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Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula water cycle management

Investing in sustainable water solutions

Sydney Water is proposing to construct and operate a water resource recovery facility (WRRF) and associated infrastructure at Camellia-Rosehill. The WRRF would divert wastewater from the Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer (NSOOS) via the Camellia pumping station and produce advanced treated water which would be released to the Parramatta River at John Whitton Bridge, Meadowbank Park.

About this project

Have your say

Project timeline

Work location

River Release FAQ

Project updates

More information

About this project

Over the next 30 years, the GPOP precinct will be home to an additional 250,000 people. With significant population and employment growth, as well as innovation in technology sectors, we are investing in more sustainable and long-term water treatment.

Currently, wastewater in the GPOP area is transported via the NSOOS to the North Head WRRF. These critical assets provide wastewater services to approximately 1.7 million people across the western and northern suburbs. Anticipated growth in housing and commercial development is expected to place pressure on existing critical assets, with the NSOOS and the North Head WRRF expected to reach capacity around 2031.

As part of the GPOP water cycle management project, we are planning to build a new Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF), shifting our reliance on coastal treatment and ocean discharge of wastewater.

The project involves:

a new WRRF within the Camellia industrial precinct to treat wastewater and produce advanced treated water
upgrades to the existing pumping station at Camellia
a new wastewater transfer pipeline from the Camellia pumping station to the WRRF
a new brine* pipeline and relining of an existing pipeline to transfer brine from the WRRF to the Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer (NSOOS)
a new river release pipeline to transfer advanced treated water from the WRRF to Parramatta River
a new river release structure in Parramatta River at Meadowbank
a range of ancillary infrastructure.

*Brine is the by-product of the advanced water treatment process

This project is subject to an Environmental Impact Assessment. For more details on this process, visit the NSW Planning Portal to view the Environmental Impact Statement and lodge a submission to the Department of Planning Housing and Infrastructure.

Benefits

Benefits for the community include:

providing efficient and cost-effective wastewater services
reducing reliance on ocean discharge and the need to transport wastewater across Sydney by localising treatment
supporting the improvement of the water quality of Parramatta River through the release of advanced treated water
providing enabling infrastructure to support the potential future re-use of recycled water
delivering wastewater services to enable housing and growth now and for the future.

Have your say

We encourage stakeholders and the community to find out more and provide feedback on this project so we can deliver it in a way that meets expectations.

You can provide general feedback through our survey form, however please note this feedback will not be part of the formal EIS submission process.

Project timeline

Project planning

Concept design and scoping, as well as community and stakeholder engagement, to support development of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

2026: EIS exhibition and Response to Submissions

From early 2026, the EIS will be published on the NSW Planning Portal. Following on from the public exhibition Sydney Water will review all submissions received by DPHI and respond via a Response to Submissions Report.

2026-2027: Detailed design and procurement

From late 2026, we and our contractors will finalise detailed plans for the project. Procurement to support these activities will also occur.

2028 to 2031: Construction

2032: Operational

We expect the scheme will be operational in 2032.

River Release Pipeline Frequently Asked Questions

Sydney Water has been exploring potential sites for river release to Parramatta River over many years, considering locations both upstream and downstream of the proposed site at Meadowbank.

From the list of potential sites, Wentworth Point, Rhodes and Meadowbank were considered feasible locations, being the closest to the proposed new Camellia-Rosehill Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) site. Detailed review identified that Wentworth Point and Rhodes were less preferred due to shallower water depths than Meadowbank, and the high-density residential areas had little to no open space available. This constrained the ability to construct at these locations.

Due to these features, Meadowbank near John Whitton Bridge has been identified as the preferred location and provides optimal mixing of the advanced treated water in Parramatta River and the best environmental outcomes.

Yes, advanced treated water is safe to be released into Parramatta River. It is the highest level of treatment and is produced using a series of primary and secondary treatment process followed by reverse osmosis. The water quality assessment undertaken has predicted that there may be local improvements to river water quality from the release of advanced treated water. The project has also been designed to be adaptable to using the advanced treated water for other beneficial uses in the future.

To find out more about how we treat wastewater, head to www.sydneywater.com.au/water-the-environment/how-we-manage-sydneys-water/wastewater-network/wastewater-treatment-plants.html

Sydney Water has considered the design of the project with extreme climate change events in mind, including flooding and extreme heat.

