Residents in Affluent Mosman Neighbourhood Suffer from Smelly ‘Schitt’s Creek’

Residents of an affluent and leafy Mosman neighbourhood have been calling a nearby stormwater drain their very own Schitt’s Creek, not for the popular Emmy award-winning comedy series but for its longstanding stench. 

Quakers Hat Bay locals said that they’ve been dealing with sewer smell for more than two years and they are concerned about the unbearable stench’s effects on the people, especially the children who play outdoors. 



The homeowners recently received anonymous notes from a concerned group who questioned what Sydney Water and the contractors have been doing to fix this problem. The lavatory smell would sometimes last for a week and its odour is much more worse in the morning when residents are out for a walk or a jog. 

According to reports, as many as 100 properties in this Mosman neighbourhood are affected by the lingering sewage stench. 

In 2017, Sydney Water and its contractor started a $100 million once-in-a-generation repair and upgrade of the Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer that stretches 28-kilometres across North Head at Manly. This tunnel collects about 25 percent of Sydney’s wastewater but the scope of the work has brought problems and delays. 

Mosman neighbourhood
Photo Credit: Sydney Water

A spokesperson for Sydney Water confirmed receiving reports of the stench and they have been trying to minimise the odour with ventilation systems, gas suppressants and a temporary access enclosure near Quakers Hat Bay and The Spit. 



The agency has also hired specialists to monitor the reports or complaints and then dispatch odour control measures amidst allegations that the contractor is not adhering to conditions in their contract. 

In the meantime, the residents are growing frustrated as they have been told different reasons for the delays, including COVID-19. The Northern Suburbs Ocean Outfall Sewer upgrade was supposed to be completed in 2020.