A sewage overflow from the Fairmont Resort’s sewerage system earlier this year, which entered the national park and has since been cleaned up, has been investigated by authorities and no further action will be taken.
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The Blue Mountains Conservation Society asked the NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) and council to investigate sewer overflow leaks into the national park and noxious odours at the resort between May and July.
In a letter to authorities, BMCS president Madi Maclean, said: “The Fairmont Resort is located within Sydney’s drinking water catchment. The ongoing issue with the sewage pumping facility and the potential pollution incidents described represent a real and ongoing risk to Sydney’s drinking water.”
Conservation Society members and other bushwalkers noticed a “noxious smell” near their sewer pumping station in May, and again in July. There was evidence of raw sewage leaking from the pumping station and entering the national park downslope of the pump, the society said.
It reported the issue to the Sydney Catchment Authority, Sydney Water, National Parks, council and the EPA.
The EPA notified the society that council was the appropriate regulatory authority and was looking into the issue.
Fairmont Resort owner Dr Jerry Schwartz advised the Gazette this month he had replaced the pump when it happened.
“As far as the pumping station goes, from time to time it gets bad and that’s because the pump breaks down,” he said.
“There’s usually a reason. It’s obviously not in our interest to have a bad smell… I kind of remember the pump broke down and we fixed it and replaced it, end of story.”
A National Parks spokesman confirmed the “overflow from the Fairmont sewage system occurred in early May some of which entered the park”.
“The Fairmont was advised, rectified the issue and cleaned up the material around the discharge site. National Parks and Wildlife Service investigated and sought advice from EPA and council at the time.
“The incident was not deliberate and no further action was considered appropriate,” the spokesman said.
A council spokeswoman also said they were satisfied that the resort completed the required work promptly and that the issues with the pump station had been resolved.