Warragamba Dam Raising

To whom it may concern,
I feel that raising the level of the dam will detrimentally affect the area. Not only will aboriginal sacred places be flooded but also a number of endangered species will lose more habitat.
It's always easy to see the short term gain and being wise to the damage in retrospect.
There should be more research into other solutions for flood mitigation and water supply .
The latter could be addressed by recycling of water for all household uses.
The most obvious solution is not always the best one.

To whom it may concern,
I adore the Blue Mountains from spending multiple trips there exploring its natural beauty. The Blue Mountains World Heritage area is not just a world-class National Park, in 2000 it was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value for the whole of mankind. Raising the Warragamba dam wall and consequent damage to natural and cultural values would be a breach of these undertakings and Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention.
An estimated 65 kilometres of wilderness rivers, and 5,700 hectares of National Parks, 1,300 hectares of which is within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, would be inundated by the Dam project, and I do not believe you are providing enough time for the natural environment to adapt. This includes:
• The Kowmung River - declared a ‘Wild River’, protected for its pristine condition under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974;
• Unique eucalyptus species diversity recognised as having Outstanding Universal Value under the area’s World Heritage listing such as the Camden White Gum;
• A number of Threatened Ecological Communities, notably Grassy Box Woodland;
• Habitat for endangered and critically endangered species including the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater and Sydney’s last Emu population.

To whom it may concern,
I am writing to express my concern about the proposed Warragamba Dam wall raising.
I frequently visit the Blue Moutains, to enjoy outdoor activities such as hiking, rock climbing and canyoning. Being involved in these activties has meant I have developed a passion for the area, and want to ensure it is protected.
I have reviewed the EIS, and have concerns around the quality of the assessment. I understand it did not adequately consider the cultural heritage impacts, the impact of the 2019/2020 bushfires, or the impact to threatened species.
I understand the desire to protect communtiies from flooding - raising the dam wall does not achieve this. When ~45% of floodwaters are from areas outside of dam catchment, raising the damn wall will not be able to prevent flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley downstream.
I believe you have have been presented with many alternative options to raising the Warragamba DamI strongly urge you to consider these.
The Blue Mountains was made a World Heritage site to protect it from this kind of devatstion - to proceed with this would be very unjust.

To whom it may concern,
I’m a bird lover and recently voted for the Regent Honey Eater in the Guardian ‘Bird of the Year’ submissions. I was horrified to discover that this is one of the endangered birds threatened by the plan to raise the wall of the Warragamba Dam by 17metres, merely to build houses on the floodplain. There will be many other negative consequences to human populations as well as wildlife as the natural environment is essential to human health. Raising the dam wall will have a terrible impact and will:
• Flood wild rivers and other important bushwalking areas west of Sydney
• Drown more than 1,000 sites of cultural, national and historical significance in the Burragorang Valley
• Inundate the lower sections of the Kowmung River, a NSW state declared wild river with pristine ecological values, 6,000 hectares of the Blue Mountains National Park and further endanger already threatened bird species
Only half of the flooding in the Hawkesbury-Nepean valley comes from waters that are not controlled by the Warragamba Dam. SO WHY RAISE THE DAM WALLS?
It’s public knowledge that the NSW Environmental Impact Statement is A SHAM, downplaying and denying the environmental and cultural damage this project will cause the Blue Mountains National Park.
The initial draft of this impact assessment was heavily condemned by several of the GOVERNMENT’S OWN AGENCIES. Further field studies must be done.
As it stands, this project is completely unacceptable. It should be scrapped in favour of a combined approach to the alternative options to raising the Warragamba Dam wall that would protect existing floodplain communities.
Alternative options were not comprehensively assessed in the EIS. Any assessment of alternatives does not take into account the economic benefits that would offset the initial cost of implementation.

