Bondi WRRF Resilience System Investment Planning

We’ll soon begin work to refurbish the Ben Buckler ventilation shaft to preserve its heritage value, make it structurally safe and ensure it continues to operate efficiently.

The Ben Buckler ventilation shaft is a heritage listed operating asset that’s an important part of the Bondi Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF). The Ben Buckler stack that we see today was built in 1910 and is in fact the second shaft to be built on that site. A brick ventilation shaft was originally constructed at the same site in 1888, however, this soon developed a series of cracks and flaws and had to be demolished and replaced.

We are currently working to refurbish the existing stack to preserve its heritage value, ensure its structural integrity and prioritise community safety.

The work will involve:

- Piling work to provide scaffolding support around the stack.

- The set up of fencing and scaffolding around the stack.

- Remediation of concrete surface as required

- The set up of material lay down areas within the fenced area

- The remediation of compression straps around the shaft

- Repair of the lightning protection on the shaft surface

- Rehabilitation of site upon completion of work.

Work will begin in early mid-May 2025 and will take up to 8 months to complete, weather permitting.

Our work hours are 7 am to 5 pm Monday to Friday and 8 am to 1 pm Saturdays, if needed.

Having been a part of the North Bondi shoreline for more than 100 years, the Ben Buckler is an important and iconic asset, and our work will ensure that it continues to be protected for many generations to come.

If you would like to know more, please contact our community engagement team at delivering4customers@sydneywater.com.au or call 1800 006 113 (option 6).

We’re planning to upgrade our odour control systems (scrubbers) at the Bondi Water Resource Recovery Facility (WRRF) at Blair Street, North Bondi.

Our wastewater system works behind the scenes to protect the environment and the health of our communities. But we need to work on it from time to time to keep things running reliably.

We’re planning to shut down our scrubbers so our staff can enter these assets to carry out an internal condition assessment, undertake any minor repairs and plan for any major upgrades that may be required in the future. Scrubbers are used to remove odours that naturally occur during the treatment process. As we work on these scrubbers, there may be some odour around the Bondi facility.

To minimise the impact on our community, we’ll be shutting down and inspecting one scrubber at a time (3 in total) and conduct this work in the winter months, where cooler temperatures generate less odour.

We plan to start work in mid-May and expect to finish by mid-August 2025, weather permitting. We know our work can be disruptive, so we’ll make every effort to reduce any impact this work may have on you.

You may experience odours from the site, and this can be reported to our Bondi team via the QR code below.

If you would like to know more, please contact our community engagement team on Delivering4Customers@sydneywater.com.au or phone 1800 006 113 (Ext.6). Thank you for your cooperation during this essential work.

14 December 2023

Bondi WRRF turned 70 years old.

The Bondi WRRF started operation in 1953 providing primary treatment of wastewater collected by the Bondi Ocean Outfall System (BOOS) prior to discharge to the ocean. Construction of the plant commenced in 1936 and was delayed due to World War II, with work restarting in 1951. Since then the plant has continued to provide wastewater services and protected the waterway and improve the environment.

In July 2023 we invited members of the local community to form the Bondi Community Reference Group (CRG). The CRG members include local residents and Waverley Council representatives. The Bondi CRG will meet quarterly and its purpose it to:

• enhance communication with nearby community affected by the Bondi WRRF
• increase understanding of community feedback and planned improvement works
• maximise opportunities for community involvement as we plan for improvement works

We have commenced preliminary master planning, investigation and condition assessment inspections for the improvement works for the Bondi wastewater system and the Bondi WRRF.

Between April and June this year, we invited the community surrounding the WRRF and the wider Bondi community to provide us their views on the area, the treatment plant and what living in Bondi means to them. We also asked you what could be improved to make the area even better than it is.

We spoke to a lot of people and got some great insights on what is important to the community, and we are using these insights to inform our engagement approach as we progress with the WRRF upgrade works.

Engagement activity in numbers:

From the feedback, here are some of the key themes of what is important to you:

Environmental protection - The most important issue of concern for you is environmental protection. Sydney Water shares your passion for the environment and will look to implement natural vegetation in the area.

Access to and use of green spaces - the parks and reserves around the Bondi Plant are currently being used for a wide range of recreation activities. We are hearing that there are some upgrades you would like to see to the area, as the condition have an impact this has on their activities.

Accessibility - An important topic for the community was safe access to green spaces and the wider area. Many parents struggle with accessing the area with a pram and this is even a deterrent for some. Most residents travel around Bondi on foot and many spoke about how Military Road is dangerous due to the lack of pedestrian crossings, blind corners and poorly maintained footpaths.

Cultural heritage - A strong theme during consultation is how proud Bondi residents are of their surroundings and how passionate they are in preserving the natural beauty of the area. During consultation, we asked you for ideas for any benefits or outcomes to the local area they would like to see, which Sydney Water should consider as part of project planning. There were many suggestions, particularly around improving accessibility to the recreational areas, so more people can enjoy the space.

We would like to thank everyone who came to our pop ups, meetings and filled in our survey. We are committing to implement these themes in our planning for the Bondi plant upgrade and will keep you involved and informed on the way.

We are currently in the early planning phase of the project. We want to hear your views to ensure that we can minimise impacts on the community. We also want to know what improvements you would like to see.

To better understand the local Bondi community and your views Please take our survey

Drop in and meet the team at our upcoming community information stalls on :

• Saturday 28 May 2022 from 7.30 am to 10.30 am at North Bondi Surf Club
• Saturday 28 May 2022 from 12pm to 3pm at Hugh Bamford Reserve
• Saturday 4 June 2022 from 9am to 1pm at Bondi Farmers Markets, Bondi Beach Public School
• Sunday 5 June 2022 from 10am to 1pm at Bondi Beach, Campbell Parade