Sydney’s ‘green and clean council’ sends orange pollution into national park

A Sydney council that touts itself as the city’s “green and clean heart” is facing scrutiny from the state’s environment watchdog after sending orange-tinted pollution into a major watercourse within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has issued Ku-ring-gai Council with a clean-up order following a pollution incident at North Turramurra this month.

A photo of the orange-coloured pollution.Credit: NSW EPA

The incident occurred when landfill leachate leaking from a management system located underneath North Turramurra Golf Course began discharging directly into a drain line that flows into Cowan Creek – a major watercourse within Ku-ring-gai Chase National Park.

During a visit to the site, EPA investigators observed an “orange liquid” and sediment discharging from the management system which operates to dispose of water accumulating within a former landfill site located within the golf course site.

It is understood the council first noticed the incident on July 4 before sending a contractor to carry out maintenance works at the site.

Seven days after the incident, a replacement pump was put in place by the council as part of works to remedy the leak.

The council has been issued with a clean-up order by the EPACredit: NSW EPA

The council, which self-reported the pollution spill to the EPA, has been given a clean-up order by the EPA, which requires it to immediately prevent, trap and divert the leachate from the waterway.

A Ku-ring-gai Council spokeswoman said in a statement the incident was a result of an “unexpected pump malfunction” at the former landfill site that comprises part of the golf course.

“Council has replaced the faulty pump as well as the associated pipework and will continue to monitor the system,” she said.

An EPA spokesman said investigators from the department have collected samples of the leak as well as water samples from downstream to “inform if there was any impact to the environment”.

Cowan Creek is located within the Ku-ring-gai Chase National ParkCredit: NSW EPA

“The EPA’s investigation is continuing,” the spokesman added.

This incident is the second time in as many years that the council has been issued with an environmental clean-up order by the EPA after “sediment laden water” was found to be discharging from Norman Griffiths Oval in Pymble into a creek within Lane Cove National Park.

The incident was discovered during upgrade works at the oval involving the installation of a new synthetic turf playing surface at the site.

Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment president Kathy Cowley said the latest incident was “concerning”.

Kathy Cowley, president of the Friends of Ku-ring-gai Environment community group.Credit: Janie Barrett

“Ku-ring-gai is surrounded by three national parks and the council has a strong responsibility to maintain its sites so that no pollution incident occurs,” she said.

“It’s especially important when we’re under so much pressure to build more housing, that’s putting even more pressure on our environment.”

The clean-up order comes after the council – which dubs itself “Sydney’s Green Heart” – released plans to spend $2 million on trees and natural environment works this financial year in its 2025-26 budget.

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.