State Government pledges $2.5 million for pollution fix at Coogee Beach

Coogee Beach’s pollution woes have been put on the election agenda with the State Government pledging $2.5 million towards a plan to divert stormwater away from swimmers.

The stormwater pipe at Coogee Beach. Picture: Craig Wilson

• Exclusive look inside the Moore Park light rail tunnel
• Coogee Surf Club members save woman at Freshwater

Coogee Beach’s pollution woes have been put on the election agenda with the State Government pledging $2.5 million towards a plan to divert stormwater away from swimmers.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Coogee state Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith said the funding would be used to bankroll a “technical solution” to improve water quality at the northern and southern ends of the popular beach.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian and Coogee state Liberal MP Bruce Notley-Smith

Pollution is at its worst during major rain events after extended dry periods when contaminated stormwater is flushed out of an outlet at the northern end of the beach.

It has been an ongoing concern for residents, visitors and environmental researchers.

A plan to fix the stormwater problem is still to be finalised by a working group, which has been operating since 2017. Ms Berejiklian said the funding gave the group an “assurance that they can come up with the best technical solution”.

UNSW water researcher Professor Stuart Khan, who sits on the working group, said potential options included transferring stormwater flows from the council-managed stormwater system to the Sydney Water facility at Malabar. From there pollution would be treated and discharged to the ocean outfall.

Water quality is at its worst during heavy rainfall events.

But that option is not without obstacles — including which level of government would cover the ongoing costs of treating the stormwater.

Prof Khan said capacity constraints on the existing sewer linking Coogee to Malabar would also need to be addressed.

“It would take stormwater during dry weather but it wouldn’t be suitable for the big weather events when the water quality is at its lowest,” he said.

The announcement comes after the 2018 State of the Beaches report found Coogee’s water had improved and was rated “good”.

Mr Notley-Smith said although diversion would “prevent every drop of stormwater entering the ocean” it would “significantly contribute to the water quality”.

“We want it to go from good to excellent,” he said.

Sydney Water will provide ongoing project support to Randwick Council to implement a solution, which is expected to take 18 months to complete.