FAQs

Currently, around four million litres of untreated wastewater is discharged directly into the ocean in the Vaucluse and Diamond Bay area.

Sydney Water is building a new pump station at Parsley Bay and supporting infrastructure which will redirect untreated wastewater away from one of three of Sydney’s last remaining outfalls in Vaucluse and transfer it to the Bondi treatment plant. We’re also investigating upgrades to our network to redirect untreated wastewater flows from the remaining two outfalls at Diamond Bay to the Bondi treatment plant. 

 Upgrading the wastewater system in Vaucluse and Diamond Bay offers multiple benefits - improving the harbour and coastal water quality, as well as protecting the health of the community and marine ecology. 

We'll build new wastewater infrastructure to divert untreated wastewater from the ocean outfalls to the Bondi wastewater treatment plant. This includes:

• a new wastewater pump station in the footprint of the current amenities block at Parsley Bay car park.
• two new pipelines underneath the creek to connect to the chambers and the new pump station at Parsley Bay.
• new bathroom and shower amenities in the Caretaker’s Cottage to replace the old facility.
• a new 1.8 km wastewater pressure pipeline from Parsley Bay to Dover Road via Carlisle Street, at a depth of up to 60m using underground drilling and some open trenching at the connection point to the existing network at Dover Road.
• a new pump station at the Eastern Reserve area.
• new gravity wastewater pipelines using underground drilling at Diamond Bay. 
• a new pressure pipeline on Ocean View Road, Dover Heights which will be constructed by open trenching.
• upgrading existing pipes at Old South Head Road.
• upgrading existing and installing new infrastructure such as vents and manholes.

 We are revisiting the design and location of the pump station along with supporting infrastructure at Eastern Reserve. We aim to have the design completed by the end of this year and will provide an update to the community when this work has been completed.

Construction is planned to start in early 2024, weather permitting. We’ll keep the community and nearby residents informed in the lead-up to construction and throughout the life of the project.

Construction will be staged and at this stage, it is expected to take around two years to complete.  

In 2018, Sydney Water released a Pollution Study Report; Vaucluse Diamond Bay Ocean Discharges, in response to the NSW Environmental Protection Authority's Pollution Reduction Program.

Based on the information in the study, we recommended that people avoid fishing, swimming or contact with water near the three outfalls while we work towards refreshing the wastewater system to stop untreated wastewater entering the coastal environment.

As part of the project, we will be building:

• a new pump station largely within the existing amenity block site and carpark. 
• a new 1.8 km wastewater pressure pipeline from Parsley Bay to Dover Road via Carlisle Street, at a depth of up to 60m using underground drilling and some open trenching at the connection point to the existing network at Dover Road. 
• two new pipes and maintenance holes (using underground drilling) will be constructed in Parsley Bay to capture the wastewater from the Watsons Bay and Vaucluse Carrier and divert it to the pump station. 
• new bathroom and shower amenities in the Caretaker’s Cottage. 

Sydney Water has considered several options to capture wastewater from the Watsons Bay and Vaucluse areas and divert it away from Sydney’s last remaining sewage ocean outfalls at Vaucluse and Diamond Bay. These options included building two new treatment plants in the area as well as the supporting pipe infrastructure; building an entirely new wastewater network from Vaucluse to the Bondi treatment plant; or transferring wastewater from Vaucluse and Diamond Bay to the Bondi and North Head treatment plants via a sea route. 

 When compared to the solution, these options were not progressed as they:

• involve the construction of around four kilometres of additional three metre diameter pipes in complex residential or ocean environments.
• include more infrastructure such as deep maintenance and vent shafts in residential areas and in roads.
• require more property acquisition and easements to build and maintain the infrastructure.
• have substantially higher construction and operating costs, resulting in higher customer bills.
• have substantially more environmental and community impacts over a longer period than the approved option.

When compared with the preferred solution to build a pump station at Parsley Bay and the Eastern Reserve area, the other options were assessed as having substantially more environmental and community impacts over a larger area, as well as being an unacceptable additional cost to Sydney Water’s 5.2 million customers. 

We looked at alternative locations for the pump station including the surrounding area, but with limited land available and narrow streets; safe construction, operation and maintenance of the station could not occur. 

