Sewage leak at Flat Rock Reserve - bush tracks closed
Last modified on 30 October 2020
A blocked pipe on Dawson Street, Willoughby is spilling raw sewage into Flat Rock Creek. Residents are asked to steer clear while it’s being cleaned up.
Sydney Water have built a weir using sandbags in Flat Rock Creek (see photo) to contain the sewage and are pumping it to another sewage line in Tunks Park.
Sydney Water consider this a major incident caused by their works on a minor sewer line earlier in the week, causing the main sewer line in Dawson Street to become blocked. Untreated wastewater is flowing overland into Flat Rock Creek.
Sydney Water have traffic control in Dawson Street and have installed signage. Council’s bush tracks in the area have been closed. It’s still safe to visit the Willoughby Leisure Centre, Incinerator Art Space and Bicentennial Reserve and playground.
Sydney Water notified local residents with a letter, outlining further details – see below.
Council staff have been on site and are investigating, supporting Sydney Water and the EPA.
All clean-up, repair, notification, communication and water testing measures are the responsibility of Sydney Water under the regulation and oversight of the EPA.
Contact Sydney Water if you have any concerns.
Letter from Sydney Water to nearby residents
A waste water overflow within bushland behind Dawson Street has resulted in untreated waste water entering Flat Rock Creek. The overflow was caused by a block in the wastewater pipe.
Sydney Water is working on removing the blockage and stopping the overflow. We have installed warning signs around the impacted area.
As there is a potential risk to health, we ask that you please avoid the area, including working track while we complete the clean up.
What are we doing to respond?
Sydney Water is taking steps to fix the fault and clean up the impacted areas. This involves:
- Installing containment at the overflow site to try to minimise overflow into the creek
- Creating a bypass around the block, until it is cleared
- Containing overflowed wastewater in Flat rock Creek and pumping back into downstream sewers
- Monitoring the site and conducting water quality testing
- Installing signage at Flat Rock Creek crossing, Long Gully Bridge, Tunks Park boat ramp and Mort Rock Reserve
What do you need to know?
We take our responsibility to protect public health and the environment seriously. We ask that you please avoid the area until the clean up is complete. We will make every effort to reduce any impact this work may have on you.
Works
Our works will be continuous to clear the block and stop the overflow. Clean up work in Flat Rock Creek will continue generally 7am to 6pm Monday to Sunday and we expect it to take around two weeks. During this time you will notice an increase in noise, vehicle movement and potential odour. For safety of residents and passing vehicles, traffic controls will be in place.
We are sorry for any in convenience this may cause and appreciate your patience and understanding while we continue to manage the impact of this incident.