Untouchable "Fatberg" Fouls Sydney Waters

A massive "fatberg" lodged within Sydney's Malabar wastewater treatment plant has been identified as a significant environmental concern. This accumulation of fats, oils, and grease (FOGs), described as the size of four buses, resides in an underground chamber. Sydney Water has been unable to fully access or remove this blockage.

Parts of the fatberg are believed to dislodge during pressure changes, potentially caused by power outages or heavy rainfall. These fragments can then be dispersed through the deepwater ocean outfall, leading to "poo balls" that have caused the closure of several Sydney beaches, including Bondi and Manly, in late 2024 and early 2025.

In response, the NSW Environment Protection Authority issued a pollution reduction program in February 2025, requiring Sydney Water to undertake significant works, including fat removal. While some FOGs can be accessed and pumped out from a smaller, partially accessible area every four to six months, the main "fatberg" remains undisturbed.

Sydney Water has explored various options, including shutting down the ocean outfall for months, but this approach is no longer considered feasible. Upgrades to pumping systems and upstream facilities are underway to manage increasing FOG levels, which have reportedly risen by 39% in the Malabar catchment over the past decade.