Leaking underground pipe threatens to spill sewage into Sydney Harbour

Friday, 5 December 2025 17:36

A leaking underground sewage pipe threatens to spill waste into the Sydney Harbour as authorities begin urgent emergency repairs.

A leaking underground sewage pipe threatens to spill waste into Sydney Harbour as authorities begin emergency repairs.

A crack in one of the main pipes about eight metres underneath the Pier Street ramp at Darling Harbour was identified a few weeks ago.

Sydney Water said the leak is contained and stable, but there is a risk the pipe could fail.

Cleanup workers are seen undertaking maintenance on a sewage pipe in Wentworth Park.

Emergency 24/7 works are under way in Ultimo, Glebe and Pyrmont, including constructing a wastewater pumping station in Wentworth Park, to redirect the sewage away from the faulty pipe.

Water Minister Rose Jackson said the works were necessary to avoid the worst-case scenario of sewage spilling into the Sydney Harbour.

"We don't want to see any of that. We love our harbour, it's a pristine place, and we really want to protect it from any environmental impact," she said.

"Which is why we are getting in there, doing 24/7 construction to try and make sure that even the small risk of that is removed."

Workers are trying to determine the cause of the leak and the size of the crack. Jackson said the 100-year-old infrastructure created further issues.

The sewage is expected to be partially diverted by December 19 and fully diverted by January.

Jackson said nearby residents would be impacted by construction noise, traffic and potential road closures and apologised to the community.

"None of these things are things that we want to do. We know it's a difficult time of year to be having those kind of impacts on this local community," she said.

"It is necessary. We've identified and contained the leak that we have, but if we don't act now, things could get worse."

When the diversions are in place and the pipe is fully isolated, crews can begin to work on a permanent repair.

That may take months to complete.

Sydney Water is monitoring water quality and working with environmental regulators to ensure there is no impact on public health or the environment.

It is also working with the council, residents and businesses to minimise the impacts of construction.

As for now, waste services are operating as normal for the local community.

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