Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre

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)

As part of our commitment to keep everyone informed, Sydney Water's June project update newsletter is now available here Community Update - June 2023.

Our delivery partner, John Holland, will be completing investigation work by potholing to confirm the location of underground utilities along the route of the brine pipeline in Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Green Valley, Bonnyrigg, Bonnyrigg Heights, Cabramatta West and Canley Vale.

We will work from Monday 3 July until Friday 14 July 2023, weather permitting. Our working hours will be from 8 pm to 6 am Monday to Friday. We are completing this work at night to maintain safety for road users and workers and to keep people moving during peak travelling times.

We will use concrete saw cutters, excavators and vacuum trucks to form a pothole and confirm the location and depth of underground utilities. If required, jack hammers will also be used. We will also use lighting towers to light our work area. We will then fill and compact the pothole and restore the road or footpath surface.

This work will be noisy however we will coordinate our work so that residents do not experience noise for more than two consecutive nights, or more than three nights in total in one week.

We will be potholing in the following locations:

• Cross Street at the intersection of Devonshire Road, Kemps Creek
• Western Road between Elizabeth Drive and Overett Avenue, Kemps Creek
• Feodore Drive near Spencer Road, Cecil Hills
• North Liverpool Road between the Liverpool-Parramatta Transitway and Whitford Road and at Currawong Street, Green Valley
• North Liverpool Road at the intersection of Montgomery Road, Bonnyrigg
• Montgomery Road near Kincumber Road and Brown Road, Bonnyrigg
• Montgomery Road near Holdin Street, Bonnyrigg
• North Liverpool Road at Wilson Road, Bonnyrigg Heights
• Cabramatta Road West near Tarlington Parade, Cabramatta West
• Monash Place, Cabramatta West
• Hebblewhite Place, Cabramatta West
• Chancery Street between Vale Street and Landsdowne Road, Canley Vale
• Beckenham Street, between Bromley Street and Willowbank Crescent, Canley Vale

There will be temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe. Partial lane closures and speed reductions may be in place at times and there may be some loss of on-street parking while the work is being completed. Please keep to speed limits and follow signs and the direction of traffic controllers.

Our delivery partner, John Holland, will be completing investigation work by potholing to confirm the location of underground utilities along the route of the brine and treated water pipelines in Canley Vale, Luddenham and Wallacia.

We will work from Tuesday 27 June until Friday 28 July 2023, weather permitting. Our working hours will be from 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday.

We will use concrete saw cutters, excavators and vacuum trucks to form the pothole and confirm the location and depth of underground utilities. If required, jack hammers will also be used. We will then fill and compact the pothole and restore the road or footpath surface.

This work will be noisy however residents will experience impact for up to two shifts as the crew continues to move along the road.

We will be potholing in the following locations:

• Bromley Street between Beckenham Street and Chancery Street, Canley Vale
• Willowbank Crescent, Canley Vale
• Park Road near the Luddenham Showground, Luddenham
• Willmington Road between The Northern Road and Park Road, Luddenham
• Byron Avenue, Eagle Street and Driver Avenue, Wallacia

There will be temporary traffic changes to ensure the work zone is safe. Partial lane closures may be in place at times and there may be some loss of on-street parking while the work is being completed. Please keep to speed limits and follow signs and the direction of traffic controllers.

We have prepared a draft UDLP to set the strategy and design for the urban landscape and design at the AWRC. The UDLP focuses on the development of Stage 1 of the project (operational site) however considers opportunities for engagement around the future masterplan for green space (Stage 2) with relevant stakeholders.

Landscape design is important for the AWRC as it will help us achieve place-based outcomes through designing and caring for Country (in partnership with our Aboriginal stakeholders) and to support biodiversity through providing a restored landscape and a sustainable wastewater service now and into the future.

The plan will be submitted to the Department of Planning and Environment in late July 2023. You can review the plan here. For more information or to provide feedback, email us at uppersouthcreek@sydneywater.com.au or call our community relations team on 1800 064 127.

