A Cronulla woman, 57, has admitted defrauding the operators of the Kurnell desalination plant of more than $1 million.
Stella Wyllie faced Sutherland Local Court today and pled guilty to one count of dishonestly obtaining financial advantage by deception.
She worked at the Kurnell site since January 2009 as an administrator for Veolia Water Operations and was responsible for paying contractor invoices.
In October 2016 Veolia discovered discrepancies with the invoices after three contractors alleged the company had not paid them.
Police said she sent an email to her supervisor requesting the account details of the three contractors be changed to two National Bank of Australia accounts and one Westpac account which were all held in her name.
That request was approved and when the invoices were approved they went into her accounts.
The first transaction was made in February 2015 and the last in October 2016. She was then stood down.
There were 70 electronic transfers in total equaling $1,096,546.
After some of the contractors complained she paid some of the invoices from her personal account.
Those payments totalled $472,586.
Police said she benefitted by more than $622,959.
She was arrested and charged earlier this month after presenting herself to Miranda police station.
Police said in the statement of facts that during an interview she made a full admission and blamed a gambling issue.
She is due to be sentenced in April.
