Raw sewage pump in Vaucluse endangers Parsley Bay marine reserve

By SASHA FOOT

Community members are fighting to protect Parsley Bay in Vaucluse as the construction of a sewage pumping station poses environmental risks. Bushcare regeneration volunteer and a frequent visitor at Parsley Bay, Nicole McMahon, described the reserve as a “wildlife sanctuary in the middle of Sydney”.

But McMahon says that an impact report on the sewage station did not adequately capture the reserve’s unique wildlife, such as the endangered species known to Parsley Bay, as the environmental survey happened over just two sittings. The terrestrial survey took place during the peak of the bushfire season, while the marine survey occurred over two days at the end of 2019.

Woollahra Council regularly monitors the endangered White Seahorse populations found in the popular harbourside swimming spot.

“Rare seagrasses at the reserve also need to be kept healthy, as they are a habitat for the seahorses,” McMahon told City Hub.

McMahon recognises that the inclusion of White’s Seahorses and Posidonia seagrass meadows in a $9.1 million NSW Government restoration project – aimed at improving water quality and biodiversity – attests to their importance for Sydney Harbour.

According to the 2020 Sydney Water final report, “a low diversity of fauna was recorded during the field survey”. The reasons provided were the “short duration” and “high temperatures and smoke haze present on the day”.

McMahon says the works, expected to span over two years, may be “unsettling for fauna sensitive to industrial noise”.

“We have exhaustingly asked [Sydney Water] over and over, can you please redo this environmental statement?

“However, there is a pushing away attitude – to the point they will not release the alternative locations planned for the station.”

A spokesperson for Sydney Water clarified that a Review of Environmental Factors (REF) was already conducted, which addressed “the sensitivities of the area and the control measures put in place to protect flora and fauna”.

“A Construction Environmental Management Plan will be prepared before building commences to ensure the ongoing compliance with the REF,” the spokesperson added.

Currently, NSW Government legislation allows contractors to engage in public infrastructure projects without conducting comprehensive environmental assessments. These are projects deemed of “low impact”.

“This means there is no oversight to ensure it has been done properly,” McMahon said.

Previous spill leads to beach closure

The community’s concerns go beyond environmental impacts, with McMahon citing the poor site choice on a flood-prone area and the lack of disaster recovery plans.

“What happens if there is a power failure, and what happens if something goes wrong? Where is their backup plan?”

A sewage incident as of December last year occurred at Parsley Bay under the waterfall, leading to its closure on December 20th. Signs remain in the rainforest area warning the public of the event.

“The sewage went straight down through the creek, killing all the aquatic life in its path,” McMahon said.

The pumping station will be built at the car park, with the existing toilet block needing to be demolished and four car spots removed. The decisions report says the car park will be re-configured to resolve the loss of parking.

The station will redirect untreated sewage from the three outfalls at Diamond Bay, Vaucluse and Dover Heights to the Bondi treatment plant.

The Sydney Water spokesperson explained that the outfall at Vaucluse “will remain an emergency relief structure to accommodate wet weather overflows”.

These outfalls are the remaining few left in Sydney that release untreated wastewater directly into the ocean.

In 2018, a Pollution Study released by Sydney Water found high levels of contamination flowing from these outfalls. The final recommendation was that people avoid coming into contact with water near these wastewater discharges.

The Mayor of Woollahra, Susan Wynne, and retiring State Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton, strongly support the project.