Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula water cycle management

Sydney Water has explored an alternative alignment for the GPOP river release pipeline.

During the project’s original Environment Impact Statement (EIS) engagement held between 12 February and 18 March 2026, more than 400 submissions were received from stakeholders and community members in areas like Rydalmere, Camellia, Rosehill, Silverwater, Newington, Wentworth Point, and Meadowbank.

This feedback highlighted the need to better balance community expectations, construction impacts and cost.

Further technical investigations undertaken after the EIS was prepared also showed that a largely tunnelled alternative route is a feasible option.

A more direct alignment

 The new pipeline alignment proposal would start at the Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) in Camellia–Rosehill, then travel via Silverwater Park, through George Kendall Riverside Park to Meadowbank Park.

A short section near Memorial Park would be constructed using open trench methods before reaching the river release point near John Whitton Bridge.

See the map of the alternative alignment here

The alternative alignment shortens the pipeline by around 2.3 kilometres and allows significantly more of the construction to be carried out underground using tunnelling with fewer temporary construction sites, placed in open spaces along the route.

Talk to the project team
We are hosting events to talk to the community about the alternative alignment and project, please find details below.

Our partners at RPS are running a survey to understand your local knowledge of the area. Your feedback will help us to assess the social impacts of the alternative alignment for the river release pipeline.

The survey is available by clicking this link until Sunday, 9 August.

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 on the proposed project. 

Over the EIS exhibition period, the project team hosted six community events and engaged with more than 185 community members. 

These included: 

• Community Webinar - Monday 16 February, 6:30pm –7:30pm 

• Community Drop-In Session- Saturday 28 February, 9:30am–11:30am at Shepherds Bay Community Centre

• Community Pop-Up Session: Memorial Park - Thursday 5 March, 4:30pm–6:30pm 

• Community Pop-Up Session: Newington - Friday 6 March, 11:30am–1:00pm  
  at Pierre de Coubertin Park (near the dog park)

• Community Pop-Up Session – Sunday 8 March, 9:00am–2:00pm at Ryde Wharf Markets

• Community Webinar – Tuesday 10 March, 12:00pm-1:00pm

Concerns we heard from the community included: 

• noise and vibration impacts during construction 

• traffic and access during construction

• impacts to open spaces/parks 

• impacts to vegetation 

• impacts to water quality in Parramatta River 

• pipeline design and alignment 

• heritage impacts.

In the coming months, Sydney Water will review all submissions received by DPHI and respond via a Response to Submissions Report, which will be displayed on DPHI’s planning portal: https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/greater-parramatta-olympic-peninsula-water-cycle

If changes to the project are required as a result of feedback received in submissions, Sydney Water will prepare a Preferred Infrastructure Report and/or an Amendment Report. These documents will be displayed on the planning portal. 

We will continue to engage with the community and stakeholders as the project progresses.

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

These FAQs provide detail on key areas of interest raised in engagement with the local community and where these topics are addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement. To view the  Meadowbank and Memorial Park Community FAQs click here.

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

These FAQs provide detail on key areas of interest raised in engagement with the local community and where these topics are addressed in the Environmental Impact Statement. To view the Newington Community FAQs click here. 

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.  

This extension will provide community and all interested stakeholders with additional time to review the EIS and submit formal feedback. 

You can view the EIS and lodge your feedback via the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure (DPHI) planning portal: 
https://www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/projects/greater-parramatta-olympic-peninsula-water-cycle

Resources to help you use the NSW Planning Portal are available at www.planningportal.nsw.gov.au/major-projects/help including a step-by-step guide on how to make a submission. If you require assistance, please contact DPHI’s customer support team on 1300 305 695. 

Thank you for your ongoing engagement on Sydney Water’s GPOP water cycle management project. 

After the EIS exhibition period, Sydney Water will receive all submissions lodged to DPHI, and respond via a Response Submissions Report. If changes to the project are required as a result of issues raised in submissions, Sydney Water will prepare a Preferred Infrastructure Report and/or an Amendment Report. 

Sydney Water have prepared a Consultation Outcomes Report summarising the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) engagement with community and stakeholders from 1 July 2024 to 24 November 2025 relating to the Secretary's Environmental Assessment Requirements (SEARs). It provides detail on the engagement undertaken, feedback received and how it is addressed by the project in accordance with the Department’s Undertaking Engagement Guidelines for State Significant Projects. 

Since 24 November 2025, Sydney Water has continued to engage with stakeholders and community to support the 
EIS exhibition. A ‘What We Heard’ newsletter was distributed via letterbox drop in January 2026 to residents along the alignment, summarising feedback received to date and outlining how community can provide feedback on the EIS. 
Additionally, a engagement program to promote the EIS has occurred and the project team has continued project 
briefings with key stakeholders ahead of the EIS exhibition period.

Sydney Water will consider feedback raised by stakeholders and the community during exhibition of this EIS. 

Following exhibition of the EIS, Sydney Water will review all submissions received and prepare a Submissions Report. 
The Submissions Report will detail how Sydney Water has considered the submissions that have been received.If changes to the project are required as a result of issues raised in submissions, Sydney Water will prepare a Preferred Infrastructure Report and/or an Amendment Report.

As State Significant Infrastructure, Sydney Water has prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the GPOP water cycle management project. This assesses the project’s impacts and how we will manage them. 

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.

We have also prepared an EIS overview brochure, which provides a high-level overview of the project, potential impacts and how we plan to minimise these.

In addition, we are hosting a range of events during the EIS exhibition period to answer any further questions community and stakeholders may have.  These events are listed on the project webpage.  

After the EIS exhibition period, Sydney Water will review all submissions and respond via a  Submissions Report. If changes to the project are required as a result of issues raised in submissions, Sydney Water will prepare a Preferred Infrastructure Report and/or an Amendment Report.

For any enquiries please contact gpopproject@sydneywater.com.au or call 1800 172 263. 

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). 

The REF assess impacts of the water main relocation. The existing water main within the site is a critical water asset within the Ryde water network, servicing over one million people. The existing water main is aging, crosses through the site and would constrain future infrastructure development at the site. The relocation of the water main involves installing a new water main around the perimeter of the site and then decommissioning the existing water main. Sydney Water plans to relocate an existing water main at the Devon Street site.

You can view the Water main relocation REF here.

A future WRRF is proposed for the site as part of the Greater Parramatta Water Cycle Management Project, and subject to State Significant Infrastructure approvals (SSI 74258485). The new WRRF will produce advanced treated water that will be released into Parramatta River. An Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) will be prepared for this project and will be on display in early 2026 for public comment.

Your feedback is important to us, and the community will have ongoing opportunities to help us improve the project planning for this work. If you have any questions, please contact us on 1800 172 263 or gpopproject@sydneywater.com.au.

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

The online session is just one more way you can find out about the project, its benefits and potential impacts. It's also an opportunity to have your say on the project and share ideas on integrated water management for the region.

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

Our Greater Parramatta and Olympic Peninsula project fact sheets are now available online in 4 languages, including Simplified Chinese, Traditional Chinese, Arabic and Korean. These fact sheets will allow us to have a wider reach to the community across Greater Sydney. We are committed to continuing to engage with multicultural communities. Stay tuned for updates on what's coming up in your community.

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

The online session is just one more way you can find out about the project, its benefits and its potential impacts. It's also an opportunity to have your say on the project and share ideas on integrated water management for the region.