When operating at maximum capacity, the facility will treat around 70 megalitres (approximately 28 Olympic-size swimming pools) of wastewater each day and produce high quality treated water for sustainable, non-drinking water.
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We're constructing one of the Southern Hemisphere's most advanced wastewater recycling facilities: the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre in Kemps Creek.
We're building the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and associated pipelines in Kemps Creek to support population and economic growth in Western Sydney. It's our largest infrastructure investment in Western Sydney that will provide the foundation for a circular economy hub in the Parkland City.
When completed in 2026, the AWRC and its associated pipelines will support the population and economic growth of Western Sydney including the Western Sydney International Airport and the designated growth areas (South West Growth Area and Western Sydney Aerotropolis Growth Area).
As part of the process of treating wastewater, the AWRC will produce large volumes of high quality water suitable for a wide range of non-drinking uses in homes and businesses, for various industrial and agricultural uses, and for watering public open spaces.
Given its high quality, treated water will also be transferred via a new water pipeline and released to the Nepean River to help sustain important river ecosystems. The remaining waste from the AWRC will be transferred via a new brine pipeline to the existing wastewater network at Lansdowne.
The AWRC is our largest infrastructure investment in Western Sydney, and will provide a foundation for a circular economy precinct in the region.
The project's scope includes:
new advanced water recycling centre in Kemps Creek
pipeline to release high quality treated water to the Nepean River at Wallacia
pipeline to take the plant's saline by-product (brine) to the existing wastewater network at Landsdowne
associated ancillary infrastructure.
When completed in 2026, the AWRC will deliver sustainable wastewater services and high quality recycled water to support a cooler, greener Western Parkland City. Key benefits for the local community include:
Our delivery partner John Holland is working hard to minimise the impacts of our construction activities on the community. With construction of the treated water and brine pipelines now complete, most construction impacts have now passed.
However, the AWRC located off Badu Muru Grove in Kemps Creek remains under construction. Nearby residents may still experience temporary traffic changes and minor construction impacts.
Our working hours are 7am–6pm Monday to Friday and 8am–1pm on Saturdays (except public holidays). We will notify affected people in advance if we need to work outside these hours.
Sydney Water crews will be completing a cut-over of a water main on Badu Muru Grove (formerly known as Paper Road), Kemps Creek on Friday 28 February 2025, weather permitting. Working hours will be 6pm–7am.
In March 2025, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Lansdowne and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In February 2025, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, Lansdowne and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In January 2025, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, Lansdowne and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
We'd like to thank the community for their patience and support as we have built 41 kilometres of pipeline between Wallacia and Lansdowne. In December, we will continue to build the AWRC at Kemps Creek, complete minor repairs and landscaping along the pipeline alignment, and demobilise temporary work compounds. We'll be taking a brief break over the holiday season. No construction will occur at the AWRC from 6pm Friday 20 December 2024 until 7am Monday 6 January 2025.
We hope you can join us to learn more about projects in the Western Sydney Aerotropolis and Mamre Road precincts.
We're excited to share our first annual Sustainability Report for the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre and pipelines.
In November, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, Lansdowne and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In October, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In September, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In August, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In July, work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield, and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out- of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In June, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In May, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
We're carrying out pipeline installation on Park Road between William Street and James Street between Monday 27 May and Friday 13 July, from 8pm to 5am, weather permitting. We will work Monday to Friday at this location.
We are continuing with our pipeline construction work within Western Sydney Parklands to install a 3-kilometre section of the brine like from the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre. We would like to thank the Western Sydney Parklands for working with us to minimise our impact on the newly opened Gabrugal Yana bushwalk.
We're planning and building projects across Western Sydney to support communities and deliver sustainable water resources.
We're continuing our pipeline construction work within Western Sydney Parklands to install a 3-kilometre section of the brine line from the Upper South Creek AWRC. We'd like to thank the Western Sydney Parklands for working with us to minimise our impact on the newly opened Gabrugal Yana bushwalk.
