Lewisham odours

The NSW EPA is investigating reports of odours inside a small number of residential properties along New Canterbury Road, Lewisham.

We are working closely with Inner West Council, Sydney Water, and NSW Health to investigate the source of the odours and provide support to community.

A comprehensive investigation, including air monitoring, commenced immediately after a report from Sydney Water on 7 August 2026 in relation to odour complaints inside a resident’s home.

As part of our investigation, the Tanwar Petroleum Service Station at 281 New Canterbury Road Lewisham was issued with a clean-up notice requiring it to test the integrity of fuel lines and manage any fuel leaks that may be identified. The notice required all fuel operations to cease at the service station while this work was undertaken.

To provide community with information about the investigation and seek any further information to assist us, EPA officers door knocked over 100 properties located close to the Tanwar Petroleum Service Station in Lewisham on Friday 14 August.

Next steps

The EPA and Sydney Water have implemented measures to control vapours and will continue to monitor the situation and conduct further investigations if residents continue to be impacted by odours. 

The EPA will continue to work with the owner of Tanwar Petroleum Service Station to ensure its operations do not impact residents or the environment and any contamination is investigated and remediated.

The requirement for the service station owner to cease operations was lifted on Friday 4 September, however the EPA will consider further regulatory or remediation action if required. 

If you live close to the service station and are experiencing fuel type odours at your property, the EPA recommends that you ventilate your property by opening windows and doors where possible.

If you are feeling unwell from the odours, such as nausea or headaches, seek medical care.

If you live nearby and have experienced petroleum type odours at your property recently, email the Environment Line at [email protected] with the following information:

• how long you have been experiencing odours
• when you last experienced odours
• where on your property you have noticed these odours
• if there is a time of day that odours are strongest
• any other useful information you may have on this matter.