Plans to raise Warragamba Dam halted by UNESCO

Warragamba Dam has been raised on the world stage, with the World Heritage Committee stating that raising the dam wall is incompatible with world heritage status.

The World Heritage Committee has ordered the NSW Government to pause plans to raise Warragamba Dam wall.

• Labor Leader declares opposition will win back Penrith seat in 2023
• Vandals attack historic Glenbrook bridge

Warragamba Dam has been raised on the world stage, with the World Heritage Committee stating that raising the dam wall is incompatible with world heritage status.

During the annual meeting held in Azerbaijan yesterday, the committee spoke about the proposal to raise the wall by 14m for flood mitigation purposes and concluded that intermittently flooding large areas would “likely impact on its Outstanding Universal Value”.

The committee also placed a caveat on the dam’s approval, which will require the Government to submit the environmental impact statement for review before any final approvals are made.

Former NSW Environment Minister Bob Debus

Former NSW Environment and Federal Member for Macquarie Minister Bob Debus was one of the speakers at the committee meeting and said the proposal by the NSW Government has been a failure.

“On the evidence available so far, the NSW Government has treated the protection of outstanding universal value in a world heritage area as little more than an irritating afterthought,” Mr Debus said.

“The Government has so far demonstrated very little interest in a rigorous assessment of alternative strategies for flood mitigation, urban planning and water supply, even though strategies clearly exist.”

A Parliamentary Inquiry was established last month to investigate the proposal, following concerns from both Wollondilly Shire Council and resident action groups.