Sydney Water fined almost $1 million over sewage overflow
Image: A sewage overflow near Dawson Road has caused water contamination at Flat Rock Creek in the city's north. Photo: Wild Walks.
By ABHA HAVAL
Sydney Water Corporation will pay $865,625 after 16 million litres of sewage overflow resulted in polluted waters in Sydney’s northern suburbs. The partial burst of a sewerage pipe and maintenance hole caused the issue.
Sydney Water has been fined $365,625 for the sewage incident but the company has agreed to pay a separate compensation fee of $500,000, which will go to environmental projects, as part of the overflow debacle.
The overflow was a result of a blockage in the sewage system, which caused raw sewage to back up and overflow at Dawson Reserve along with two other locations near Garland Road and Gaza Road.
The sewage incident has caused harm to the aquatic organisms which were exposed to the contaminated waters. Additionally, the incident meant 39 residents in Naremburn were temporarily relocated from their homes.
Acting Executive Director of the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA), Arminda Ryan said, “the partial collapse of the sewage system at Dawson Street led to a significant amount of raw sewage entering Flat Rock Creek… and local residents were significantly impacted by the incident with reports of sewage odours.”
“These waterways are much-loved recreational areas for residents in Northern Sydney and we know the local community expects better from Sydney Waters.”
“We want to protect and restore our local waterways, and maintaining the infrastructure of our sewage network is integral to this goal.”
The Land and Environment Court convicted Sydney Water for three other offenses related to sewage overflow and entered into an Enforceable Undertaking (EU) with the EPA to address the conditions of the sewage pipeline, and their failure to report the incident to authorities. Sydney Water has had twelve convictions for sewage overflow since 2020.
The EU provides $500,000 in funding to North Sydney Council, Willoughby Council, and the Aboriginal Heritage office to assist in reconditioning Flat Rock Creek.
A spokesperson for the Willoughby Council told City Hub that the Council appreciates the outcome of the court and welcomes the commitment of funding.
“All clean-up, repair, communication and water testing measures are the responsibility of Sydney Water under the regulation and oversight of the EPA.”
“We have also signed a funding agreement with Sydney Water to improve the stormwater quality at the top of the catchment,” she said.
“Willoughby City Council has maintained a strong commitment to protect our precious natural environment over many years.”
“The Council has endorsed a range of actions which can be taken to help the creek bounce back and return better than ever.”
The Willoughby Council has committed to continue working on improving the water quality in the catchment area, including creating natural wetland and pond areas, additional gross pollutant traps, and naturalisation of existing sections of concrete culverts with the support of the NSW and Federal Governments.
