Sydney Water’s Advanced Water Recycling Centre (AWRC) at Kemps Creek will be one of the most state-of-the-art treatment plants in the southern hemisphere, which will protect local waterways and form the foundation of a circular economy hub in Western Sydney.
Operating at full capacity, the facility will treat around 70 megalitres of wastewater each day and produce high-quality treated water for sustainable use in homes and businesses across western Sydney, and biosolid product for use in agricultural settings.
Wastewater will undergo a process which includes mechanical, biological and filtration separation, and ultimately an advanced treatment process known as reverse osmosis that eliminates contaminants – making it suitable for recycling and environmental flows.
The same technology is used at the Sydney Desalination Plant, a project delivered by John Holland as part of a joint venture in 2010.
Along with the construction of the recycling centre, the project will also deliver more than 40 kilometres of new brine and treated water pipelines in communities from Warragamba to Lansdowne.
Supporting Sydney Water’s 2030 net zero target, the project will be one of the first to seek a Infrastructure Sustainability Council (ISC) 2.1 rating.
A four-megawatt solar farm will allow the facility to be 50 per cent energy self-sufficient, while there will also be provision for future co-digestion and Waste to Energy opportunities. John Holland’s sustainable approach to construction will see a significant reduction in anticipated earthworks, concrete volumes and reinforcement.
John Holland’s Chief Executive Officer, Joe Barr, said the opportunity to deliver this critical project will further cement the business as a leader in the national water market.
“John Holland has decades of experience utilising state-of-the-art technologies to deliver vital water infrastructure for growing communities across Australia,” Mr Barr said.
“We have proud partnerships with major water authorities around Australia, including Sydney Water, to deliver the projects that are truly transforming lives and setting local communities up for a sustainable future.”
“We look forward to being a part of delivering this game changing facility and circular economy hub in full support of the future growth of Sydney’s west.”
The project – a partnership of John Holland, GHD, Jacobs and Trility – will be delivered in multiple stages, with Stage One to provide 35 megalitres of wastewater treatment capacity per day in late 2025.
