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Wastewater infrastructure in Western Sydney
We're delivering wastewater infrastructure to support the growth in the Western Sydney region. This program will ensure a resilient, reliable water supply and protect the environment in the Upper South Creek area surrounding the new Western Sydney International Airport.
About this project
Greater Sydney's population is forecast to reach 8 million people over the next 40 years, with approximately half expected to be living in the Western Sydney.
We are investing now to transform and integrate our water, wastewater, stormwater and recycled water systems to ensure we can continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable services to customers as the region continues to grow. This will help respond to the effects of climate change and ensure the health and amenity of Greater Sydney's beautiful waterways.
By 2056, it is estimated 130,000 new dwellings and 217,000 jobs will be in the Upper South Creek catchment region. The Upper South Creek catchment will also include innovative precincts focused on advanced manufacturing, technology, research, training and education, freight and logistics, agribusiness and mixed-use development.
To support the growth in the region, we are delivering wastewater infrastructure to Western Sydney. This will ensure a resilient, reliable water supply and protect the environment in the Upper South Creek area surrounding the new Western Sydney International Airport.
In partnership with CreekConnect, the Upper South Creek Network (USCN) Program will progressively deliver across the 8 project areas and precincts over a 12-year period. The program as currently planned will deliver:
- over 115 kilometres of wastewater pipelines
- supporting infrastructure such as ventilation shafts and maintenance holes
- 11 pumping stations.
The USCN Program will provide wastewater infrastructure to these 8 precincts:
- Agribusiness
- Austral Leppington
- Badgerys Creek
- Cosgroves Creek
- Lowes Creek
- Mamre Road
- South Creek
- Thompsons Creek.
To ensure we're ready to meet future growth and development, we are:
- working with government agencies to meet growth forecasts and ensure we deliver the right services at the right time
- protecting public health and the environment by ensuring the community can access safe and reliable wastewater services
- taking steps to minimise any environmental impacts
- working with the community and stakeholders throughout the project and keeping them informed.
Benefits
The new infrastructure will benefit the community by providing wastewater collection to support the growing population and development of the region, and provide protection of public health and the community by reducing the risk of wastewater being released into our waterways.
Project timeline
Project updates
Aerotropolis and Mamre Road Precincts Community Information Drop-in Session
On Saturday 10 May 2025, the Upper South Creek Networks (USCN) Program team attended the bi-annual community drop-in session at Bringelly Community Centre, hosted by Sydney Water and Aerotropolis Independent Community Commissioner, Roberta Ryan.
Austral Leppington Precinct – Review of Environmental Factors (REF)
We've prepared a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) for the Austral Leppington Precinct, guided by the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Start of work – South Creek pumping station
We're starting construction on the first stage of work on the Upper South Creek Networks Program, providing world-class wastewater services to Western Sydney's growing communities.
Cosgroves Creek Precinct – Review of Environmental Factors
We're constructing new wastewater infrastructure in the Cosgroves Creek Precinct, which is part of the USCN Program.
Community information session – Saturday 12 April 2025
Information on the Aerotropolis Integrated Stormwater Schemes for Wianamatta Badgerys and Cosgrove areas is now live.
Austral Leppington Precinct – site investigations
We're in the early design phase of the Austral Leppington Precinct (previously known as Kemps Creek Carrier Extension project), which is part of the USCN Program.
Cosgroves Creek and South Creek precincts – site investigations
Our team is undertaking site investigations to assess ground conditions across the Cosgroves Creek and South Creek precincts.
Thompsons Creek and South Creek Precinct – Review of Environmental Factors and Review of Environmental Factors Addendum
We're constructing new wastewater infrastructure in the Thompsons Creek and South Creek Precinct, which is part of the USCN Program.
Badgerys Creek Precinct – Review of Environmental Factors
We're constructing new wastewater infrastructure in the Badgerys Creek Precinct, which is part of the USCN Program.
End-of-year shutdown period
Dear community members,
We want to inform you that our USCN Program team will be taking a well-deserved break for the Christmas and New Year holidays. During this time, there will be no work taking place on the project.
Aerotropolis and Mamre Road precincts community information drop-in session
We hope you can join us to learn more about projects in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Mamre Road precincts.
USCN Program contract award
We're excited to announce that we've appointed Jacobs Seymour Whyte (JSW) Joint Venture to provide engineering, procurement and construction management services to drive a coordinated and sustainable approach to the delivery of the USCN Program.
Lowes Creek project update – June 2024
Our team recently completed an environmental assessment to assess and evaluate ground conditions. The assessment involved walking on private and public land taking photographs of the landscape, vegetation, creek bed and ground condition.
