Bondi WRRF resilience system investment planning

 Our wastewater system works behind the scenes to protect the environment and community health, but regular maintenance is essential to keep it operating reliably.

From 1 December to 5 December, we’ll intermittently and partially shut down electrical equipment to enable the insta lation of these safety systems, and this wil impact our odour scrubbers. 

Scrubbers help control odours that naturally occur during wastewater treatment. While we’ll take every precaution to minimise hydrogen sulphide (H₂S) seepage, there may be a noticeable increase in odour around the Bondi facility for up to five days. To reduce community impact, this work will be carried out during the earlier hours of the day where odours are less present.

We apologise for any inconvenience and thank you for your understanding as we continue to improve the Bondi WRRF.

If you would like to know more, please contact our community engagement team on: 1800 006 113 (Ext 6) during business hours For 24 hour service difficulties or emergencies please call 13 20 90.

Thank you for your cooperation during this essential work.

We'll soon begin work to refurbish the Ben Buckler ventilation shaft to preserve its heritage value, make it structurally safe and ensure it continues to operate efficiently. The Ben Buckler ventilation shaft is a heritage-listed operating asset that’s an important part of the Bondi WRRF.

The Ben Buckler stack that we see today was built in 1910 and is in fact the second shaft to be built on that site. A brick ventilation shaft was originally constructed at the same site in 1888. However, this soon developed a series of cracks and flaws, and had to be demolished and replaced.

We are currently working to refurbish the existing stack to preserve its heritage value, ensure its structural integrity and prioritise community safety.

The work will involve:

• piling work to provide scaffolding support around the stack
• the set-up of fencing and scaffolding around the stack
• remediation of concrete surface as required
• the set-up of material lay-down areas within the fenced area
• the remediation of compression straps around the shaft
• repair of the lightning protection on the shaft surface
• rehabilitation of site upon completion of work.

Work will begin in early to mid-May 2025 and will take up to 18 months to complete, weather permitting.

Our work hours:

• 7am to 5pm Monday to Friday
• 8am to 1pm Saturdays, if needed.

Having been a part of the North Bondi shoreline for more than 100 years, the Ben Buckler is an important and iconic asset, and our work will ensure that it continues to be protected for many generations to come.

Where do I get more information and help?

If you would like to know more, please contact our community engagement team at delivering4customers@sydneywater.com.au or call 1800 006 113 (option 6).

We're planning to upgrade our odour control systems (scrubbers) at the Bondi WRRF at Blair Street, North Bondi. Our wastewater system works behind the scenes to protect the environment and the health of our communities. But we need to work on it from time to time to keep things running reliably.

We're planning to shut down our scrubbers too, so our staff can enter these assets to carry out an internal condition assessment, undertake any minor repairs and plan for any major upgrades that may be required in the future.

Scrubbers are used to remove odours that naturally occur during the treatment process.

As we work on these scrubbers, there may be some odour around the Bondi facility. To minimise the impact on our community, we'll be shutting down and inspecting one scrubber at a time (3 in total) and conduct this work in the winter months, where cooler temperatures generate less odour.

We plan to start work in mid-May and expect to finish by mid-August 2025, weather permitting.

We know our work can be disruptive, so we'll make every effort to reduce any impact this work may have on you. You may experience odours from the site, and this can be reported to our Bondi team via our QR code.

Where do I get more information and help?

If you would like to know more, please contact our community engagement team on Delivering4Customers@sydneywater.com.au or phone 1800 006 113 (ext. 6).

Thank you for your cooperation during this essential work.

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.

Construction of the facility commenced in 1936 and was delayed due to World War II, with work restarting in 1951. Since then, it has continued to provide wastewater services, protect the waterway and improve the environment.

In July 2023, we invited members of the local community to form the Bondi Community Reference Group (CRG). The CRG members include local residents and Waverley Council representatives. The Bondi CRG will meet quarterly. Its purpose is to:

• enhance communication with nearby community affected by the Bondi WRRF
• increase understanding of community feedback and planned improvement works
• maximise opportunities for community involvement as we plan for improvement works

We've commenced preliminary master planning, investigation and condition assessment inspections for the improvement works for the Bondi wastewater system and the Bondi WRRF.

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.

We also asked what could be improved to make the area even better than it is.

We spoke to a lot of people and got some great insights on what's important to the community. We're using these insights to inform our engagement approach as we progress with the WRRF upgrade works.

• Environmental protection: The most important issue of concern for you is environmental protection. We share your passion for the environment and will look to implement natural vegetation in the area.
• Access to and use of green spaces: The parks and reserves around the Bondi facility are currently being used for a wide range of recreation activities. We're hearing that there are some upgrades you would like to see to the area, as the conditions have an impact on these activities.
• Accessibility: An important topic for the community is safe access to green spaces and the wider area. Many parents struggle with accessing the area with a pram, and this is even a deterrent for some. Most residents travel around Bondi on foot, and many spoke about how Military Road is dangerous due to the lack of pedestrian crossings, blind corners and poorly maintained footpaths.
• Cultural heritage: A strong theme during consultation is how proud Bondi residents are of their surroundings and how passionate they are in preserving the natural beauty of the area. During consultation, we asked for ideas for any benefits or outcomes to the local area they'd like to see that we should consider as part of project planning. There were many suggestions, particularly around improving accessibility to the recreational areas so more people can enjoy the space.

We'd like to thank everyone who came to our pop-ups and meetings, and filled in our survey. We're committing to implement these themes in our planning for the Bondi facility upgrade and will keep you involved and informed on the way.