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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.
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:
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:
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:
Our planning will ensure that our wastewater system remains reliable and can continue to treat wastewater in an environmentally safe and sustainable way.
We understand our work can impact our community, and we'd like to thank everyone for their patience as we upgrade Bondi WRRF.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
