Warragamba Dam - The Latest Chapter.

John Macris Confederation's Conservation's Oficer

A new safety upgrade proposal for Warragamba Dam has been on public display since November. This proposal is for a new side spillway to be built so as to make the dam 100% structurally secure in the largest probable flood. Unlike the previous proposal to raise the wall of the dam by 23 metres, this structure will not allow the temporary or permanent storage of water above the current full storage level and thus poses no threat to upstream wilderness areas and wild rivers like the Kowmung.
The former Dam raising Environmental Impact Assessment was made available to interested groups after the abandonment of the proposal. Within its numerous volumes (some would say well concealed) was a cost to benefit analysis that forecast a massive expansion of housing on the floodplain once mitigation was available. This is along a river system already in a poor state of health from urban pressures. In contrast, the new project and accompanying floodplain management strategy will help to spare the floodplain from further development.
Although it might not be normal practice for bushwalkers to be making supporting submissions to a major capital works project, in this case we know what the alternative was and submissions are now very important to see the spillway commenced. The dam raising has thankfully been rejected by the current State Government in favour of this option and if construction can proceed within the year then the aims of the anti raise the dam campaign will have been finally achieved in full.