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.
The project will be delivered in multiple stages, with Stage One to provide 35 megalitres of wastewater treatment capacity per day in late 2025.
Community Benefits
Key benefits for the local community include:
efficient and cost-effective wastewater services
producing high-quality, recycled water for a range of potential reuses
potential to recycle organic waste to generate energy
protecting local waterways and aquatic ecosystems via environmental flows
producing biosolids for an alternative to chemical fertilisers in agriculture
enhancing biodiversity by greening Western Sydney with recycled water
supporting the vision for the Western Parkland City, to create quality places for the community, keep water resources in the catchment to support greening and reduce heat island effects
generating renewable energy within the AWRC
a centre that can respond to changes in demand as our community grows.
The AWRC is Sydney Water’s largest infrastructure investment in Western Sydney and when competed will provide a foundation for a circular economy hub in the Parkland City.
When completed in 2026, the AWRC will deliver sustainable wastewater services and high-quality recycled water to support a cooler, greener Western Parkland City, with a wide range of benefits for the entire community.