Sydney Water has applied to the Commonwealth Department of Infrastructure seeking to extend its existing approval to periodically discharge sewage into the Mill Pond at Mascot which flows into Botany Bay.
Submissions on the application are required by 24th February.
Bayside councillor Scott Morrissey called on the council to prepare a submission on behalf of Bayside residents citing the council's strong unanimous opposition to the proposal.
This will effectively make it legal for a State Government authority to discharge sewage into local waterways for at least another three years, he said in a Question with Notice tabled at last week's Bayside Council meeting.
"Investment in infrastructure to stop this dumping must be prioritised by the State Government," Cr Morrissey said.
"Sydney Water has published another notice in the Sydney Morning Herald saying they want to dump sewage into the Mill Pond for another three years, possible another six years," he said.
"We need to raise public awareness about this.
"I'm also informed that the Federal Government has powers to stop this and force Sydney Water to improve their infrastructure.
"I also ask that the council write to the Member for Cook, Prime Minister Scott Morrison, asking for his response on this issue given that the Mill Stream flows directly into Botany Bay, the southern side which is in his electorate."
Bayside Mayor Joe Awada said he believed the applicationby Sydney Water was to allow the overflow of raw sewage in a heavy storm where there is no control over infrastructure.
Last September, Bayside Council made a written submission strongly opposing the request by Sydney Water to periodically discharge waste water into the Mill Stream.
At the time, Councillor Awada described the move as unhealthy for the community and detrimental to the local environment.
"This use of this waterway as sewage overflow cannot continue," he said.
"It is unacceptable that residents are prevented from using a beach because Sydney Water has not implemented measures to stop the sewage overflows.
"The Mill Stream also plays an important role linking the significant waterways of Botany Bay and the Botany Wetlands.
"The regular discharge of sewage in such an environmentally sensitive area is not appropriate in this day and age."
