Warragamba Dam Raising

To whom it may concern,
Given previous rainfall statistics, the planned extension to the Warragamba Dam wall will not prevent flooding in the Hawkesbury.

There are flooding issues from the Upper Nepean River, Glenbrook Gorge, Grose River, South Creek, Eastern Creek, the Colo River as well as water falling from the western Sydney area west of the Hills District to Camden.

We also have to realise that when rain events are close to each other, the water from the flood mitigation volume of the Warragamba Dam would not be fully emptied before the next rain event, which will not prevent flooding.

I also note that the floods at the beginning of 2020 occurred at the time that the Warragamba Dam was around 30% full.

The money allocated to this project would be better used buying back the land that is in highly flood prone areas, and upgrading the evacuation routes from other flood prone areas.
Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I unequivocally oppose the raising of the Warragamba Dam Wall. This is NOT a valid or viable solution to flood risk - the facts, sicence and even the insurance companies public acknowledge this.
To push for this raising regardless of the evidence is a shameless cash grab that will not only devastate WORLD HERITAGE national Park and priceless sacred sites; it also will put thousands MORE families at risk of major flood events by the subsequent property development that would follow this sham project.
For the government to be openly trying to push through this farcical project truly shows that it cares more for corporate and developers profits than the people of this state, our priceless wilderness and irreplaceable indigenous heritage.
Shame on you all if this project is approved, and may that shame follow you to your graves
Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I oppose the raising of the Warragamba dam wall. I am sick of land being sold to developers to build housing in floodplains with the expectation problems will be fixed by destroying wilderness. In the area I live, there are now signs up telling you you're not allowed to walk through the bush because you might tread on a wildflower, while developers get away with total destruction. What a dormitory Sydney has become! People crammed in like battery hens with no infrastructure, all so developers can make a quick buck and then we try to 'fix' the problems that result by destroying the few remaining peaceful areas. Get stuffed.
Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I oppose raising the Warragamba Dam wall on the following grounds:
Flood mitigation can already be achieved via the current dam wall height. 45% of floodwaters are derived from areas outside of the upstream Warragamba Dam catchment. Raising the dam wall is a futile and costly way of achieving nothing meaningful in terms of flood prevention.
Development on the flood plain should not be allowed to continue at this rate - this overdevelopment is driving the push to raise the dam wall. Flood plains are for growing food, not for medium density housing developments.
It threatens the flora and fauna - including the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater - that will be flooded out of existance and therefore puts the status of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area under threat - it has already suffered incredible losses from the 2019-20 bushfires.
About 65km of wild rivers and 5700 hectares of National Park (1300 in the World Heritage Area) would be inundated by the Dam project
It will flood Aboriginal sacred sites - over 1541 identified cultural heritage sites would be inundated. The Gundungurra community members have not been consulted in a meaningful way and their concerns have been brushed aside.
I have resided in the Blue Mountains since 2003 and moved here for the access to bushwalks and for the natural beauty of this place. It is unacceptable to trade off pristine wilderness for the sake of overdevelopment on the floodplain.
The project cannot be justified and it appears to be develop driven. It is unacceptable to destroy pristine wilderness and Aboriginal sacred sites in order to overdevelop a flood plain - where food could be growing. It is particularly unacceptable when raising the wall won't even prevent flooding anyway. It's a waste of taxpayer money that could be used for far more valuable projects.

Yours sincerely,

it is totally incomprehensible after the past three years of disasters that you consider this quick fix which will impact this state in so many ways. the ballot box hopefully will move you idiots on

I am appalled that you kow-tow to developers, yet not to common sense. Those areas, those people, who are flood prone will ALWAYS be flood prone, no matter how high the dam wall is. I feel sorry for those gullible enough to believe a flood is not going to affect them - or only once every 100 years - but we can't compensate everyone, nor listen to their pleas to help them. The damage is done, but let's not add to it.