In March, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In February, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Mount Pritchard, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale, Fairfield and Lansvale. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In January, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Fairfield. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In December, work is planned for the AWRC and along our pipeline alignment spanning from Wallacia, Luddenham, Badgerys Creek, Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg, Cabramatta West, Cabramatta, Canley Vale and Fairfield. This includes standard hours and out-of-hours works. We work outside our standard construction hours to reduce the impact on traffic, manage oversized deliveries, increase safety for workers and ensure the quality of the asset being built.
In November, out-of-hours work is planned for the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) and along our pipeline alignment in Cecil Hills, Bonnyrigg Heights, Bonnyrigg and Cabramatta West.
Work will continue into November at both the AWRC and associated pipelines that travel from Kemps Creek heading west to Wallacia, and Kemps Creek heading east to Lansdowne.
The Upper South Creek AWRC project is working closely with the Western Sydney Parklands as the project progresses.
Work is progressing as we continue to build the AWRC in Kemps Creek and the associated pipelines from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne and Kemps Creek to Wallacia.
As detailed design and construction planning progressed, Sydney Water and its delivery partner John Holland identified several opportunities to reduce the project's environmental and community impact. This included avoiding some impacts to threatened biodiversity and heritage as well as reducing impact to the community by simplifying some construction activities.
We're continuing work to build the AWRC and the pipelines that extend east from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne and west from Kemps Creek to Wallacia.
Our delivery partner John Holland will be completing investigation work by potholing to confirm the location of underground utilities on Edensor Road and Harrington Street, Cabramatta West. The information gathered from these investigations will ensure that pipeline installation will be completed safely.
Our delivery partner John Holland will establish temporary site compounds across multiple locations within the pipeline alignment as part of the Upper South Creek AWRC. The temporary compounds will support construction of the pipeline infrastructure, which extends east from Kemps Creek to Lansdowne and west from Kemps Creek to Wallacia.
We're planning and building projects across Western Sydney to support communities and deliver sustainable water resources.
Want to learn more about our projects and construction activity in the Southwest Sydney and Aerotropolis areas?
Our delivery partner John Holland will start construction at the AWRC and on the treated water and brine pipelines from around Monday 7 August 2023.
While our Delivery Partner John Holland is building the AWRC and pipelines, construction activities will generate impacts that may be disruptive to the community at times.
Our delivery partner John Holland will be completing investigation work by potholing to confirm the location of underground utilities along the route of the brine pipeline in Kemps Creek, Cecil Hills, Green Valley, Bonnyrigg, Bonnyrigg Heights, Cabramatta West and Canley Vale.
Our delivery partner John Holland will be completing investigation work by potholing to confirm the location of underground utilities along the route of the brine and treated water pipelines in Canley Vale, Luddenham and Wallacia.
We have prepared a draft UDLP to set the strategy and design for the urban landscape and design at the AWRC. The UDLP focuses on the development of Stage 1 of the project (operational site) however considers opportunities for engagement around the future masterplan for green space (Stage 2) with relevant stakeholders.
The environmental flows pipeline was initially planned to support waterway health by releasing highly treated water into the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers. However, this will now be achieved by releasing the same water via the treated water pipeline, removing the need to build the environmental flows pipeline.
We hosted a community drop-in information session on Saturday, 6 May 2023 at the Bringelly Community Centre to give the community an opportunity to learn more about the AWRC and other projects in the area.
Having received NSW State and Federal government approval for the AWRC project, we're now undertaking early work to prepare for construction.
Sydney Water has awarded a contract to build one of the most advanced wastewater recycling facilities in the Southern Hemisphere in Western Sydney.
Survey and ground investigations in your area from November 2022
An Amendment Report to Sydney Water’s Upper South Creek AWRC Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is going on public exhibition on the NSW Department of Planning and Environment (DPE) website(External link) from Wednesday, 23 March until Tuesday, 5 April.