If the pump station was moved to another location, similar infrastructure would still be needed at Parsley Bay (including pipes underneath the creek and wastewater chambers) to capture and divert wastewater from the surrounding area, resulting in similar environmental impacts. This infrastructure would have a similar footprint to the pump station solution, however additional pipes, multiple maintenance shafts in residential properties and roads, vent shafts and a pump station would still be required in another location, resulting in greater impacts to the community and the environment. 

Building the pump station within the existing amenity block site at Parsley Bay where the existing wastewater pipes meet will allow all wastewater from the Vaucluse and Watsons Bay area to be captured and pumped (largely via the existing pipe network) to the Bondi plant for treatment. 

Below is a schematic drawing of the Parsley Bay work zones.

To minimise impacts on the surrounding environment the pump station will be built in the location of the existing amenity block, mostly underground. An electrical kiosk and light will be visible as they will sit on top of the pump station structure. Two new maintenance holes will be built in the carpark. 

As a result of the pump station moving away from the rock face into the carpark area, there will be a permanent loss of 4 car spaces. This relocation will also allow our networks and maintenance team to access the pump station safely. We will look at urban design finishes to blend the pump station into the surrounding environment as much as possible.

Below are the images to give you a sense of what the new pump station will look after construction is complete. 

Wastewater pump stations are installed when wastewater is unable to move from one location to another by gravity alone. The pump station at Parsley Bay will be used to lift the wastewater from the area where the two main carriers meet to a higher level at Rose Bay. From there, the wastewater will flow through our existing network and end up at the Bondi treatment plant.    

The pump station and flow of wastewater is remotely monitored by our System Operation Centre. The system is set up with automatic controls and alarm systems which can be remotely monitored and operated. The team at the System Operation Centre ensures the pumps and equipment are operating safely and in case of a power outage the back-up generator can be activated.  

The pump station is designed with no overflow arrangement at Parsley Bay. In extreme weather conditions, the system will use the existing outfall system to transfer the excess flow away from Parsley Bay. Sydney Water will develop a site specific operational and maintenance plan to manage the pump station during any periods of power and mechanical outage. 

The project was assessed via a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which was prepared under Division 5.1 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.

Planning approval for the project was granted in December 2020. The approval followed community consultation on the concept design in 2020 and public display of the REF. Submissions received during the public display period were considered by the project team and responded to in the Decision Report. 

Following feedback from stakeholders, further flora and fauna assessments were conducted and are discussed in the Decision Report. 

Sydney Water has also engaged an independent ecologist to undertake supplementary biodiversity assessment to help progress the design and inform the Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP). The contractor will provide Sydney Water with the CEMP for review and endorsement to ensure the impacts on the community and the environment are managed appropriately.

We will undertake further environmental assessments if the design or construction methodology changes significantly.

The REF and Decision Report are available to view at: www.sydneywatertalk.com.au/vauclusediamondbay. 

We understand that Parsley Bay is a family friendly park and beach that is well-loved by the community, and we are committed to managing potential impacts during the construction and operation of the pump station effectively. The project will significantly improve the coastal water quality, as well as protect the health of the community and marine ecology.

Section 6.2 of the REF commits to developing and implementing a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) for the project. The CEMP is developed by the construction contractor and will demonstrate how the environmental outcomes and commitments in the REF and Decision Report will be met during construction. The CEMP will be completed once the construction contractor is appointed and endorsed by Sydney Water before major construction commences.

Sydney Water is highly aware of the ecological value and presence of threatened species and protected seahorse communities in Parsley Bay. No work will be undertaken within the marine area of Parsley Bay and management measures will be in place to manage sediment and run-off issues in the event of heavy rainfall.

Sydney Water is committed to providing the best outcomes for the environment and will have measures in place to reduce impacts. The importance of trees and green spaces in our community, which provide shade and help cool our urban areas, cannot be underestimated. 

The footprint of the pump station has been modified, reducing vegetation clearing to around 17 trees (a mix of juvenile and mature trees) around the pump station. We will look at ways to further reduce the number of trees and plants impacted by the project.

Through the modification of the design and construction methodology we have reduced the vegetation clearance across the project from 0.36 ha to 0.07 ha, or around 80%. 

