Developer and former Mayor of Kiama, Neville Fredericks, says that his Fountaindale group was as surprised as everyone by Sydney Water saying it cannot increase the capacity of the sewage system within Jamberoo village.

“We thought that if the main was going to be upsized [to give connections to Fountaindale’s Golden Valley Road estate], it was going to cater for people in the town who were wanting to put up second dwellings on their properties.

“I think it was assumed by everyone, and that is why this has taken everyone by surprise.”

Fountaindale has investigated various options to provide capacity for its 51 lot estate, on rezoned rural land on the eastern boundary of Jamberoo, including laying their own smaller pipe to the Jerrara pumping station and upgrading the existing pipe servicing the village.

“But in the end it is up to Sydney Water to tell us what they want to do,” says Mr Fredericks.

He is concerned if the upgraded pipe will not be increasing capacity in the village, citing statistics that show 92.5 per cent of the dwelling structures in Jamberoo are separate houses, compared to 66.4 per cent across NSW and 72.9 per cent across Australia.

“More housing choice is needed in Jamberoo, and the only way this can happen is by individual owners deciding to put up second dwellings on their properties,” says Mr Fredericks.

“No community is really in balance unless it is catering for the housing needs of the full spectrum of society.”

Jett Warner is one resident is beyond frustrated by Sydney Water’s response to the situation.

Their plans to redevelop the back of their block on Allowrie St have been in limbo since 2020, when they found out that there were no new connections available.

“I feel Sydney Water has an obligation for us to be able to connect into the sewer,” she says.

“This decision seems like it will keep development to the outskirts of Jamberoo, while existing residents who might have been counting on doing dual occupancies to fund their retirement won’t be able to do so.

“It just doesn’t seem to make sense. Increasing the capacity of the pipe is not the win:win solution that it was thought to be.”

While Sydney Water says the system has reached its design capacity, a study conducted by Fountaindale of the existing sewage system shows that the peak daily flow in Jamberoo in dry weather times is about five litres per second, with the capacity of 18 litres per second. 

“The study showed in wet weather this flow gets up full capacity. What that means very clearly, because it is a pressurised system, is that if water is penetrating there must be roofwater being pumped into the sewer main. It is the only way it could get in,” says Mr Fredericks.

“If that side was investigated closely, and those issues could be found and got rid of, there may be no need for an upgrade of the existing main.”