Kissing Point Road trees to be wiped out by construction of water pipeline

Plans to build an 11km water pipeline connecting Ryde to Turramurra will require the removal of 100 native trees, including 11 hollow-bearing trees home to wildlife. 

What happened: Designs were put forward in late June by Sydney Water to construct a major pipeline through the North Shore, connecting the West Ryde Pumping Station to Turramurra.

The project will require extensive tree removal and pruning, particularly along Kissing Point Road. 

• According to McConnell Dowell, which has been contracted for design and construction work, the project is expected to be completed by 2028.

Why is it happening: Sydney Water says the pipeline needs to be installed to support housing growth in the area. The new pipeline will replace an older one which was constructed in 1936 and decommissioned in 2014. 

• For the section of the pipeline running underneath the M2 and Lane Cove National Park, Sydney Water will use a micro tunnel boring machine, so as to leave the national park unaffected. 

• All other sections will see trenches dug for the installation of pipes. 

Council cautious: To complete the project, Sydney Water has asked Ku-ring-gai Council about a number of council-owned properties they could use to store equipment. However, the council has been reluctant to lend a hand to the works. 

It claims any decision to help out Sydney Water will be informed by both community feedback and environmental assessments of the project. 

The project is currently open for community feedback until July 19. Feedback can be submitted via the Sydney Water website.

Thumbnail: Google Maps, McConnell Dowell