Bondi WRRF resilience system investment planning

Improving wastewater services in Bondi

We're investing in upgrading the Bondi wastewater system and the Bondi Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). These upgrades will support Sydney's future growth, protect Bondi Beach, and ensure safe and reliable services that maintain waterway health.


About this project

The Bondi wastewater system currently provides wastewater services to an equivalent population of 780,000 people across an area of 3,500 hectares. It services the suburbs out to Balmain, Surry Hills and the Sydney CBD through to Bronte and Bondi.

The Bondi WRRF at North Bondi is our oldest wastewater treatment plant, operating since December 1953. The WRRF and the deepwater ocean outfalls installed in 1991 continue to protect our waterways and Bondi Beach. The WRRF is Sydney's third-largest water resource recovery facility, processing about 120 million litres of wastewater daily. It generates 100% of its electricity on-site through cogeneration, and beneficially reuses 100% of the biosolids produced by supplying agricultural markets.

Using circular economy principles, the Bondi WRRF makes the most of resources in the wastewater by: 

  • turning waste methane gas (biogas) into electricity that powers the operations and supplies surplus electricity back to the grid 
  • producing up to 100 tonnes of biosolids (organic solids) weekly, all reused in either agriculture, composting or land rehabilitation 
  • reusing up to 3.5 million litres of recycled water per day in the treatment process instead of drinking water.

The WRRF provides the community with critical wastewater services that ensure wastewater doesn't create a hazard for Sydney. 

The facility is over 70 years old. It was originally designed to serve 250,000 people, but now serves an equivalent population of over 780,000. Major works are needed to improve the reliability and resilience of the assets and upgrade the ageing assets.

As we develop the master planning for the improvement program, works may include:

  • upgrading and or rehabilitating the Bondi Ocean Outfall Sewer
  • installing new wastewater pipes to enable the transfer of wastewater
  • upgrade of the treatment process at Bondi WRRF, including
    • screenings and grit collection, and systems
    • solids collection, transfer, and digester heating and mixing systems
    • biosolids dewatering, storage and outloading facilities
    • ocean outfall raw sewage pumps
    • fresh air and foul air ventilation systems, and odour control facilities
    • electrical equipment, and supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) control systems
    • upgrade of administration buildings and offices
    • refurbish and upgrade mechanical, civil and geotechnical structures
    • upgrade and refurbish the Ben Buckler vent stack (the Bondi sewer vent).

Benefits

Over the next 10 years we will invest in improving wastewater services in the Bondi wastewater system and at the Bondi WRRF. The expected benefits of the program are:

  • improve the reliability and resilience of our wastewater assets and the Bondi WRRF
  • improve the operation of the Bondi WRRF for our staff and contractors and the impacts of our operations on the community
  • reduce the risk of pollution of waterways
  • preserve the heritage value of assets – including the Ben Buckler vent stack and Bondi Ocean Outfall System (BOOS) – and ensure that the facility continues to operate
  • improve the visual amenity and landscaping around Bondi WRRF to enhance the streetscape
  • improve traffic movements and access arrangements at Bondi WRRF to improve local road and pedestrian safety
  • improve local on-street parking areas
  • maximise opportunities to adopt circular economy principles in operating Bondi WRRF, such as providing recycled water to reduce the use of drinking water.

Our planning will ensure that our wastewater system remains reliable and can continue to treat wastewater in an environmentally safe and sustainable way.

Impacts

We understand our work can impact our community, and we'd like to thank everyone for their patience as we upgrade Bondi WRRF.



Project updates

14 December 2023
Bondi WRRF turns 70 and Community Reference Group established.

The Bondi WRRF started operation in 1953, providing primary treatment of wastewater collected by the Bondi Ocean Outfall System (BOOS) prior to discharge to the ocean.

Read more
01 December 2022
Thank you for sharing your views

Between April and June this year, we invited the community surrounding the WRRF and the wider Bondi community to give us their views on the area, the treatment facility and what living in Bondi means to them.

Read more



FAQs

Sydney Water is currently in the planning phase of the improvement works, and we're consulting with the community. Master planning commenced in early 2024.

We want to hear your views to ensure that we minimise impacts on the community. We'd also like to know what ideas you might have to improve the local area as part of our work.

We're committed to minimising impacts on the community. We welcome your input so we can best understand how our improvement works might impact people who live, work and play near the Bondi WRRF. We'll be holding several community drop-in sessions to discuss the improvement works program and potential impacts.

If you'd like to find out more, call us on 1800 549 545 or email bondiwrrf@sydneywater.com.au.