Libs and ALP rebuke each other over plan to raise Warragamba Dam wall

Raising Warragamba Dam wall has turned into a political football, with both sides slamming the other over committing to the plan and funding it.

Plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall to protect homes downstream from catastrophic flooding could be scrapped if Labor wins the next state election.

Premier Dominic Perrottet has now called on Labor leader Chris Minns to stop being “lukewarm” on the issue and “back the people of Western Sydney”.

Mr Minns had declared he was “very sceptical” of the dam wall-raising project.

It comes amid confusion in the federal government over which minister is responsible for the crucial flood mitigation project.

Mr Minns has refused to commit to raising the wall, noting that cost estimates have blown out and there was no extra money committed in last month’s budget.

Warragamba Dam spilling over on Monday. Picture: Twitter

His failure to outline a concrete position has led Mr Perrottet to accuse NSW Labor of trying to be “all things to all people”.

“It’s time for NSW Labor to back the people of Western Sydney,” Mr Perrottet said.

There are also continued questions about whether the federal Labor government supports raising the dam wall as a flood mitigation measure.

The NSW government is looking to work with the Commonwealth to make the project a reality.

Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres wrote to federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King on Monday proposing a joint-funding model to raise the wall and add more than 900 gigalitres of flood mitigation capacity to the water storage dam.

But senior federal ministers appear at odds over who would be responsible for raising the dam wall.

Western Sydney Minister Stuart Ayres wants Labor to commit to raising the dam wall. Picture NCA Newswire/Gaye Gerard

A spokesman for Ms King said the project came under the responsibilities of Water Minister Tanya Plibersek.

Ms Plibersek’s spokeswoman directed inquiries to Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt.

Mr Watt’s spokeswoman directed questions back to Ms Plibersek.

The Telegraph was ultimately referred to comments made by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Wednesday, stating that he would work “co-operatively” with NSW, but noting the business case had not been finalised.

The proposal to raise the dam wall is being held up by state government green tape, and cannot go ahead without federal environmental planning approval.

Mr Ayres said he did not care who took charge of the project at federal level, as long as someone did.

“I accept that they’re a new government, but this does require attention at a federal level,” he said. “These are people’s lives, these are people’s businesses, these are communities that deserve stronger flood mitigation.”

Opposition Leader Chris Minns said the state government did not commit funding for the project in last month’s budget. Picture: AAP Image

Mr Minns questioned whether the government was committed to the project going ahead.

The government did not commit any funding to raise the dam wall in last month’s budget.

“The NSW government has been looking at this proposal for over 10 years and the budget has blown out from $690 million to $1.6 billion without any progress made,” Mr Minns said.

“NSW Labor is also concerned that some are suggesting that the wall raising is the silver bullet when it comes to flood mitigation.”

The government is responding to thousands of environmental impact submissions to the proposal before a planning determination is made later this year.

A government review provided to a parliamentary inquiry into the issue found that if the flood mitigation measure had been in place, the number of dwellings affected by catastrophic flooding in March last year would have been reduced by up to 80 per cent.

Independent Hawkesbury councillor Nathan Zamprogno on Thursday called for those opposing a higher dam wall to stop “pontificating” to his community.

“We live in the area with the greatest unmitigated risk of flooding in Australia,” he said.

NSW Farmers president James Jackson said the organisation backed dams generally as a flood mitigation tool.

“Yes there’s an environmental impact to having a dam, but there’s also an environmental impact to not having a dam,” he said.

“If you think of the damage caused by these floods, you’d probably pay for these raised walls already.”

Originally published as Libs and ALP rebuke each other over plan to raise Warragamba Dam wall