, laying pipe, and reinstating the area with minimal impact to the crucial environment of Western Sydney Parklands. You can view the notification here.

  • AWRC One Month Out of Hours Work Notification - November 2023

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    Work is progressing as we continue to build the AWRC in Kemps Creek and the associated pipelines from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne, and Kemps Creek to Wallacia.

    In November, we will be completing some out of hours work at the AWRC including formwork and concrete pours, steel fixing, and oversize deliveries.

    Ongoing updates on our work will continue to be distributed to the nearby communities. You can view our November out of hours look ahead here and download and noise and vibration fact sheet here.

    We also invite you to please complete our survey to provide feedback on our proposed schedule of work. You can find the survey here and this will be available until Friday 27 October.

  • One Month Work Look Ahead - October

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    We are continuing work to build the AWRC and the pipelines that extend east from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne and west from Kemps Creek to Wallacia.

    Regular updates will be distributed to the community as the work progresses, with properties that may be highly impacted by noise or vibration or planned night works to receive specific notifications about these activities.

    See our October one month look ahead here.

  • Utility Investigation Work – Edensor Road and Harrington Street, Cabramatta West

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    Our delivery partner, John Holland, will be completing investigation work by potholing to confirm the location of underground utilities on Edensor Road and Harrington Street, Cabramatta West. The information gathered from these investigations will ensure that pipeline installation will be completed safely.

    This work will be undertaken during standard construction hours, 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. We are planning to complete this work over five shifts between Monday 18 September and Friday 6 October 2023, weather and site conditions permitting. If it rains, we will try and complete the work the following week.

  • Temporary Site Compound Establishment - Notification

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    Sydney Water's delivery partner, John Holland, will establish temporary site compounds across multiple locations within the pipeline alignment as part of the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC). The temporary compounds will support construction of the pipeline infrastructure which extends east from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne and west from Kemps Creek to Wallacia.

    The compound locations were assessed in the project’s Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The following notifications have been distributed to residents and businesses in areas surrounding some of the compound locations:

  • Community Day - 23 September 2023

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    Sydney Water are planning and building projects across Western Sydney to support communities and deliver sustainable water resources.

    Join us at the Western Sydney Aerotropolis Community Day to learn more. 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 23rd September

    Time: 10am – 1pm

    Where: Bringelly Community Centre, 5 Greendale Rd Bringelly

    View the event flyer here

  • Community Day - 26 August 2023

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    Want to learn more about Sydney Water’s projects and construction activity in the Southwest Sydney and Aerotropolis areas?

    Come have a chat with our friendly staff at the Sydney Water stall at the M7-M12 Integration Project Community Day.

    Enjoy a free BBQ, coffee, soft drinks, and kids’ entertainment including face painting, games and music.

    When: Saturday 26 August 2023

    Time: 10am - 1pm

    Where: The Amphitheatre, Lizard Log Park, Western Sydney Parklands

    How to get there: limited parking will be available, so organisers are encouraging attendees to walk, cycle, or take public transport.

    There will be a free bus departing from Fairfield Station between 9:45am and 1:15pm every 40 minutes.

    Please note, this is an alcohol-free event. View the event flyer here.

  • Start of Construction from Monday 7 August 2023

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    Our delivery partner, John Holland, will start construction at the AWRC and on the treated water and brine pipelines from around Monday 7 August 2023.

    Information on our work locations, working hours and how we will manage construction impacts is in our recent AWRC Notice and Pipelines Notice.

    Whilst we will have a number of measures in place to manage noise, dust and vibration, we are always open to feedback about how we can further reduce the impact on you. We would also like to know if there are activities that happen at your address that may be significantly disrupted by our work. To view a full list of our planned measures and provide your thoughts about our approach, please complete a feedback form.

    Regular updates will be distributed to the community as the work progresses, with properties that may be highly impacted by noise or vibration or planned night works to receive specific notifications about these activities.

    You can register to receive our Community Updates here.

  • Feedback on Construction Impacts - closes 6 August 2023

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    While our Delivery Partner John Holland is building the AWRC and pipelines, construction activities will generate impacts that may be disruptive to the community at times.

    We have written to directly affected properties are asking for feedback about the impact of our work and our proposed mitigation measures.

    To view and complete the form, please click here.

  • Modification 2 of Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre project scope

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    As detailed design and construction planning progressed, Sydney Water and its delivery partner, John Holland, identified several opportunities to reduce the project’s environmental and community impact. This included avoiding some impacts to threatened biodiversity and heritage as well as reducing impact to the community by simplifying some construction activities.

    Eight alignment changes were proposed, located in the local government areas of Wollondilly, Penrith, Fairfield and Canterbury-Bankstown. These include:

    • relocation of the flow control valve station (Bents Basin Road, Wallacia)
    • realignment of the treated water pipeline at Golfview Drive, Wallacia and Elizabeth Drive, Badgerys Creek
    • realignment of the brine pipeline at Bartley Street, Canley Heights
    • realignment of access to Lansdowne Reserve
    • temporary implementation of three underbore return lines at Nepean River, Jerrys Creek and Badgerys Creek.

    Sydney Water prepared a Modification Report to assess the potential impacts of the proposed changes. This was publicly exhibited by the Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) for 14 days from 18 July to 31 July 2023. A total of 12 submissions were received. We responded to each submission via a Submissions Report.

    The modification application was approved by the DPE on 10 October 2023.

    Further information, including a copy of the Modification Report, Submissions Report (including a copy of each submission), and DPEs Notice of Determination can be viewed on the DPE Major Projects webpage - MOD 2 - Pipeline Realignments | Planning Portal - Department of Planning and Environment (nsw.gov.au)

Page last updated: 19 Apr 2024, 02:17 PM