Sydney Water is implementing a program of improvements to North Head Sewage Treatment Plant to ensure it continues to meet the environmental protection standards set by the Department of Environment and Climate Change to protect water quality at local beaches to the year 2023.

During 2008/09, the improvement project will refurbish or replace several of the plant’s key systems – with the aim of improving its reliability and maintainability. The project includes upgrades to the equipment that remove debris, sand and gravel from wastewater, the systems that collect and treat solid and liquid waste, the control and monitoring equipment and electrical, hydraulic and other services throughout the plant.

Manidis Roberts is providing communications and environmental management services to the North Head Sewage Treatment Plant Improvements Project.

The primary communications objective is to ensure that the community and key stakeholders are regularly and adequately informed about the project in relation to the scope and timing of the design and construction phases. It is critical that construction is managed in a way that is responsive to community impacts and concerns, and that the project does not adversely affect Sydney Water’s reputation in the community.

The primary environment objective is to ensure that the improvement works carried out have minimal impact on the environment. It is important that the environmental performance is kept at a high standard due to the sensitivity of the environment, both on the site and in the surrounding Sydney Harbour National Park. Indeed, the project will improve the plant’s overall environmental performance in the long term.