To support the exhibition of the Upper South Creek and AWRC Environmental Impact Statement, Sydney Water has developed a brochure that summarises the EIS
NSW Department of Industry, Planning and Environment (DPIE) is currently exhibiting the Upper South Creek and AWRC Environmental Impact Statement for public comment. The EIS assesses the project’s impacts and outlines how they will be managed.
Sydney Water hosted two online information sessions during the exhibition period to help the community better understand the impacts outlined in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
Sydney Water held three culturally and linguistically diverse online community information sessions to allow members of the community to get an update on the project, ask questions, and tell us what they thought about the project.
We postponed the community pop up information session
With the safety of the community and our people top of mind, due to the evolving COVID-19 situation in Sydney.
Sydney Water hosted multiple 'pop-up' information sessions between Saturday 5 June 2021 and Saturday 3rd July 2021, where the community were given the opportunity to come and meet the team and tell us what they thought about the proposed Advanced Water Recycling Centre’s design.
Sydney Water hosted four online information sessions to allow the community to hear more about the Upper South Creek project.
Sydney Water hosted multiple community information session between 19th January 2021 to 7th February 2021, to provide an update on the project, allow members of the community to ask questions, and tell us what they think about the project.
The proposed Advanced Water Recycling Centre at Kemps Creek, just north of Elizabeth Drive will provide essential wastewater services for the West and South West Sydney for generations to come.
We celebrated a big milestone with the submission of the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) Scoping Report to the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment (DPIE). Visit Upper South Creek's page on the planning portal to access a copy of the Scoping Report
Sydney Water is expanding our services to support future growth in Western Sydney. As part of this process, we need to carry out geotechnical investigations to help determine the best location for the new infrastructure.
Sydney Water is expanding our services to support future growth in South Western Sydney. As part of this process, we need to carry out geotechnical investigations close to properties in South West Sydney to help determine the best location for the new infrastructure.
When operating at maximum capacity, the facility will treat around 70 megalitres (approximately 28 Olympic-size swimming pools) of wastewater each day and produce high quality treated water for sustainable, non-drinking water.
Wastewater will be transported to the Upper South Creek AWRC for treatment via a network of pipelines, some of which have already been constructed, as well as new pipelines, mains and pumping stations that are under construction or planned to be constructed.
The centre will centralise the treatment of all wastewater generated in the Upper South Creek Servicing Area, which includes homes and businesses in Austral, Leppington North, parts of Leppington, parts of Catherine Fields North, Rossmore and Kemps Creek. Some parts of these areas are connected to our Liverpool and West Camden water resource recovery facilities, which are reaching capacity. This, combined with the rapid growth and development of the region support the need to provide additional wastewater capacity by constructing the AWRC.
When the AWRC is completed in 2026, it will be able to treat a daily wastewater flow of up to 35 megalitres a day. The associated pipelines, however, will cater for up to 70 megalitres a day so that the AWRC can be expanded in the future to treat an increased flow to align with growth in demand in the servicing area.
We build major infrastructure and trunk pipelines as part of our network. Trunk pipes are large water and wastewater pipelines that customers can't connect directly into. After trunk mains are built, developers or property owners need to build the next stage of pipelines, called reticulation or lead-in pipelines, to connect services to individual properties. Visit connections and disconnections or plumbing, building and developing to find out more.
We support the use of recycled water and/or harvested stormwater to meet non-drinking demands. We're in the early phase of planning recycled water service from the AWRC. The recycling scheme and timing are subject to the outcome of the planning study.
Learn more about our growth servicing plan.
Further information about potential demand for non-drinking water helps us in our investigations. Please email us to register your interest.
The Upper South Creek AWRC will meet world-best practices for wastewater treatment by using the highest level of treatment. It uses reverse osmosis (the same technology used by our desalination plant) in addition to a membrane bioreactor to treat water to a high quality.
Learn more about wastewater treatment and water recycling.