Upper South Creek Networks (USCN) Program

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Greater Sydney’s population is forecast to reach 8 million people over the next 40 years, with approximately half of those people expected to be living in the Western Sydney.

We are investing now to transform and integrate our water, wastewater, stormwater and recycled water systems to ensure we can continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable services to customers as the region continues to grow. This will help respond to the effects of climate change and ensure the health and amenity of Greater Sydney’s beautiful waterways.

By 2056, it is estimated 130,000 new dwellings and 217,000 jobs will be in the Upper South Creek (USC) Catchment region. The Upper South Creek Catchment will also include innovative precincts focused on advanced manufacturing, technology, research, training and education, freight and logistics, agribusiness and mixed-use development.

To support the growth in the region, we are delivering wastewater infrastructure to the western Sydney. This will ensure a resilient, reliable water supply and protect the environment in the Upper South Creek area surrounding the new Western Sydney International Airport.

We will deliver over 115km of wastewater pipelines and 11 pumping stations to service development within the Upper South Creek Catchment, and transfer flows to the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC).

The Upper South Creek Networks (USCN) Program will provide wastewater infrastructure to the eight precincts in the USC Catchment. The eight precincts are:

  • Agribusiness
  • Austral Leppington
  • Badgerys Creek
  • Cosgroves Creek
  • Lowes Creek
  • Mamre Road
  • South Creek
  • Thompsons Creek.

Sydney Water in partnership with CreekConnect will deliver the first stage of the USCN Program. The first stage includes finalising the design and construction of:

  • Cosgroves Creek Stage 1
  • Thompsons Creek Stage 1
  • Badgerys Creek Stage 2
  • South Creek.

To ensure we are ready to meet future growth and development, we are:

  • working with government agencies to meet growth forecasts and ensure we deliver the right services at the right time
  • protecting public health and the environment by ensuring the community can access safe and reliable wastewater services
  • taking steps to minimise any environmental impacts
  • working with the community and stakeholders throughout the project and keep them informed.

For more information, please see the updates in the newsfeed below or contact the Community Engagement Team.

More updates will be published as the project progresses.

Greater Sydney’s population is forecast to reach 8 million people over the next 40 years, with approximately half of those people expected to be living in the Western Sydney.

We are investing now to transform and integrate our water, wastewater, stormwater and recycled water systems to ensure we can continue to provide safe, reliable and affordable services to customers as the region continues to grow. This will help respond to the effects of climate change and ensure the health and amenity of Greater Sydney’s beautiful waterways.

By 2056, it is estimated 130,000 new dwellings and 217,000 jobs will be in the Upper South Creek (USC) Catchment region. The Upper South Creek Catchment will also include innovative precincts focused on advanced manufacturing, technology, research, training and education, freight and logistics, agribusiness and mixed-use development.

To support the growth in the region, we are delivering wastewater infrastructure to the western Sydney. This will ensure a resilient, reliable water supply and protect the environment in the Upper South Creek area surrounding the new Western Sydney International Airport.

We will deliver over 115km of wastewater pipelines and 11 pumping stations to service development within the Upper South Creek Catchment, and transfer flows to the Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC).

The Upper South Creek Networks (USCN) Program will provide wastewater infrastructure to the eight precincts in the USC Catchment. The eight precincts are:

  • Agribusiness
  • Austral Leppington
  • Badgerys Creek
  • Cosgroves Creek
  • Lowes Creek
  • Mamre Road
  • South Creek
  • Thompsons Creek.

Sydney Water in partnership with CreekConnect will deliver the first stage of the USCN Program. The first stage includes finalising the design and construction of:

  • Cosgroves Creek Stage 1
  • Thompsons Creek Stage 1
  • Badgerys Creek Stage 2
  • South Creek.

To ensure we are ready to meet future growth and development, we are:

  • working with government agencies to meet growth forecasts and ensure we deliver the right services at the right time
  • protecting public health and the environment by ensuring the community can access safe and reliable wastewater services
  • taking steps to minimise any environmental impacts
  • working with the community and stakeholders throughout the project and keep them informed.

For more information, please see the updates in the newsfeed below or contact the Community Engagement Team.

More updates will be published as the project progresses.

  • Thompsons Creek and South Creek  - Archaeological and Ecological field inspections.

