Big stink over Coopers Creek
It’s a pong so strong it forced residents from their homes. What is behind the mystery smell in Sydney’s west?
Parramatta
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Wentworthville residents are up in a stink about the state of a creek they say has been ignored by councils and Sydney Water for years.
Coopers Creek, which flows through Fulton Ave has been the source of the area’s “putrid” and “eye-watering” smell for eight years.
Residents Charles Ooi and Charles Camunzulli say the smell has forced them indoors and on some days away from the area altogether.
“It smells like an actual s**thole,” Mr Ooi said.
“It’s a pit toilet and you can’t have windows open or have visitors. We have to leave and go somewhere else, because it’s too embarrassing to have friends over.”
Mr Ooi said the recent heat had intensified the smell, which has been known to waft hundreds of metres away.
“I can smell it all the time, it’s strong and you just can’t live with it most the time.”
The pollution has also driven away native wildlife, which used to call the little open waterway home.
“We had red belly black snakes, fish, tadpoles, lizards, ducks, now we’re afraid of mosquitoes more than anything” Mr Camunzulli said.
“If they’re in this water, which is sewage, and they land on us, what kind of illnesses can we get?”
Residents believe the leak originated from a home in Graham Ave in 2010 and has never been acted upon — until now.
After inquiries from the Advertiser, Sydney Water sent a crew to the site.
“(We) were advised of a wastewater overflow at 11.15am on 27 January and we were on site within half an hour,” a spokesman said.
“The overflow was caused by a blockage of wipes and fat in the network which was cleared by Sydney Water crews.
“Following this incident, Sydney Water crews have been flushing and cleaning Coopers Creek waterway. Further testing will be conducted to ensure that there are no signs of wastewater remaining in the creek.”
A spokesman for Parramatta Council said the council had been made aware of “poor water quality” at Coopers Creek.
“(We) raised the matter with Sydney Water, urging them to eliminate all sewer overflows into local creeks, which would improve water quality,” he said.
Mr Camunzulli claims both groups had “passed the buck”.
“It’s been passed around by the water board and council for so long, the sediment has settled and it will take a very long time to clean this.”