The fig tree will remain, with sections of the tree trimmed to allow work to be completed safely.

Yes, we will work with Woollahra Council and the local Bush care group to plant trees and shrubs to replace and offset the vegetation impacted, and to rehabilitate the area.

Where possible, we will restrict vegetation removal to ground cover. If we can’t do this or retain mature vegetation that provides screening to adjacent residences, we will consult any impacted landowners and seek to replace these with mature trees wherever possible.

Sydney Water is investigating the existing overflow issues at Parsley Bay as part of our SewerFix program.

We’ve been working closely with Woollahra Council to develop the design for the new amenities facility in Parsley Bay in the existing Caretaker’s Cottage. 

The new amenities will be located on the ground floor of the cottage and provide similar facilities as the existing amenities block. It will include separate male, female and accessible/family toilets and change facilities. The entrance to the female and wheelchair accessible facilities will be next to the kiosk while the entrance to the male facilities will be on the side of the building along Horler Avenue.

We anticipate that the work will start in early 2024. Sydney Water will ensure amenities remain available throughout our work in Parsley Bay. To meet this commitment, we expect it will be necessary to provide temporary amenities while work is carried out on the new pump station and construction of the new amenities. We will continue to work closely with Woollahra Council and will provide more details to the local community as the work continues.

For the safety of the community and our workers, the Caretakers Cottage area will be closed during the construction of new amenities. 

For the safety of the community and our workers, the kiosk area will be closed during the construction of new amenities. 

Once the construction of the amenities block is completed, we will reopen the kiosk to the community.

We are committed to minimising impacts to the community and will work with the contractor to open these areas as soon as we can.

For the safety of the community and our workers, the Parsley Bay Reserve car park and vehicle access to Horler Avenue will be closed during construction. 

We’ll continue to work with Woollahra Council to maintain as many of the available parking spaces as possible in the Parsley Bay car park during the construction phase. Once our delivery contractor is appointed, they will look at ways to maintain an accessible car space allocation or provide a space for drop-offs/pick-ups.  

Four car parking spaces will be permanently removed as part of the work to allow safe access to the pump station for our maintenance team.  

We are committed to minimising and managing potential impacts to the community during the construction. To manage any impacts during the construction phase, a Construction Environmental Management Plan (CEMP) will be prepared and include mitigation measures to manage:

• dust and noise.
• sediment and run-off.
• traffic management in and around the worksite.
• site deliveries and lay down areas.
• working hours.
• pedestrian management.
• drilling work.
• vegetation protection.
• spoil management.

Vehicle access on Horler Avenue will be closed during construction.

Pedestrian access to Parsley Bay Reserve and the swimming area will be available via the existing access tracks from Fitzwilliam Road and The Crescent. 

For the safety of the community and our workers, pedestrian access to the reserve and beach areas through Horler Avenue will be closed temporarily during the road widening work and installation of above and underground services in Horler Avenue. During this period, pedestrian access to the beach areas will be maintained through Fitzwilliam Road and The Crescent.

Sydney Water is currently procuring a contractor to construct the pump station, amenities block and supporting infrastructure at Parsley Bay. 

Once appointed, the contractor will develop a comprehensive Construction Environmental Management Plan which will outline how they will manage and monitor potential impacts on the environment and the community in accordance with the Review of Environmental Factors and Decision Report, and the relevant legislation and standards. Sydney Water will review and endorse the plan and will work with the contractor to ensure the project is managed effectively to minimise impacts.

Stormwater assets at Parsley Bay are owned by Woollahra Council and are not related to the Refresh Vaucluse Diamond Bay project. 

Sydney Water will manage stormwater associated with the Refresh Vaucluse Diamond Bay project during construction in accordance with the Construction Environmental Management Plan.

The Nielsen Park project is not managed by Sydney Water and is unrelated to the Refresh Vaucluse and Diamond Bay Project. Please contact The Department of Planning and Environment who is managing the project on npws.sydneysouth@environment.nsw.gov.au.

After consultation with key stakeholders and the community, we have decided to revisit the design and location of the pump station infrastructure to divert the two Diamond Bay outfalls. We aim to have the design completed by the end of this year and will provide an update to the community when this work has been completed. 