To whom it may concern,
I write to object to the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall. I lived the first 20 years of my life in Riverstone and lived through two major flood events. Still I see no valid reason for increasing the height of the wall.
I note that almost half of the floodwaters in the last 70 years have come from outside the Warragamba catchment so a higher wall would not eliminate flooding.
It would be a tragedy if the water trapped by a higher wall flooded , as reported , 5,700 hectatres of World Heritage euclaypt forest and so endangered the World Heritage staus of the Blue Mountains. Such inundation would also destroy the habitat of the regent honeyeater and Sydney's last emu population.
Aboriginal organisations report that more than 1,500 identified cultural heritage sites would be ruined by the water behind a higher dam wall.
It is reported that the federal Environment department has criticised the lack of a proper assessment of the cultural values in danger if this proposal goes ahead.
Even the peak body of the Australian insurance industry has advised against spening billions of dollars on wall raising ( which would not prevent, simply delay, flooding) and suggested that money would be better spent in buying prioperties in flood prone areas .
So I plead with you to abandon the proposal to raise the dam wall.

To whom it may concern,
I have along enjoyed hiking and visiting friends in the Blue Mountains, however I beleive that it is obvious that our natural environment needs protecting regardless of how personally connected we feel as an individual. It is in our interest as a nation to protect thriving wilderness areas. Our cities and suburbs should also be better connected to naute, for the co-existence of multispecies, and for the mitigating effects on our health.
I submit to you today the following points regarding systematice failures of the EIS:
• The engineering firm (SMEC Engineering) who undertook the environmental and cultural assessments for the project have an established history abusing Indigenous rights, recently being barred from the world bank.
• Severe fires during the summer of 2019/20 devastated 81% of Blue Mountains Heritage Area. No post-bushfire field surveys have been undertaken.
• Only 27% of the impact area was assessed for Aboriginal Cultural Heritage.
• Threatened species surveys are substantially less than guideline requirements. Where field surveys were not adequately completed, expert reports were not obtained.
• No modelling of the stated flood and economic benefits of the dam wall raising are outlined in the EIS.
• The integrity of the environmental assessment is fundamentally flawed, and cannot be accepted as a basis for further decision-making by the Minister for Planning.
I also raise with you the attachs on these World Heritage and cultural sites:
The Blue Mountains World Heritage area is not just a world class National Park, in 2000 it was inscribed on UNESCO’s World Heritage list in recognition of its Outstanding Universal Value for the whole of mankind. Raising the Warragamba dam wall and consequent damage to natural and cultural values would be a clear breach of these undertakings and Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention.
An estimated 65 kilometres of wilderness rivers, and 5,700 hectares of National Parks, 1,300 hectares of which is within the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area, would be inundated by the Dam project. This includes:
• The Kowmung River - declared a ‘Wild River’, protected for its pristine condition under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974;
• Unique eucalyptus species diversity recognised as having Outstanding Universal Value under the area’s World Heritage listing such as the Camden White Gum;
• A number of Threatened Ecological Communities, notably Grassy Box Woodland;
• Habitat for endangered and critically endangered species including the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater and Sydney’s last Emu population.

This Government has failed to protect cultural sites such as Junkuun Gorge in WA, and I beleive as a nationa we should be doing absolutely everything possible to protect all Indigenous cultural connection to country.
The Gundungurra Traditional Owners have not given free, prior and informed consent for the dam proposal to proceed. Please note the following:

• Over 1541 identified cultural heritage sites would be inundated by the Dam proposal.
• 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.

There are alternatives to raising the dam wall. I note that:
• There are many alternative options to raising the Warragamba Dam wall that would protect existing floodplain communities. A combined approach of multiple options has been recommended as the most cost-effective means of flood risk mitigation.
• Alternative options were not comprehensively assessed in the EIS. Any assessment of alternatives does not take into account the economic benefits that would offset the initial cost of implementation.
• 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.

To whom it may concern,
I write to you with concerns over the proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall.
As a citizen of New South Wales and a resident of Gundungurra country, I feel strongly that this development will adversly affect the natural environment above and below the dam.
As stated in the National Parks and Wildlife response to the first draft of the proposed development, there are no considerations taken into account of the already catastrophic effects of the 2019 bushfires on the local wildlife, which will only be further stressed by the building of the dam.
Heritage NSW has also condemmed the development as not protecting the important cultural sites withing the development area. When so many heritage sites have been shamefully destroyed across the entire continent for the last 200 years, it is more important than ever to preserve those that remain.
My personal experience of the Blue Mountains National Park system over the last 40 years is that it is a beautiful and sacred place, playing an essential role in this era of critical climate change reversal.
Please consider the multi-pronged alternative options, as research shows that appoximately 45% of floodwaters are derived from areas outside of the upstream Warragamba Dam catchment, therefore raising the dam wall will not solve the flooding downstream of the dam.

