By Anna Watanabe

Sydney Sewerage (Image: Angus F)

Sydney’s sewerage system will not cope with projected population growth, according to experts.

Sydney Water’s infrastructure is already struggling to meet the needs of the 1.7 million homes it currently services, and the NSW Government predicts that this number will reach almost 2.4 million by 2036.

Although the NSW Department of Planning has developed the Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney to cope with population growth, 60 to 70 per cent of developments will occur in pre-existing urban areas.

As a result the pipes, which are up to 100-years-old and designed for a significantly smaller population, will be forced to service the bulk Sydney’s future sewage needs.

Brad Hazzard, Shadow Minister for Planning and Infrastructure, has labelled the strategy a “cheap cop-out” by the State Government.

“If you’re adding substantial new development into already overburdened sewerage and water systems . . . then you have a problem.

“There are already too many sewerage overflow sites during wet weather events. Pipes break down, they crack . . . It’s an unsatisfactory arrangement,” he said.

Dwindling state government funding into sewerage systems has also affected local councils outside of Sydney Water’s service area.

Chris Carlon, supervisor of sewerage plants and pump stations at Wingecarribee Shire Council, said reduced funding has forced plant designers to cut costs, forcing them to use cheaper products and leaving less room for population growth.

“You’re basically ending up with an inferior product at the end of the day because all anyone ever looks at any more is the bottom line,” he said.

Mr Carlon said these cheaper materials need to be replaced up to every five years; an expense that smaller councils struggle to meet.

“If populations grow quickly or if something changes . . . what [these small councils] tend to do is just try and put bandaids on the plant and get it through until they have a major upgrade.”

Brendan Elliott, spokesperson for Sydney Water, said that the existing sewerage system copes “pretty well” with the existing population.

“We do factor future population projections . . . into our planning. We must do,” he said.

Under the NSW Government’s Metropolitan Strategy for Sydney, 30 to 40 per cent of new developments will occur in the North West and South West of Sydney.

Mr Elliott said that Sydney Water would accommodate for these developments where necessary.

“Our preference is to expand existing assets where possible, and build new ones essentially as a last resort,” he said.