Central Park: A living case study on integrated water and energy

Central Park: A living case study on integrated water and energy

In the heart of Sydney, Central Park has become a showcase for what a sustainable high-density precinct can look like when water and energy are planned together. Altogether’s local water centre and Clean Peak’s central energy plant work side by side to deliver reliable, efficient and low‑impact utilities for thousands of residents and businesses.

Across just 5.8 hectares, this mixed‑use development now serves around 2,000 apartments and extensive commercial and retail space, while dramatically reducing potable water use and traditional grid demand. The result is a decentralised water and energy system that keeps more value within the precinct, cuts emissions and supports greener urban living.

Inside the Central Park local water centre

Altogether’s Central Park local water centre is a precinct‑scale recycled water plant built into the basement levels of the development, demonstrating how advanced treatment can coexist seamlessly with city living. Wastewater from apartments, shops and offices is collected and treated through multiple filtration and purification stages, including membrane bioreactor and reverse osmosis technologies.

The scheme also captures rainwater, stormwater runoff, groundwater from basement drainage and excess irrigation water from the precinct’s gardens and green walls. This enables Central Park to operate as its own mini catchment, turning what would traditionally be waste streams into a secure, fit‑for‑purpose recycled water supply.

Recycled water is then distributed via dedicated purple pipelines for:

• Toilet flushing in apartments and commercial buildings
• Washing machines in residential buildings
• Irrigation of parks, gardens and green walls
• Cooling towers and air‑conditioning systems
• Car washing and other non‑potable uses

By offsetting these uses, Central Park residents can save up to 50% of their potable water compared to typical Sydney developments, while still meeting stringent health and environmental standards.

Partnering with Clean Peak: Closing the loop on precinct utilities

Right alongside the local water centre, Clean Peak Central Park operates a central energy plant that delivers a full suite of services to the same community. The plant includes 2.2 MW of gas generators, 22‑plus MW of high‑efficiency chillers, 12 MWt of hot water capacity and a combined high and low voltage electricity network.

This tri‑generation system simultaneously delivers electricity, heating and cooling from one fuel input, significantly improving overall energy efficiency. Waste heat from the gas generators is recovered and fed back into the thermal system, reducing energy requirements by more than 30% compared to conventional building systems.

Servicing 14 buildings and around 300,000 m² of customer space, the Clean Peak central plant supports more than 2,100 commercial, retail and residential customers. Its mission is to phase out natural gas use over time by developing cleaner fuels, further strengthening the low‑carbon credentials of the Central Park precinct.

An integrated water-energy ecosystem

The element ensuring Central Park stands out is the way water and energy infrastructure have been designed as an integrated ecosystem rather than as separate services. The recycled water plant is supported by on‑site thermal energy, and the efficient central plant operations are optimised across the precinct to reduce both emissions and operating costs.

By managing the entire local water cycle, from capture to treatment to reuse, Altogether helps building owners and strata managers achieve sustainability targets such as Green Star and BASIX without compromising comfort or amenity. At the same time, Clean Peak’s central plant maximises efficiency at scale by aggregating cooling, heating and power loads from multiple buildings.

The partnership demonstrates how private utilities can work together under New South Wales’ Water Industry Competition Act framework to deliver decentralised, privately operated water and energy systems that meet the same regulatory standards as traditional utilities. For Central Park, this model has enabled a “community of the future” that is smart, resource‑efficient and resilient.

Engaging a water‑smart community

Central Park is not only about technology; it is also about building a more water‑literate and sustainability‑minded community. Altogether regularly hosts local water centre tours, inviting residents, partners and visiting experts behind the scenes to see water recycling in action.

Events such as World Water Day at Central Park highlight how local water centres support urban resilience, demonstrate advanced treatment processes and encourage people to value every drop. Delegations from organisations such as the Australian Water Association and international water experts have visited the Central Park recycled water centre to learn from this real‑world example of decentralised utilities.

Day‑to‑day, customers receive regular e‑bills and access to usage data, helping them track water use and understand the benefits of recycled water in their homes. This ongoing engagement turns residents into active participants in the precinct’s sustainability story, rather than passive utility customers.

Why Central Park matters for future precincts

As Australian cities grow denser and climate pressures intensify, Central Park provides a practical blueprint for more sustainable, service‑rich urban communities. By combining a decentralised recycled water system with a high‑efficiency central energy plant, Altogether and Clean Peak show how integrated precinct utilities can:

Reduce potable water demand and protect drinking water supplies

• Cut emissions and improve energy efficiency with tri‑generation
• Support more resilient, drought‑ready communities
• Help developers meet and exceed sustainability ratings
• Create engaging, educational experiences around local water and energy

For planners, developers and asset owners, Central Park demonstrates that integrated water and energy infrastructure is not just technically feasible but commercially and socially compelling. For residents, it proves that high‑density living can still feel green, comfortable and future‑focused when every drop and every kilowatt is designed to work harder.

To explore how a similar local water centre and integrated energy solution could support your next project, speak with the Altogether team today about bringing this model to your community.