Eucalyptus trees at the Sydney Desalination Plant feeding hungry (and fussy) koalas

Eucalyptus trees at the Sydney Desalination Plant feeding hungry (and fussy) koalas

Tucked away at the back of our site in Kurnell are 800 eucalyptus trees that have been planted to feed the hungry koalas at the Symbio Wildlife Park at Helensburgh.
The first 400 trees were planted in 2021 as a much-needed new food source for orphaned and rescued koalas at Symbio.

Since those first trees were planted, we’ve doubled the number of eucalypts so we can increase the supply of leaves for the koalas to feed on.
The trees are a mix of Forest Red Gum (Eucalyptus tereticornis), Swamp Mahogany (Eucalyptus robusta), and White Stringybark (Eucalyptus globoidea) – each of which is native to the Kurnell peninsula.

These particular species were chosen because koalas are notorious fussy eaters! In fact, they’ll only eat about 10 per cent of the 600 different types of eucalyptus found in Australia.
Not only that, but koalas are very hungry. According to Symbio, it takes about 67 trees to keep one koala fed for a year. A single koala eats about half a kilogram of eucalyptus leaves each day.

The eucalypts have been planted alongside our 15-hectare conservation area nestled at the back of our Plant as part of SDP’s environmental sustainability program.
The trees have been growing strong, producing plenty of leaves for the koalas. The leaves are harvested about twice a year.

About 30kg of leaves can be harvested every one to two months during the summer, with less frequent harvests in winter. The next harvest is expected to begin in late 2024.

As well as keeping koala tummies full, planting these 800 trees on previously unused land is also helping the local environment.

As SDP’s Chief Executive Philip Narezzi explains, “Each eucalyptus tree will absorb around 21kg of carbon dioxide a year and 1 tonne over its lifetime, which is amazing.
“It’s fantastic we can play a small part in helping to keep the endangered koala species alive and see the previously unused land at the back of the Plant now with a purpose.”

Take a look at the eucalyptus trees to see how much they have grown!

2023

2024

Find out more about SDP’s conservation work here

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Sydney Desalination Plant operating?
While the Plant was originally designed to operate only in times of drought, it has remained operational since 2019 to help address several storage dam water quality issues arising from bushfires, flooding and significant maintenance tasks in Sydney Water’s supply network.

The Sydney Desalination Plant’s WICA Network Operator’s Licence enables the Plant to remain operational, recognising that the Plant has always been, and will continue to be, an essential component of Sydney’s water management and an integral part of our city’s water-resilient future.
How much water does the Plant produce?
The Plant can provide up to 15 per cent of Sydney’s average drinking water needs without any reliance on rainfall.

It treats, filters and re-mineralises seawater to produce up to 91.25 gigalitres per annum of high-quality drinking water.

Under our WICA Network Operator’s Licence, the Plant will operate on a “flexible full-time basis”, producing between about 20 gigalitres to 91.25 gigalitres every year.
What does desalinated water taste like?
Sydney Desalination Plant water is treated to taste the same as Sydney’s other drinking water.

Like dam water, water from the desalination plant is treated to meet Australian Drinking Water Guidelines, which makes it among the best in the world.
Who owns the Plant?
Sydney Desalination Plant is jointly owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan Board and the Utilities Trust of Australia, which is managed by Morrison & Co. Find out more on our About Us page.

Why is desalination important?
The Sydney Desalination Plant is Sydney’s only major sources of non-rainfall dependent drinking water. It is one effective way of securing Sydney’s water supply against the effects of climate change and natural disasters and the increase in demand due to population growth, warmer weather and urban greening projects.

While the Plant was originally designed to respond to Australia’s severe millennium drought, recent experiences have demonstrated that drought is only one type of event that requires support from the Plant to ensure clean and safe drinking water for Greater Sydney.

The Plant has been a reliable drinking water supply during floods and bushfires, which caused water quality challenges from time to time in Sydney’s storage dams.
Where does the water go?
The Plant can supply water to homes and businesses south of Sydney Harbour and as far west as Bankstown, as part of all their water supply.

Sydney Water uses a variety of water sources to supply customer needs. Where your water comes from depends on demand and where in Sydney you live.

If you live in the blue-shaded area on this map, you may receive water from the dams, the Sydney Desalination Plant or a combination of both. The Plant's water proportion will change throughout the day due to variations in supply and demand.

Everyone will benefit from desalination because it allows more water to be left in the dams, which means a more secure water supply for Sydney.
How much energy does the Plant use?
The Sydney Desalination Plant requires roughly 38 megawatts at full production and is 100 per cent powered by renewable energy.

The average energy needed to provide drinking water to one household is about the same as the energy used to run a household fridge.
What’s the impact on the environment?
Sydney Desalination Plant places a high priority on minimising any environmental impacts – both on land and in the water.

To support this, the Plant has put in place a world first stringent six-year marine environment monitoring program. The marine environment was monitored for three years before construction and three years after the Plant became operational. It demonstrated that the Plant has minimal effect on the marine environment.

On land, a third of the Plant site at Kurnell has been maintained as a conservation area. This area is protected, and native species of flora and fauna are regularly monitored. This includes a program to survey the numbers of grey-headed flying foxes and green and golden bell frogs in the area.