The future Camellia-Rosehill WRRF is designed to continue to release advanced treated water to Parramatta River in extreme weather events. The Camellia pumping station will send a portion of the wastewater it receives to the WRRF, and the pumping station will continue to direct the remainder of the wastewater to the existing North Head WRRF for treatment via the existing Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer (NSOOS).

Further details can be found in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) which will be on exhibition via the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) in 2026.

The project proposes to release up to 70 megalitres of advanced treated water per day into Parramatta River. Future expansion of the WRRF is expected in the long term to continue to service growth. Our assessments indicate there will be negligible impact on river water levels as a result of the volumes released by the project. Further details can be found in the EIS which will be on exhibition via the DPHI in 2026.

Sydney Water has engaged with community groups, local residents, schools and businesses to hear their feedback and concerns. We have worked closely with key stakeholders including the Environment Protection Authority (EPA), NSW Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment (DCCEEW), Water NSW, Sydney Olympic Park Authority (SOPA), NSW Maritime, Sydney Metro, City of Ryde Council, City of Parramatta Council and Transport for NSW (TfNSW) including Parramatta Light Rail.

Through this early and ongoing engagement, we have worked with community and stakeholders to incorporate their feedback, shape the project and mitigate impacts. The main issues raised relate to water quality and potential construction impacts from traffic, noise and access to open space. Overall, there is general support for the project and new infrastructure to service growth in the GPOP area.

For more information or to provide feedback contact gpopproject@sydneywater.com.au.

Project updates

24 March 2026

GPOP EIS public exhibition now closed

The public exhibition of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula (GPOP) water cycle management project has now concluded.

Thank you to everyone who took time to engage, share feedback and send formal submissions to Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) on the proposed project.

20 March 2026

Meadowbank and Memorial Park frequently asked questions now live

Sydney Water have prepared community FAQs for the Meadowbank area and Memorial Park where sections of the proposed river release pipeline runs through.

17 March 2026

Newington community frequently asked questions now live

Sydney Water have prepared community FAQs for the Newington area where sections of the proposed river release pipeline runs through.

10 March 2026

GPOP EIS public exhibition extension

The Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula (GPOP) water cycle management project, which was originally on public exhibition until 11 March 2026 has been extended for one week, and will now be on exhibition until 18 March 2026.

12 February 2026

Consultation Outcomes Report now avaliable

Sydney Water have prepared a Consultation Outcomes Report summarising the EIS engagement with community and stakeholders from 1 July 2024 to 24 November 2025.

12 February 2026

Environmental Impact Statement now on public exhibition for comment

The EIS is now on public exhibition from 12 February 2026 until 11 March 2026, giving the community an opportunity to provide feedback. You will be able to view the EIS and provide feedback to the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) via the planning portal.

06 November 2025

Water main relocation, Devon Street Rosehill Review of Environmental Factors

We have published a Review of Environemntal Factors (REF) for the upcoming relocation of the water main at Sydney Water's Camellia site on Devon Street in Rosehill (Lot 1 DP1300589).

25 June 2025

Pop-up display – Ryde Wharf Markets

Thank you to everyone who took time to chat with us, your feedback is greatly valued and will play a part in shaping the project.

04 February 2025

Register for our next webinar – 18 February

We will host a follow-up webinar on Tuesday 18 February 2025 from 12pm until 1pm.

19 December 2024

Translated project fact sheets now available

With over 5 million customers, and an extra 2 million expected by 2050, we understand how diverse our community is here in Greater Sydney.

14 November 2024

Register for our webinar

We will host a webinar on Wednesday 29 January 2025 from 6:30pm until 7:30pm.

05 November 2024

Pop-up display – Ryde Wharf Markets

On Sunday 27 October, we hosted a display at the Ryde Wharf Markets to speak with locals about the GPOP water cycle management project and how this work supports a potential future purified recycled water (PRW) scheme.

21 October 2024

Camellia site environmental management works Review of Environmental Factors

We have published a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for upcoming site environmental management work at Sydney Water's Camellia site on Devon Street in Rosehill (Lot 1 DP1300589).

23 October 2024

Pop up display – Wentworth Point Night Markets

At the Wentworth Point Night Markets on Friday 4 October, Sydney Water hosted a display to share information about the GPOP Water Cycle Management Project, as well as provide information about how this project supports a potential future purified recycled water (PRW) scheme.

Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula water cycle management