To whom it may concern,
I once listened to a song that says we will be visiting trees in a museum in the future. Many species of animals are disappearing as we change their environment.
I do not support this destructive dam proposal.
Please utilise human expertise and find and alternate way.
Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I repeat my strong opposition to the raising of Warragamba Dam wall.All my prvious concerns regarding biodiversity, Aborignal and Cultural heritage and the immense stupidity of building on floodplains have been regarded as inconsequential or marginalised. My concerns as to the loss of bioviversity was acknowledged and the respose of offsets was expected and not accepted. Offsets are a cheap way out which has never been adequatley measured.
The cultural heritage of both First Nations people and European settlers has not been adequatley acknowledged. Nationally the loss of Jorgan Gorge to First Nations is now seen as a complete disregards for First nation heritage and the loss of similar sacred sites in the area to be affected by flooding in the Wollondilly catchment would be similar to the Gundungorra, Dharawal and Darug Nations. I am the curator at the Wollondilly Heritage Centre in The Oaks and have recently installed an exhibition to celebrate the Creation Story of the Wollondilly River together with Gundungorra elders. They are still devastated by the initial flooding of Burragorang Valley to create the Warragamba Dam which inundated 80% of the sites involved in the Creation Story. If the dam is raised further the water will cover the remaining sites. This cannot be offset or ignored. Nor can the recent loss of sites and flora and afuna due to the horrendous 2019 bushfires. Climate change now brings ever more storms, floods and fires and we need to care for our country and preserve all we can. By eliminating our Valley from the Blue Mountains World Heritage so more and more houses can be built on floodplains is not acceptable.
I strongly oppose your documents and your decisions.

Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I oppose the dam raising project for the Warragamba Dam. I hope this round of submissions from the public and experts will not be as readily dismissed as the submissions to the initial EIS in 2021.
My opposition is because of the proposed destruction of 65 kilometres of wilderness rivers and 5,700 hectares of National Parks. With the state-wide destruction of habitat from recent floods and previous seasons of bushfires, there is absolutley no margin for the destruction of yet more of the NSW bush, land that should be protected by World Heritage and National Park status.

Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I am wrting to oppose the raise of the dam wall on several grounds, firstly the ecological destruction that will occur. there is an ever decreasing range of habitat in Australia in general as well as specifically in NSW.
Raising the wall will not adress the real issue which is the continuance of building houses on flood plans.On average, 45% of floodwaters are derived from areas outside of the upstream Warragamba Dam catchment. This means that no matter how high the dam wall is constructed, it will not be able to prevent flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley downstream.This is is increasingly evident with the impacts of climate change that are now occuring.

The Blue Mountains is a magnicient hertigae area, that provide both home to native species and obvious tourism benfits for the area.
The report has all but dismissed the concerns raised in 2,500 community and government agency submissions to the initial EIS in 2021, and in some cases expert submissions were not even addressed.
The Blue Mountains' world heritage listing could be threatened by a NSW government plan to raise Warragamba Dam wall.
The International Council on Monuments and Sites, which advises the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, has cautioned both the federal and NSW governments about the plan to raise the wall by about 14 metres.
The council claims the proposal could flood up to 1000 hectares of the Greater Blue Mountains world heritage area and 3700 hectares of surrounding national park.
ICOMOS Australia president Ian Travers says if it goes ahead the World Heritage Committee could place the area on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
Once again the traditional owners are being ignored.The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report has been severely and repeatedly criticised by both the Australian Department of Environment and the International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) for not appropriately assessing cultural heritage in meaningful consultation with Gundungurra community members.
Yours sincerely,