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    From late January 2024, our team of Ecologists and Archaeologists will start site assessments along the proposed new wastewater pipe alignment in the Thompsons and South Creek Catchments. The aim of the assessment is to inform the Review of Environmental Factors (REF). These assessments will help us to identify potential environmental and archaeological constraints, develop mitigation measures and inform the design.

    The Ecological work consists of:  

    • Identifying and recording several types of animals and plant communities
    • Taking measurements in multiple locations around grassy areas and near trees
    • Identifying and recording specific types of plants
    • Recording of areas with high biodiversity
    • Identifying and recording trees that provide habitats for wildlife 
    • Assessing and monitoring of environment around creeks and/or ponds. 

      The Archaeologist work consists of: 

    • Walking across an area recording items of archaeological significance
    • Digging by hand to identify any items found. If we need to dig by hand, we will backfill immediately after inspection
    • Using cameras, notebooks and measuring tools. 

    You may notice our team driving through your area doing these assessments on public roads and reserves. If we need to enter your property, our Community Engagement Team will contact you directly to discuss access.

    The Archaeological and Ecological field inspections will start late January 2024 and are expected to be completed by late February 2024.

    If you would like more information, please contact our community engagement team.

     


  • What’s been happening in the Thompsons Creek and South Creek Catchments?

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    Since April 2023, we have been working on developing the concept design for the new wastewater infrastructure in the Thompsons Creek and South Creek Catchments. The concept design for the Thompsons Creek and South Creek is nearing 90% completion.

    The development of the concept design has included site investigations and desktop studies such as:

    • Geotechnical testing: to get an understanding of the soils in the area to determine where suitable locations for building the new infrastructure are.
    • Groundwater testing: to understand potential issues that may impact on the design, the construction and the cost of the pipeline.
    • Cultural Heritage Assessment: to find out if there are any known Aboriginal Cultural Heritage sites near the project area.
    • Ecology Assessments: to identify any areas of significant or endangered native vegetation or animal habitat that will be impacted by the new infrastructure.

    The above assessments have helped us to inform the design, develop mitigation measures and identify potential issues. Where the investigations identified a potential issue, the concept design was updated either to avoid the areas or develop mitigation measures to reduce any issues that might arise.

    We will keep the community informed as we finalise the concept design and move onto next phase of the project.

  • What’s been happening in the Cosgroves Creek and Agribusiness Catchment?

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    Since April 2023, we have been working on developing the concept design for the new wastewater infrastructure in the Cosgroves and Agribusiness Catchment. The concept design for Cosgroves Creek is at 90% completion and the concept design for the Agribusiness Catchment will be completed early 2024.

    The development of the concept design has included site investigations and desktop studies such as:

    • Geotechnical testing: to get an understanding of the soils in the area to determine where suitable locations for building the new infrastructure are.
    • Groundwater testing: to understand potential issues that may impact on the design, the construction and the cost of the pipeline.
    • Ecology Assessments: to identify any areas of significant or endangered native vegetation or animal habitat that will be impacted by the new infrastructure.

    The above assessments have helped us to identify potential issues, develop mitigation measures and inform the design. Where the investigations identified a potential issue, the concept design was updated to either to avoid the areas or develop mitigation measures to reduce any issues that might arise.

    We will keep the community informed as we finalise the concept design and move onto next phase of the project.

  • Upcoming drone inspection

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    We are in the early planning stages of a new wastewater network in the South-West Growth Region. The Upper South Creek Wastewater Networks project will allow new infrastructure to be built to service the growth and connection to the Upper South Creek Advanced Water Recycling Centre. This project will ultimately deliver wastewater servicing to the region.

    We will be using drones to carry out a visual site inspection to inform our design of the wastewater network. The drone will be flown by a qualified Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) pilot, within CASA guidelines and approvals. The drones will not fly lower than around 45 meters above the properties and will take photos of the land to inform planning for this important work.

    From Tuesday 11 April 2023 we will be flying a drone along South, Thompson and Cosgrove Creeks areas and taking photos to gain an insight on the landscape and topography. This work will be undertaken over a period of around 5 days.

    You may also notice Sydney Water contractors walking along the adjacent streets conducting part of the visual inspections.

    The images taken during the visual inspection will not be publicly released and only used to inform future planning for the wastewater services.

    If you would like more information, please email us uscnetworks@sydneywater.com.au


Page last updated: 14 May 2025, 04:28 PM