Community information session 4 May 2024 – Aerotropolis and Mamre Road precincts
We're pleased to announce that Sydney Water, together with the Aerotropolis Independent Community Commissioner Roberta Ryan, is hosting a community drop-in session from 10am to 1pm on 4 May 2024 at Bringelly Community Centre.
Cosgroves Creek – archaeological and ecological site assessments
From early May 2024, our team of ecologists and archaeologists will start site assessments along the proposed wastewater pipeline alignment in the Cosgroves Creek Precinct.
Thompsons Creek and South Creek project update March 2024
To support the significant growth within the next few decades, our project team has been working on designing the new wastewater infrastructure for the Thompsons Creek and South Creek Precinct.
Cosgroves Creek Precinct update March 2024
To support the significant growth within the next few decades, our project team has been working on designing the new wastewater infrastructure for the Cosgroves Creek Precinct.
Lowes Creek site walk assessment
We've started the early design for the new wastewater infrastructure for the Lowes Creek project. The Lowes Creek wastewater project will service Lowes Creek Merrylands precinct, parts of Oran Park, Catherine Fields, Pondicherry and Catherine Fields North. This new wastewater pipeline and supporting infrastructure is expected to be constructed by 2028.
Lowes Creek project update
Our project team is starting the early design for the wastewater pipeline route for the Lowes Creek project. To help inform the early design, we will be completing site walks to assess and evaluate ground condition.
Thompsons Creek and South Creek – archaeological and ecological field inspections.
From late January 2024, our team of ecologists and archaeologists will start site assessments along the proposed new wastewater pipe alignment in the Thompsons and South Creek catchments.
What's been happening in the Thompsons Creek and South Creek catchments
Since April 2023, we've been working on developing the concept design for the new wastewater infrastructure in the Thompsons Creek and South Creek catchments. The concept design for the Thompsons Creek and South Creek is nearing 90% completion.
What's been happening in the Cosgroves Creek and Agribusiness catchments
Since April 2023, we've been working on developing the concept design for the new wastewater infrastructure in the Cosgroves and Agribusiness catchments. The concept design for Cosgroves Creek is at 90% completion and the concept design for the Agribusiness catchment will be completed early 2024.
Upcoming drone inspection
We're in the early planning stages of a new wastewater network in the South-West Growth Region.
More information
- South Creek and Badgerys Creek start of work April 2025
- Upper South Creek Networks Program ecological and Aboriginal heritage fieldwork April 2024
- Upper South Creek Networks Program ecological and Aboriginal heritage fieldwork February 2024
- Upper South Creek Networks Program notification April 2023
- Lowes Creek project update June 2024
- Lowes Creek project introduction January 2024
- Austral Leppington Precinct REF: May 2025
- Badgerys Creek wastewater Stage 2 REF: November 2024
- Cosgroves Creek wastewater network Stage 1 REF: April 2025
- Mamre Road Precinct – wastewater network REF: November 2021
- Mamre Road Precinct – construction compounds and Stage 2 SP1222 pressure main REF Addendum: November 2023
- Western Sydney Aerotropolis Growth Area (WSAGA) – drinking water Stage 1 Package 2 REF: November 2022
- Thompsons Creek and South Creek catchments wastewater network Stage 1 REF: January 2025
- Thompsons Creek and South Creek catchments wastewater network REF Addendum: January 2025
FAQs
Gravity mains are large pipes that transport wastewater flow downhill by gravity. Pressure mains are the pipes that connect to a pumping station which aid the wastewater to flow uphill or over long distances.
A pumping station is a storage and collection chamber that lifts and distributes wastewater when it cannot naturally be carried by gravity from one location to another. We will build pump stations along the wastewater alignment to help the wastewater travel long-distance up to the AWRC for treatment.
The pumping station and flow of wastewater is remotely monitored and operated by our System Operation Centre through automatic controls. The team at the System Operation Centre ensures the pumps and equipment are operating safely and will be alerted to any issues at the site through an alarm system. For issues such as power outages, the System Operation Centre will activate a back-up generator. For more complicated issues, they will arrange for a team to attend site and investigate/resolve the issue as soon as possible.
Sydney Water will develop a site specific operational and maintenance plan to manage the pump station during any periods of power and mechanical outage.
A ventilation shaft is a structure, similar to an exhaust fan, that is connected to the wastewater system that allows air to enter and exit the wastewater system, which is important to help the system work properly.
