The New South Wales Environment Protection Authority (EPA) has ordered Sydney Water to remove fats from its Malabar wastewater treatment plant, a month after reports linked a massive fatberg to the 'poo balls' that closed beaches last summer. The EPA issued a pollution reduction program requiring significant works, including fat removal from the deep ocean outfall bulkhead area.
According to a secret Sydney Water report obtained by Guardian Australia, the fatberg could be the size of four Sydney buses. The corporation cannot easily access the area where it has accumulated. The report states that fixing the problem would require shutting down the ocean outfall for maintenance, which would close Sydney's beaches 'for months'—an approach described as 'no longer considered acceptable'.
In April 2025, Sydney Water removed 53 tonnes of accumulated fats, oils and grease, including debris balls. The EPA now requires at least 18 inspections of the area over three years from April 2026. The agency also ordered Sydney Water to develop a system to capture debris overflow during severe wet weather and to study the formation of debris balls using AI or other technology.
Steve Beaman, NSW EPA executive director of operations, said Sydney Water is 'responsible for ensuring it doesn’t pollute our beautiful beaches'. A Sydney Water spokesperson stated the agency would implement these measures in collaboration with the EPA, aligning with its $3bn Malabar system investment program.
The debris balls first closed beaches in October 2024. Sydney Water initially denied responsibility, but later acknowledged the balls may have absorbed wastewater discharge. Managing director Darren Cleary admitted the earlier statement was not true.
