Western Sydney wastewater plant under construction

Construction has begun on Sydney Water’s $1.2 billion Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycled Centre (AWRC) in Western Sydney, set to supply wastewater services to 400,000 new dwellings in the Western Sydney Aerotropolic Growth Area and parts of Camden, Penrith and Liverpool LGAs.

The facility is expected to help cater for growth until 2056.

The AWRC is a step forward in the sustainable development of Sydney’s Western Parkland City, a landmark investment in Western Sydney.

Roch Cheroux, Sydney Water Managing Director, said the facility will be a foundation for the circular economy in Western Sydney and help deliver socio-economic benefits to the community, estimated to add $10 billion in value across the region.

“With Western Sydney Airport due for completion in 2026 and Liverpool fast becoming the city’s third CBD, the Upper South Creek AWRC will create greater resilience by catering for wastewater needs for decades to come,” Cheroux said.

When operating at maximum capacity, the facility will treat around 70 megalitres of wastewater each day and produce high-quality treated water provided to homes and businesses, as well as produce biosolid products for agriculture use.

All biosolids produced by the AWRC will be used as a fertiliser. There is also the potential to expand this to generate even more energy from food waste.

A 4 MW solar array and future bio-gas energy will be used to power the site. The solar farm will generate approximately 8 GWh of energy per annum, enough to power approximately 1400 households for a year.

The solar array will power the facility in the early years. As energy requirements grow, a circular economy precinct featuring bio-gas energy will be constructed to help meet future needs.

The Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling plant is due to be operational in 2026.