First details: Vaucluse, Diamond Bay sewerage outfall plans
Vaucluse residents can for the first time read exactly what impact the construction of an $85 million wastewater network could have on their street in a new Sydney Water report released this week.
Wentworth Courier
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Vaucluse residents can for the first time read exactly what impact the construction of an $85 million wastewater network would have on their street in a new Sydney Water report released this week.
The Review of Environmental Factors report details everything from odour to noise and vibration during construction of the Refresh Vaucluse Diamond Bay project which is slated to run from mid next year to late 2022.
Two ocean outfalls at Diamond Bay and one at Vaucluse are the only ones in NSW that discharge untreated wastewater into the ocean causing serious hazards for both marine life and human ocean users.
The plan is to divert the sewerage away from the century old outfalls to the Bondi Wastewater Treatment Plant via a combination of existing pipes beneath Old South Head Rd, microtunneling and new pumping stations at Parsley Bay and Eastern Ave Reserve Diamond Bay.
The report concludes the project “is unlikely to have a significant adverse impact”.
“On balance, the proposal will result in positive long-term improvements for the protection of public health and the environment,” the document reads.
Residents had previously expressed concern the tunnelling process could damage their properties.
However, the report details safeguards which will be put in place including conducting dilapidation reports on structures located within 22m of any area requiring operation of a rock breaker.
“Ground-borne vibration from trenchless pipe installation would be short term as drilling would progress along the alignment and impact receivers for no more than two to three days,” the report reads.
“Impacts are considered unlikely as the trenchless pipe installations are located at a depth of 8m or more below the surface level from any residential structure.”
At the peak of construction, there will be 30 light and 10 heavy vehicles movements per day and 40 workers on site.
For the first two to three months of construction, 99 homes within 50m could experience “high” noise levels above 75 decibels.
A total of 229 homes will experience “high” noise levels for one to two weeks and this disruption will also impact McAuley Catholic Primary School, Rose Bay Public School, St. Andrew’s Scots Presbyterian Church, St. Mary Magdalene’s Catholic Church and Wentworth Memorial Church.
Member for Vaucluse, Gabrielle Upton said it was time to bring the wastewater network up to the same level of the rest of Sydney.
“The ocean outfalls are a legacy from Sydney’s early wastewater network and it is now time to switch them off,” Ms Upton said.
“My local community has made a major contribution to this Project through the community reference group and the public consultation process. I now encourage the community to share their feedback on the Review of Environmental Factors (REF) which is on public display.”
Sydney Water’s Liveable City Solutions General Manager, Paul Plowman said there was no simple or easy way to retrofit a network nearly 100 years old.
“(However) we have found a design that maximises the use of Sydney Water’s existing network to divert the wastewater away from the ocean and send it to be treated at Bondi’s treatment plant,” he said.
“At our new pumping station sites, we will build a new toilet and shower block facility in Parsley Bay as well as contribute to the improvement of the iconic clifftop boardwalk at Diamond Bay.”
The documents are available at sydneywatertalk.com.au until June 28.
Public submissions must be made in writing and received by June 28 via email to vauclusediamondbay@sydneywater.com.au
STREETS WITHIN 22M OF CONSTRUCTION
Rose Bay: Cecil Road, Chamberlain Ave, Dudley Road, Carlisle Street, Fernleigh Ave, Conway Ave, Hamilton Street, Dover Road, Courtenay Road, Old South Head Road.
Dover Heights: Oceanview Ave, Eastern Ave, Military Road
Vaucluse: Black Street, Fitzwilliam Road, Girilang Ave, Hay Street, Hopetoun Ave, Petrarch Ave, Oceanview Ave, Ray Street, Ethel Street, Kimberley Street, Serpentine Parade, Clairvaux Road, Parsley Road, New South Head Road, Village Lower Road, Captain Pipers Road, Military Road, Towns Road, Old South Head Road.