Having received NSW State and Federal Government approval for the AWRC project, we are now undertaking early work to prepare for construction.

As part of our commitment to keep everyone informed, we will be producing a general project update newsletter every six months, with more frequent, targeted updates posted to the news feed of this webpage.

The first newsletter is available here Community Update - April 2023.

Sydney Water hosted a community drop-in information session on Saturday, 6 May 2023 at the Bringelly Community Centre to give the community an opportunity to learn more about the AWRC and other projects in the area.

Representatives were available to provide information and answer questions about projects in the Wester Sydney Aerotropolis and Mamre Road precinct areas including:

• Sydney Water
• Office of the Independent Community Commissioner
• Western Parkland City Authority
• Sydney Metro (Western Sydney Airport)
• Transport for NSW
• Department of Planning and Environment
• Office of Strategic Lands (OSL)
• Western Sydney Airport
• Penrith City Council
• Liverpool City Council
• Utilities (Endeavour Energy and Jemena)

Sydney Water has awarded a contract to build one of the most advanced wastewater recycling facilities in the southern hemisphere, in Western Sydney.

The contract to construct and operate the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Plant (AWRC) has been awarded to a consortium of John Holland, TRILITY, GHD and Jacobs.

Operating at full capacity, the facility will treat around 70 megalitres of wastewater each day and produce high-quality treated water for sustainable use in homes and businesses across western Sydney, and biosolid products for use in agriculture.

Sydney Water Managing Director, Roch Cheroux said the plant is an important piece of infrastructure for the region and will leave a positive legacy for the communities of Sydney.

“AWRC will produce high-quality water suitable for a wide range of non-drinking uses for homes, businesses, industrial sites, agriculture and for the watering of public open spaces,” Mr Cheroux said.

The world-class leading facility will be located between Kemps and South Creek and service the Aerotropolis and Western Parkland City.

John Holland will be responsible for the design and construction. GHD and Jacobs will provide engineering and design services, while Trility will provide operations and maintenance advice as the project is delivered.

In a joint venture with John Holland, Trility will be responsible for the operations and maintenance of the facility for up to a 10-year period once completed.

John Holland’s General Manager of Water and Optimisation, Margaret Riley said she’s thrilled to continue a long-term collaboration with Sydney Water alongside partners Trility, GHD and Jacobs.

“It’s exciting to launch a project with such industry leading circular economy ambitions and Sydney Water is to be congratulated on its vision,” Ms Riley said.

TRILITY’s Managing Director, Francois Gouws, echoes the sentiments of its joint venture partner.

“It’s a real privilege to be working in collaboration with Sydney Water and alongside our partners John Holland, GHD, and Jacobs on such an exciting project, and one with motivations to drive innovation and a circular economy,” said Mr Gouws.

The Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling plant is due to be operational in 2026.

Survey and ground investigations in your area from November 2022

Sydney Water is planning to construct the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) in Kemps Creek and associated pipelines to support predicted population and economic growth in Western Sydney, including designated growth areas known as South West Growth Area and Western Sydney Aerotropolis Growth Area.

We need to survey the land, locate underground services and confirm ground conditions to inform the detailed design of the project. Our investigations will happen at the AWRC site off Clifton Avenue in Kemps Creek and along two pipeline corridors, from Kemps Creek to Wallacia in the west and from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne in the east.

From November 2022 until early 2023, you may see us working in public spaces like footpaths, parks and road reserves. Our work hours are 7 am to 6 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm on Saturdays. We will not work on public holidays.

We will also need to enter a small number of private properties to complete our investigations. Our delivery partner, John Holland Group, will contact directly affected landowners and residents at least 14 days before work needs to happen on private property. We will work with you to confirm access arrangements and suitable times.

To reduce traffic disruption and to ensure the safety of our workers and the community, we may need to work in some busy roads at night for short periods. We will provide advanced notice to nearby residents and will explain how we will reduce impacts from our work.

To know more, please email us at uppersouthcreek@sydneywater.com.au or call our friendly community relations team on 1800 064 127.

Thank you for your understanding during this work.