New details emerge for Coogee Beach stormwater pollution fix

New details of a multi-million dollar plan to tackle stormwater pollution for swimmers and beachgoers at Coogee Beach have been revealed.

Coogee State Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith and Doug Hawkins from the Coogee Residents Against Polluting Stormwater group at Coogee Beach. Photo: Flavio Brancaleone.

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New details of a $2.5 million plan to tackle stormwater pollution at Coogee Beach have been revealed.

Capturing stormwater for recycling programs and diverting flows to the Sydney Water treatment plant at Malabar form part of a potential solution aimed at improving water quality for swimmers and beachgoers.

The proposal is the latest step towards finding a permanent “technical solution” to reduce the amount of contaminated stormwater flowing out of drains at both ends of Coogee Beach.

The stormwater pipe at the northen end of Coogee Beach.

The State Government last month pledged $2.5 million towards the project, spearheaded by the Coogee Beach Stormwater Working Group.

Coogee state Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith - a member of the working group - said the proposal had the potential to benefit the environment, residents and swimmers.

While further studies, consultation and approvals are needed, the initial details include:

• Stormwater flows in dry weather periods would no longer be discharged from existing stormwater drains at the northern and southern ends of Coogee Beach. Instead, flows would be directed into sewage pipes and treated at the Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant.

• In major rain events, the “first flush” of stormwater, carrying the most amount of pollution, would also be diverted to the Malabar treatment facility.

• As rainfall increases, a valve would prevent stormwater entering the sewerage system. Flows would be diverted to a disused tunnel and ocean outfall under Dolphin Point, Coogee.

• If the tunnel and outfall reaches capacity, the remaining flows would be discharged via the existing stormwater drains.

The project is set to benefit the environment. residents and swimmers.

• At the existing southern drain, about 75 per cent of stormwater would be captured for water recycling programs by Randwick Council.

• Stormwater would still be released via the southern drain after the first flush in major rain events.

• All stormwater treated at the Malabar Wastewater Treatment Plant would be discharged to sea via the existing deep ocean outfall off Malabar.

The options have been supported by Coogee Residents Against Polluting Stormwater (CRAPS) - a group which has been campaigning for a solution since 2014.

Member Doug Hawkins said conditions at the beach are at their worst during major rain events after long dry periods when large volumes of contaminated water flush rubbish, toxins and other pollutants into the bay.

“Geographically the bay is a bathtub and you only have to look at what’s coming out of the drains after a major rain event to know why people don’t swim here for the next 24 to 48 hours,” he said.

While the proposal would not stop every drop of stormwater flowing into Coogee Beach, Mr Notley-Smith said diverting flows into the sewage system would improve water quality for the “vast majority of the year”.

“Even in dry periods, what’s flowing into the bay can still contain serious contaminants,” he said.

“To get those low flows from constantly running across the beach is in itself a great step forward.”

A range of “soft options” are also being developed including educational and awareness programs for residents and visitors to the area.

Sydney Water said it would work with Randwick Council and the community to complete the project.

“This will help to protect and nurture this world-class beach for our customers and visitors to Sydney for generations to come,” Sydney Water’s head of service planning and asset strategy Paul Higham said.