We’re thankful for the ongoing support we receive from the community as we work together to reduce the continuous discharge of untreated wastewater into the ocean at Vaucluse, Diamond Bay and Dover Heights. 

Since we began consulting with the community on this project in 2018, we have engaged with the community by: 

• setting up a Community Reference Group (CRG) of 12 suitably experienced representatives from across Vaucluse, Diamond Bay, and Rose Bay.
• distributing eleven project newsletters to around 13,000 properties each issue.
• hosting six face-to-face community sessions to consult the community on the design of the pump station. Over 300 people attended to share their feedback on the project holding three online information sessions in 2020 to support the public display of the Review of Environmental Factors (REF).
• Door knocking 237 properties close to the construction sites during the REF public display period.
• holding a webinar in 2022 to discuss the Refresh Vaucluse Diamond Bay project and the proposed design.
• consulting with the community in 2022 on the 50% design through online sessions and via a survey issued in newsletters and emails. Sydney Water received 216 submissions which were compiled into a Community Consultation Outcomes Report, published on Sydney Water Talk.
• setting up 16 meetings with community members regarding the detailed design. 
• meeting with community members throughout 2023 to discuss the site layout at Parsley Bay.
• regularly updating Sydney Water Talk website and providing an email registration option for community members to receive updates on the project. 

We will continue to consult with you throughout the upcoming project phases; detailed design, construction and operation.

To find out more about the project or sign up for email updates please visit our Sydney Water Talk.

Feedback from the community and stakeholders including Woollahra and Waverley Councils have helped us to refine the pump station design, reducing impacts to the environment and the community. The footprint of the pump station will be within the existing amenity block and moved away from the rockface further into the car park area. This modification, along with other design and construction methodology changes has contributed to the reduction of vegetation clearance from 0.36 ha to 0.07 ha, or around 80%.

Sydney Water is committed to keeping stakeholders informed and will provide accurate and timely information throughout the project. We will listen to your concerns and wherever possible, act upon them.

 To find out more about the project please or sign up for email updates visit our Sydney Water Talk.

You can contact the project team by:

Phone: 1800 641 349

Email: vauclusediamondbay@sydneywater.com.au.

Underground drilling is the preferred construction technique from Parsley Bay to Carlisle Street, Rose Bay. This involves the installation of pipes using an underground drilling machine without the need to dig open-cut trenches to lay the pipes. We will need to dig a pit in the road at both ends of the underground pipe alignment to launch the drilling machine and eventually remove it. 

Underground drilling machines are generally narrow. We will be drilling a 45-50cm wide tunnel from Parsley Bay up to Rose Bay. A 35cm wide pipe will then be installed in the tunnel. 

A noise and vibration assessment was prepared for the project as part of the REF. The assessment notes that during construction there will be some temporary noise associated with digging an entry and exit pit for the underground drilling machine. Ground-borne noise and vibration at surface level is unlikely to occur during the trenchless pipe installation. 

A noise and vibration management plan will be prepared by the contractor and management safeguards will be incorporated into the Construction Environmental Management Plan.

We’ll continue to provide updates as we prepare for construction. 

These images show how underground drilling and open-cut trenches are generally constructed. 

Throughout the project, trucks and machinery will need to travel down residential streets to deliver and remove equipment. 

We’ll work closely with Council to coordinate any roadwork, traffic management, and reduce the duration of impact on the community as much as possible. We’ll provide further details as we progress to construction. 

The pumping station will be enclosed underground with lids. We will install a new filter on the existing vent shaft to prevent any odour impacting the community. We will also test for odour using handheld equipment and sensors to ensure no nuisance odours are detectable which may impact surrounding residents.

Once construction starts, our teams will need a site office and storage area close to the construction site. In addition, Sydney Water’s Maintenance and Networks teams require a site for the Dover Heights Reservoir to ensure its ongoing operation and safety. 

To minimise the impact on public spaces, we will use the land owned by Sydney Water located at Dudley Page Reserve in Dover Heights to install temporary office spaces and amenities for our project and maintenance team. Site preparation work has been completed and we will notify the community once we have a contractor on board and are ready to set up the site office.