About this project
The South West Growth Area (SWGA) is one of the NSW Government's 3 designated growth areas in South West Sydney. This area will see substantial growth over the coming years, increasing from 2,300 dwellings in 2022 to approximately 38,000 dwellings by 2056.
The Kemps Creek dual pressure mains (KCPM) project will improve wastewater services in the SWGA. It includes the construction of 6.8 kilometres of dual wastewater pipes (known as pressure mains) from the sewage pumping station being constructed at Gurner Avenue, Austral, to the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) being constructed at Kemps Creek.
Wastewater pressure mains are pipelines that carry wastewater under pressure from a pump station to a wastewater treatment plant. Pumps or compressors located in a wastewater pump station provide force for wastewater to travel through the wastewater mains.
The pressure mains will be located within the local government areas (LGAs) of:
- Penrith City Council
- Liverpool City Council
- Gandangara Local Aboriginal Land Council
- Deerrubin Local Aboriginal Land Council.
The pipeline is located within a mixture of urbanised areas associated with current residential and commercial developments, and the Kemps Creek Nature Reserve.
The pipelines run along local roads, through private properties and crosses major roads, including Elizabeth Drive and the M12 Motorway.
We'll transfer wastewater collected from homes and businesses in Austral, Leppington North, parts of Leppington, parts of Catherine Fields North, Rossmore and Kemps Creek (known as the Kemps Creek catchment area) to the AWRC to be treated.
The AWRC is Sydney Water's largest infrastructure investment in Western Sydney. It's a sophisticated wastewater treatment and resource recovery centre that will produce recycled water, renewable energy and bioresources. It will use reverse osmosis – the same technology used by the desalination plant – to treat water to a high quality.
When completed in early 2026, the AWRC and associated pipelines will deliver sustainable wastewater services and high-quality recycled water to support a cooler, greener Western Parkland City.
We have engaged delivery partner Quickway to deliver this project. Construction on this project began in July 2024 and completion is expected in late 2025, weather permitting.
Benefits
Key benefits for the local community include:
- efficient and cost-effective wastewater services
- high quality recycled water for a range of non-drinking reuses
- protecting waterway health and aquatic ecosystems via environmental flows
- enhanced biodiversity by greening Western Sydney with recycled water
- energy generation from recycled organic waste and solar
- biosolids for use as fertilisers in agriculture.
Impacts
We're committed to minimising and managing potential impacts to the community during the construction. To manage any impacts during the construction phase, a Construction Environmental Management Plan has been prepared and includes mitigation measures to manage:
- dust and noise
- sediment and run-off
- traffic management in and around worksites
- site deliveries and lay down areas
- working hours
- pedestrian management
- drilling work and pipeline trenching
- vegetation protection
- spoil management.
There may be some noise and vibration generated from work, truck movements, concrete cutting and installation of road plates (if required). These impacts will be monitored, and the team will make every effort to ensure any noise and disturbance to the community is kept to a minimum.
Your services won't be impacted while we are installing the pipelines.
Affected streets
These streets will be affected by construction in Kemps Creek: Floribunda Road, Tavistock Road, Exeter Road, Pratten Street, Cross Street, Elizabeth Drive, M12 Access Road, Clifton Avenue and Badu Maru Grove. Gurner Avenue in Austral will also be affected.
Our delivery partner Quickway will contact all directly and indirectly impacted landowners on behalf of Sydney Water regarding construction of the pipelines.
Addressing potential odour issues
The wastewater system design has been reviewed prior to construction and includes features aimed at reducing or removing odour from pipelines and pumping stations, such as passive vent filters.
Once the infrastructure is built, we'll test for odour using handheld equipment and sensors to ensure there is no odour that may impact surrounding residents. If we detect a problem, we'll investigate the cause and implement a suitable solution.
