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New Wave of Sewage Debris Hits Sydney Beaches After Heavy Rain

A $3 billion, decade-long upgrade of the Malabar wastewater system is the government’s chosen fix.

Overview

  • Sydney Water reported new debris at Malabar Beach and Foreshore Beach in Botany Bay following intense weekend rainfall.
  • Sydney Water posted beachside warnings, led clean-ups with council support, and said the exact origin remains under investigation.
  • The utility said the Malabar deep ocean outfall likely explains debris on open-coast beaches, with the Mill Stream emergency release structure linked to Botany Bay deposits.
  • Beachwatch advised “pollution possible,” cautioning that young children, older people, and those with compromised health may face increased risk from swimming.
  • Recent incidents follow earlier EPA testing that pointed to Malabar as the source and preceded last week’s announcement of a 10-year, $3 billion upgrade program.