Sydney Olympic Park Authority (the Authority) is responsible for managing and developing the 640 hectares that comprise Sydney Olympic Park, its town centre, 430 hectares of parklands, and 7 sporting venues. The Authority also manages 105 hectares of remediated lands that were once one of Sydney’s largest areas of uncontrolled landfill and are now part of the Park’s recreational open space. The Authority is committed to the sustainable development and management of Sydney Olympic Park. This includes finding options for cost effective, sustainable treatment of 40 to 60 ML of leachate generated by the Park’s remediated lands each year.
An EPA approved bioremediation process has been used at the Park since 2000, to treat groundwater contaminated with hydrocarbons, originating from a historical town gas plant. In a series of treatment ponds which optimise the conditions for hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria, pollutants are degraded to below detection limits so that the treated water can be released back to the Parramatta River. This leachate treatment system has demonstrated over 17 years that natural biological processes are capable of reliably removing contaminants from landfill leachate, and can be used as an alternative to expensive industrial treatment.
In 2010 the Authority’s Board endorsed an Alternative Leachate Treatment Strategy for sustainable, onsite management of landfill leachate. To date, the Authority has spent approximately $2 million on the construction and commissioning of two new sustainable leachate treatment systems. These systems are treating landfill leachate using low cost, low energy solutions that rely on natural wetlands to breakdown pollutants. This innovative approach is not currently used elsewhere in Australia and has generated interest from other landfill managers. The Strategy also creates new wetland habitats for native flora and fauna, provides educational opportunities for local and international visitors, and improves the local amenity and park experience.