Sydney Water seeks approval to discharge 70 million litres of treated wastewater into Parramatta River
Sydney Water has submitted a proposal to build a new plant at Camellia-Rosehill that would release 70 million litres of highly treated wastewater into the Parramatta River each day.
Sydney Water proposes a new Camellia-Rosehill wastewater treatment plant that would treat sewage to an advanced standard before discharging 70 million litres daily into the Parramatta River via a tunnel ending at Meadowbank Park. The facility, slated for construction between 2028 and 2032, is intended to accommodate projected population growth of about 230,000 people in the western suburbs. Project lead Caine Mertens says the water will be cleaner than one outlet river flow, with multiple safeguards and manual overrides for off-spec releases.
Over 400 community members have submitted feedback, highlighting concerns for the river’s mangroves, wetlands and endangered migratory birds. Former Sydney Water scientist Ian Wright warned that system failures could occasionally release lower-quality water. The proposal is under assessment by the Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure and will need an environmental protection licence from the NSW EPA before any discharge can occur.
Why it matters
The plan could alter water quality and ecosystem health in a heavily used urban river.
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