Reasons for objection covered in the attachment

To whom it may concern,
I oppose the raising of the Warragambe Dam wall. I am a regular bushwalker in the lower mountains and know that there are many unique areas, fauna and flora there that will be impacted by the raising of the wall. The traditional owners have also objected to the raising of the dam wall due to the impact it will have on their sacred sites. Once the damage is done it will never be undone. The raising of the dam wall is only for the benefit of developers. Our local environment and indigenous sites need to be preserved and the government will be held responsible for any loss of unique environmental sites!
Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
Warragamba Dam Wall Objection
I am making a submission to strongly object to raising the wall of Warragamba Dam. I currently live in Blackheath, Upper Blue Mountains.
I object for the following reasons:
• The potential destruction of a large area of the World Heritage Blue Mountains National Park, including endangered habitats and precious Aboriginal sites, making a joke of the term ‘world heritage’:
o “World Heritage is the designation for places on Earth that are of outstanding universal value to humanity and as such, have been inscribed on the World Heritage List to be protected for future generations to appreciate and enjoy.” https://whc.unesco.org/en/faq/19
o https://www.nationaltrust.org.au/blog/why-we-shouldnt-raise-the-warragamba-dam-wall/
• The plan to increase residential development on the Hawkesbury-Nepean flood plain, based on the increased capacity of Warragamba Dam, where any major flooding (which will occur even if the wall is raised) will render homes uninsurable.
• Almost 50% of the runoff that caused the recent flood of the Hawkesbury-Nepean River did not come from the dam, but tributaries below/beside the dam, hence raising the wall will only offer some protection to the new home owners on the flood plain.
• The possible catastrophic seismic consequences from a sudden increase in the weight of the water in the dam, detailed by Marieann Duncan:
o https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/lcdocs/submissions/65382/0305%20Ms%20Marieann%20Duncan.pdf
• The lack of detailed investigations of alternatives, because the NSW Government is determined to put vast housing developments on the flood plain and requires an EIS that supports this outcome.
• A number of experts have withdrawn their reports included in the EIS, citing the misleading and selective use of their data.
o https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/selective-editing-warragamba-expert-self-reported-over-changes-to-research-20211108-p596zf.html
o https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2021/nov/08/ecologist-so-troubled-by-warragamba-dam-wall-environmental-impact-statement-she-resigned
• With so many potentially disastrous consequences, the EIS should be robust and independent, covering all implications for future generations.

Yours sincerely,

I have grave concerns about raising the dam. The Premier says it's people not plants. I think this reflects his simplistic and highly commercial understanding of the situation. Flora,fauna and sacred sites will be destroyed..all for the possibility of more housing on a flood plain. A plain that gets water flow from a number of sources. The environmental impact statement has been ignored. The Liberal Party in that area is firmly in the grip of property developers. I despair that centuries old sites and unique flora and fauna will be destroyed so some can get rich at the expense of others.
Yours sincerely,

Fri 2/12/2022 @8:12 PM
To whom it may concern,
The report has dismissed our communities and traditional wners and risks us losing our world Heritage Listing. Most of the flooding around Penrith comes from Creeks, streams and rivers below the Warragamba wall.I have been to the information Centre and seen thewall both behind and below the wall. If the spillways are used when rain is expected there is no need to raise the wall.
Yours sincerely,


Sun 27/11/2022 @ 9:42 AM
To whom it may concern,
I have watched the Warragamba Dam Wall since it was first built and watched the valley behind it get flooded. I have been to the Information Centre and seen the Valley as it now is with its beautiful water. Raising the wall woud not prevent flooding as msot of the water going to the flood plain is from creeks and streams below the dam wall. It is important to protect the threatend species of fauna and flora Now living behind the dam wall as it now is.We don't need to lose our World Heritage status so greedy developers can build on land that should never have been built on.
Yours sincerely

I oppose the raising of Warragamba Dam on the basis of severe effects of upstream inundation (which you are severely downplaying), it will endanger countless plant and animal species, destroy Sydney’s last wild river - the mighty Kowmung - and risk the Blue Mountains World Heritage Listing itself. It is short-sighted and robs the people of NSW the enjoyment of that area and worse for future generations. The NSW Government should NOT ignore the chorus of community opposition or the advice of the UNESCO World Heritage Committee, the Traditional owners and change the boundaries of the Blue Mountains National Park. If you do this, the community will see it for what it is, political expedience timed to your re-election and you will be punished for this - the people of NSW are smarter and will not be fooled. There are alternative options to raising the dam that would protect existing communities in the floodplain. Especially since 45% of floodwaters only come from the dam - so how about investing in a holistic plan that results in a win / win - this proposal is a win/lose - and the winners over time will be developers and the losers the aforementioned above, including the residents in the floodplain because this will not solve their problem.

