NSW Labor scraps plans to raise Warragamba Dam wall

Labor’s decision to axe plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall has left flood-stricken western Sydney residents still grappling with mental health issues “with no protection” from future deluges.

Labor’s decision to axe plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall has left flood-stricken western Sydney residents still grappling with mental health issues “with no protection” from future deluges.

Hawkesbury Mayor Sarah McMahon said she was furious after the NSW government confirmed it would follow through on its election promise to dump a proposal to raise the dam wall by up to 14 metres.

Ms McMahon, whose electorate was smashed by floods over the past two years, moved a motion on Tuesday calling for Premier Chris Minns to meet with councillors about the wall, the day before Labor confirmed it would be scrapped.

“I don’t know how any politician could look any person in the Hawkesbury in the eye … and say they’re taking that protection away from us,” she said.

“I’m actually furious. When I passed the mayoral minute last night, I did it in good faith the Premier would come have a conversation with us given our community bears the brunt of floods.”

Chris Minns has been lashed by Hawkesbury locals for ditching a plan to raise the wall at Warragamba Dam by 14 metres. Picture: Damian Shaw

“You’ve now left a community which still hasn’t recovered, which is still facing mental health consequences from the devastation and destruction, without any hope.”

An Infrastructure NSW report after the 2021 floods said raising the wall by 14m would have lowered flood peaks in Windsor and Penrith by up to 5.3m and seen up to 80 per cent fewer homes in the Hawkesbury-Nepean region affected.

The proposal could have seen 80 per cent fewer properties impacted by flooding. Picture: 7 News

The Coalition Government last year declared the project as Critical State Significant Infrastructure, meaning it could bypass a host of planning red-tape.

But Water Minister Rose Jackson said Labor would pursue other methods to flood proof the region.

“Labor’s position is clear, we have always opposed the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall,” Ms Jackson said.

NSW Water Minister Rose Jackson.

“The project will not guarantee communities in western Sydney will be safe from flood events.”

“We know raising the wall would flood the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, inundating 1,200 Aboriginal sites and artefacts,destroying habitat for critically endangered species and risk the Blue Mountains’ World Heritage listing.

“The Government also has a real plan to address floods in the immediate term: we will build levies, improve evacuation routesand improve emergency communications in the Hawkesbury-Nepean.”