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The leachate pond at Lake Macquarie's Awaba Waste Management Facility has been leaking ammonia into groundwater since at least 2017, but the NSW EPA believes no pollution has migrated off-site. Multiple audits have reported non-compliance issues, with the most recent one in December 2024 confirming leachate interaction with groundwater.

The council's updated Soil, Water and Leachate Management Plan acknowledges ongoing leaks, with groundwater monitoring indicating elevated ammonia levels. The council is working on solutions, including extraction wells, while the EPA continues to conduct surface and groundwater testing. Monitoring locations have been adjusted to enhance understanding of environmental impacts.