If the wastewater system isn’t ventilated properly, a bacterium found in wastewater produces hydrogen sulphide (rotten egg) gas, which fills up the air space in wastewater pipes. The gas then turns into sulphuric acid which corrodes concrete, causing pipes and maintenance holes to deteriorate and collapse. This can cause blockages, leaks and other issues on the wastewater network.
To reduce the risk of this happening, we need to make sure air can circulate in and out of the wastewater system. We do this by installing ventilation systems, including vent shafts.
The best way to put air into the wastewater system and reduce corrosion is to have a number of ventilation shafts along a wastewater pipe.
A maintenance hole is an access point into the underground wastewater network. We use them to access, inspect and maintain the network. Most of our maintenance holes look like a round metal or concrete cover, level with the ground.
There are many factors that need to be considered when deciding where to put infrastructure. These include:
- A servicing strategy completed by Sydney Water for Western Sydney to support the population growth and development in the area.
- Technical studies including geotechnical investigations, and environmental and heritage assessments to understand the area.
- Future operations and maintenance activities, including avoiding sharp angles to reduce the number of maintenance holes required and the accessibility of the locations.
- 1 in 100 year flood event modelling. Building outside of the flood level would decrease the risk of wastewater overflows during severe weather events and prevent major environmental impacts.
- The Department of Planning and Environment Precinct Plan, which shows the location of the future roads and developments. This allows Sydney Water to plan future asset locations.
- Water Servicing Association of Australia’s code for determining the location of gravity and pressure wastewater infrastructure.
We have used the Water Servicing Association of Australia’s code for determining the location of the wastewater infrastructure. Under this code we are required, where possible, to avoid building in floodway and below the 1:100 year flood levels. This is to prevent wastewater overflows during wet weather. We have located the pipeline as close to the creek as possible given these restrictions.
If your property is to be directly impacted by our wastewater pipeline, pumping station or any other infrastructure, our Community Engagement Team will contact you to arrange a time to meet with you.
Sydney Water may need to acquire some privately owned land and easements as part of this project. Easements may be required over land to protect the new wastewater pipeline and supporting infrastructure from damage and to ensure access for operations and maintenance where necessary.
The locations affected by land acquisitions and easements will be determined based on the Sydney Water Guidelines for property aquisitions and easements.
The Community Engagement and Property Acquisition Teams will discuss the easements and acquisitions required with the impacted property owners directly.
If Sydney Water needs to create an easement on private property, we will work with the affected landowner to negotiate compensation under the Land Acquisition (Just Terms Compensation) Act 1991 and Sydney Water’s Compensation Policy for Property Owners.
Compensation is determined on a site-by-site basis. Details of the compensation process will be discussed with affected landowners closer to construction.
Sydney Water does not need to acquire land for pipelines. When our pipelines are in private property, they are generally designed to be of minimal impact and disruption to the use of your land. There are some instances when Sydney Water may purchase properties for large infrastructure and this is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Rezoning is determined by your local council in consultation with Department of Planning and Environment, not Sydney Water. The construction of this wastewater infrastructure will allow the land to be redeveloped, as it is required that redevelopments in this area are connected to the wastewater network.
You cannot build over easements or pressure pipes, however it is possible to build next to them. It is possible to build over some types of gravity mains, depending on size and depth. More information about building over or close to wastewater infrastructure.
A Review of Environmental Factors (REF) is a form of an environmental impact assessment. Sydney Water is preparing an REF for each project that is part of the USCN Program. The REFs will assess the potential environmental impacts associated with each project and will identify mitigation measures that avoid or minimise potential impacts. For example, this can include avoiding open trenching in the environmentally sensitive or culturally significant areas by boring the pipeline underground or completing work at specific times to avoid sensitive times for the community or local fauna.
These REFs will be prepared in accordance with Part 5 of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979.
Sydney Water is committed to providing the best outcomes for the environment and will have environmental measures in place to reduce impacts. The importance of trees and green spaces in our community, which provide shade and help cool our urban areas, cannot be underestimated.
During the design phase and construction planning, we’ll investigate ways to reduce impacts to vegetation communities, including choosing non-disruptive methods of construction, such as boring under the vegetation.
Sydney Water will be responsible for the maintenance of all new infrastructure including pumping stations, gravity main and pressure mains. We do not maintain any private services such as septic tanks.
Learn more about our wastewater networks.
If you would like your property to be connected to the new Sydney Water wastewater system, you will need to submit an application with a water servicing coordinator. A water servicing coordinator can help with your application to connect to the Sydney Water pipeline.
Contact our water coordinators
As this project progresses, our team will discuss any property specific impact with you. For some work, the project team will prepare a home plan with each impacted landowner which will outline all work and the access requirements for the property eg: providing notice so that stock can be moved between fields.