NSW floods: Why plan to raise Warragamba Dam wall has been delayed

Locals fear a plan to stop flooding by raising Warragamba Dam’s wall will go the way of Badgerys Creek Airport, with the project facing years of delays and political tug-of-war. Have your say on what should be done in our poll.

Working out how to best protect Western Sydney from catastrophic flooding has turned into a complete political dumpster fire, with politicians taking sides and ultimately delaying any solution.

For years the state government has been pursuing a plan to raise the wall of Warragamba Dam which would allow it to increase its capacity, preventing millions of megalitres of water ripping through western Sydney homes.

NSW Opposition leader Chris Minns — who could win government in nine months’ time — on Monday threw a spanner in the works, declaring his preferred option would be to lower the amount of water permanently held in Warragamba Dam so it could be used for flood mitigation.

“It’s a more affordable and cheaper way of delivering the same outcome,” he told 2GB.

But those on the ground including Hawkesbury Mayor Patrick Connolly said it would take years and be more expensive to implement — because it would require the construction of four desalination plants instead of the single one Sydney currently has to ensure its drinking supply.

Warragamba Dam. Up to 515 gigalitres of water spilt from the dam per day at the height of the recent floods. Picture: WaterNSW

“We’re at the last stage of this — the big fear would be someone like Chris Minns comes along and then we go back to the drawing board,” he said.

Plans to raise the wall have been around since 2011 and the latest estimate put the cost at $1.6 billion. Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres has been its biggest proponent, trying to secure a 50-50 funding deal with the federal government to get it built in three to four years.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said it was not a silver bullet solution but it was the most practical.

“It is the single biggest piece of work we can do to save lives and property and it is also the most cost-effective solution,” he said.

Minister Ayres said Mr Minns’ plan would put drinking water at risk.

“Labor’s flood mitigation approach for the Hawkesbury-Nepean is to flush our drinking water down the river and increase the cost of water,” he said.

The Albanese government have indicated they are open to the idea of raising the dam wall and want to “understand the proposal better.”

But Shooters and Fishers MP Mark Banasiak, who supports raising the dam wall, said the state government had the best part of a decade to act, failed to prosecute their case and had now arrived late to the party.

“Why couldn’t they get it done with a Coalition federal government and a Coalition state government and a supportive cross bench?” he said.

NSW Opposition Leader Chris Minns wants to consider reducing the amount of water held in the dam. Picture: AAP Image/Dean Lewins/POOL

“We (the Shooters and Fishers) were calling for this before the last election, both sides have these brief love affairs with building dams but neither of them want to commit to a full blown relationship.”

One Nation MP Mark Latham urged the government to consider a third proposal: buy back severely at risk properties because that was the only sure-fire way to reduce destruction.

“At least there should be a survey of the high risk properties, how many are there, and just ask them if they had the opportunity to sell out at a decent market rate, would they.”

“One of the problems with the dam wall proposal … (is) there hasn’t been any examination of alternatives, I just think that’s bad public policy.”

NSW One Nation MP Mark Latham Picture: NCA NewsWire / Christian Gilles

He was not convinced raising the wall would work because the Warragamba Dam was in a separate catchment area to the Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers and Western Sydney would still have to contend with those floodwaters, even if they were reduced by the higher wall.

Liverpool Mayor Ned Mannoun said buying back properties had worked to stop damage in his part of town but supported raising the dam wall because action was always better than inaction.

“Whilst the Warragamba Dam doesn’t have an impact on the Georges River catchment, people should just get out of the way and let them build the dam wall,” he said.

“This is important for everyone in Sydney, the government has a plan, let’s not make this like Badgerys Creek airport which didn’t get built for 40 years.

“There are going to be bigger floods coming, whilst there are environmental concerns, our goal should be to protect human beings first and foremost.”

Originally published as NSW floods: Why plan to raise Warragamba Dam wall has been delayed