Sat 3/12/2022 @ 6:58 AM
To whom it may concern,
Do not raise the dam. It's just a payoff to property developers.
Yours sincerely,

Sun 27/11/2022 8:03 AM
To whom it may concern,
Do not raise the dam. It's just a selloff to developers who will not be taking the responsibility for the eventual flood events on the Nepean Plains. They've already absconded with the profits leaving the home owners in deep water. Raising the dam does not control the waters that flood this area and would wreck the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area.
STOP THE DAM

Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I am seriously opposed to the raising of the Warragamba Dam and am shocked that politicians are reckless enough to try and force this decision on the people of Sydney, the Blue Mountains, Aboriginal groups and the wider NSW community against 1) their own wishes 2) against the environment 3) against other government department concerns and 4) once again, against Aboriginal concerns—a blatant lack of respect and understanding what Aboriginal sacred sites mean- all matters that are grave in their consequences and now demand insightful decisions not ruthless self-interest.
The wish to ram this decision through against the will of the people and against sensible decisions shows absolutely no understanding of the consequences of a decision as foolish as wanting to raise this dam in the location of a world heritage site.
Who is to benefit? Is the question in every body’s mind..
I am not indigenous but if any form of reconciliation is to be achieved with the first inhabitants of this continent it must surely be through a process of RESPECT and process of ACKNOWLEDGMENT of sacred and culturally significant areas—all 1541 identified sites in this case!
How would the government react if one single church were vandalised? It would rightly call this an act of vandalism which would be persecuted as a criminal act and so it should be in this case if the government proceeds.
The intention of raising the dam against these cultural sites is a criminal act that alone should see perpetrators prosecuted (and at the very least voted out of office). Power can be very temporary and offers only momentary protection, particularly for a premier who has not faced a public election and has not had the mandate of the people.
I am deeply concerned about this colonial master attitude.
I am deeply concerned about the status of the Blue Mountains and what it will mean not just to its World Heritage status, to the wildlife and plants, especially those already endangered or rare, but to tourism as well.
I am deeply concerned about the level of corruption that seems to have been so transparently allowed to flourish in the current NSW government.
This government already has all the facts that speak against the raising of the dam wall, including the fact that, on average, 45% of floodwaters are derived from areas outside of the upstream Warragamba Dam catchment. Even from amongst its own departments, it knows the many alternatives and is aware of the strong scientific reasons that speak against this project.
The ethics of the intention to raise the dam wall, because of its known consequences, are morally deplorable in the extreme and I urge this government, as one of many voices, to listen and abandon this outrageous plan.
I have no personal interest in this, do not live in the larger Sydney area and have no political affiliations, have made no donations to any political party, and do not stand to gain from any decisions to be made but am a resident of New South Wales.
I am hoping, however, that by this submission, I may have helped for morality and common sense to prevail.

Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I strongly object to the raising of the Warragamba Dam. I do not believe raising the dam will mitigate the floods in Western Sydney - the only thing that will do that is to stop building houses on floodplains. To be so arrogant that you think you can outwit Mother Nature just astounds me......water will always win and you will have destroyed something unique and precious for nothing.
The Blue Mountains UNESCO World Heritage area is not something to be dismissed as just 'plants' - it takes significant environmental factors to be considered for World Heritage listing and changing the boundaries of the Blue Mountains National Park World Heritage Area is unacceptable. I am sorry but this ideology of "I want it" so I will get it is not something the Australian people are supporting any longer. Time to face facts - we can all see that raising the dam wall will not mitigate the problem - it will just destroy more essential tree canopy and exacerbate a problem of your own making.
Instead, manage the present dam better - for flood mitigation instead of hanging onto all the water so you can sell it. Consider other ways to ensure the Sydney water supply and maintain lower water levels in Warragamba Dam to prepare for future flood events.
The science tells us that there are alternatives. However, these alternative approaches to solving the problem of the flooding were not assessed as part of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).
The EIS has not taken into account or justified the true cost of the damage that will be caused by inundation of the greater Blue Mountains world heritage area. Traditional heritage and culture and unique australian biodiversity will be destroyed.
I believe that the EIS has not followed best practices and has underestimated the true impact on the biodiversity of the Blue Mountains World Heritage site.
I also believe that the entire Warragamba Dam assessment process lacked integrity due to the failure to discuss the direct impacts of the development and to also consider the Biodiversity Offsets that will be required. How will the development ensure like for like replacement of a unique and irreplaceable site such as this?
Additionally, over 45% of the floodwaters are derived from areas outside of the Warragamba Dam catchment which means that no matter how high you build the wall, there will continue to be flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley.
That is why previous Ministers have refused to approve this project - it is a huge waste of money and resources and will cause irrepairable environmental destruction and will not be solving the problem anyway. Listen to the science - nature is strong willed and cannot be bent to your whim.
This project has also been rejected by countless ecologists, hydrologists, scientific organisations and traditional owners. There is only one group pushing for this development and that is the developers. The raising of the Warragamba Dam would be a huge act of environmental vandalism.
There are Threatened species as well as hundreds of thousands of protected native wildlife that would perish if this project was to go ahead - and considering there was an estimated 6 Billion animals killed in the catastrophic bushfires - how callous to just keep on thinking it's ok to keep on killing our precious native species.
The independent inquiry that took place early in 2022 made no mention of raising the Warragamba Dam as a solution and instead recommended pulling back on the over-development that has taken place on flood plains to date and to stop building on them going forward. This seems like the most sensible response - whereas raising the dam just seems like throwing good money after bad.
It would be far more economical and practical if we could start encouraging the construction of more water storage tanks for all residential and industrial developments going forward and rather than just watching it all seep back into the ocean.
Open up the desalination plant in Sydney and ensure all households have water reserves and then lower the current water level in the Warragamba Dam so that next time we have serious and significant rains, the dam can accommodate this without adding to the problem when it is opened and allowed to flood an area that is already saturated and flooding. Start thinking long term and start solving the actual problem - which in years to come could be drought once again - and is highly likely considering the continent we all inhabit.
Raising the dam is a waste of resources and will destroy thousands of hectares of forest which, as we all know, are necessary for mitigating climate change and provide us with the oxygen we all need and for the cooling effects they provide us.
We need the forests and we need to allow our flood plains to once again, do what they do best....collect water.
I believe this idea of raising the Warragamba Dam can be compared to Trump's ridiculous idea of building a wall to keep out the Mexicans - the cost and the environmental damage it has caused made him a laughing stock - and did not solve the problem. I see many similarities.
Do the right thing and withdraw this ridiculous and damaging plan. Solve the problems caused by inappropriate development another way, and not by more inappropriate development!
We must drop this idea to raise Warragamba Dam once and for all - and not allow politics and egos to make decisions that do not fully consider every aspect of what is best for our country and our people.
It will never be 'People over plants' because people need plants to survive. Forget that at your peril.





Yours sincerely,

To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my concern about the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall.
This proposal ignores the Traditional owners and the community concern expressed in over 2500 previous submissions and seeks to justify damage and destruction of our World Heritage National Park.
As a NSW voter I wish to voice my extreme opposition to this plan and would like my objection noted and recorded.

Yours sincerely,