To whom it may concern,
I am protesting very strongly against raising the dam.Its an act of ruthless destruction to our World Heritage area.Merely for greedy profit for housing development.I like thousands of Australians VOTE!!
Don't ever let this insanity progress...We in this country have done so much DAMAGE! Give the land some LOVE

Dear Minister
I am very concerned that the raisng of the warragamba dam wall will adversely affect world heritage values in the Blue mountains.
The floodplains are simply not an appropriate place to build houses. Developers and builders have known that it is a flood plain for 100 years They have known that climate change is coming for at 20 years and so they know flooding will get worse.. They have known that the Blue mountains is a world heritage area for 15 years.
Instead of houses we should use the floodplains for sports fields, market gardens and reserves - things that do not matter if they get flooded.

To whom it may concern,
If the dam wall is raised floodwaters will inundate parts of the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area which will be lost forever with all the native species, habitat, indigenous sites and the sheer beauty of the area.
This is being done so developers can get richer buiding more dwellings on a flood plain which will still flood as almost half of the flood water comes from other water sources.
This is environmental destruction. Please do not be part of it. What will your grandchildren think of you that you took so little care of this beautiful and wild part of our state?

To whom it may concern,
I am writing in opposition to the proposal for the Warragamba Dam wall to be raised.
The impact of this would mean devastating consequences for the environment upriver, and not mitigate the risks for flooding downriver.
I spend a lot of time on the Wollondilly river and know the area very well.
Many of my favourite places wouldn't survive the changes to the wall height, let alone the massive impacts to the flora and fauna, some of which only exist in the thin strip of habitat along the current river edge.
I am appalled that this government has decided to ignore the findings of the impact statement, and not abandon the project.

Our environment has suffered across the state due to the NSW government prioritising development over sanity.

There are endangered species that live in this area of impact that have already suffered greatly due to drought, flood, bushfires, and development.
This plan does more harm than good, and should be scrapped.
If your government goes ahead with it I will fight it, vote against your government, and encourage my friends and family to do the same.

1. Houses in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley will not be protected by raising the Warragamba Dam wall, Almost half of the flooding in the valley comes from waters that are not controlled by Warragamba Dam.

2. Upstream inundation would destroy the Kowmung River, 6,000 hectares of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, and further endanger already threatened species like the regent honeyeater and the Camden white gum.

3. Many experts disagree with the environmental impact statement (EIS) that downplays – and denies – the environmental and cultural damage this project will cause.

4. The impact assessment was heavily condemned by several agencies:

a) The National Parks and Wildlife Service said it failed to address impacts on species and ecological communities affected by last year’s bushfires.
b) Heritage NSW said the EIS failed to properly consider cultural heritage values or adequately consult Traditional Owners.
c) The Commonwealth Environment Department said the evaluation failed to consider impacts on iconic species like the platypus, and told the NSW Government to redo the entire heritage assessment.

The only beneficiaries are developers. For everyone else and for the environment, raising the dam wall is simply an irreversible act of environmental vandalism.

To whom it may concern,
The Blue Mountains National Park is prescious habitat. It is also of significant cultural significance to Indigious peoples. Both are threatened by this propsoal. Warringamba Dam should not be raised.

To whom it may concern,
I totally oppose raising the dam wall. Sensitive & sacred, cultural, historical places of significance & threatened species & so many animals would be lost. This will impact species & ecological repercussions will occur, eg. Platypus will be wiped out along with everything & anything due to their habitat being "flooded" due to probably just wanting to build more homes downstream for development purposes only. I live in Penrith & border with Hawkesbury council area, where anyone that lives there now in a flood prone area know full well that live with the chance of flood at their own expense. No more homes should be built in flood prone areas & government/ councils / developers should not be pushing for this dam wall to be raised basically in my mind for development.

To whom it may concern,
I am writing to inform you that I DO NOT support the Warragamba Dam Raising Project. It is an ill-advised and unnecessary white elephant that will cause irreverisble damage to a World Heritage area.
I am a long-time resident of the Blue Mountains region and am proud of the beauty and unique culture of this area. To raise the dam wall would be to threaten, even destroy, everything that makes this region so special.
The EIS was poorly conducted and fundamentally flawed. There has been no modelling conducted to investigate what benefits this project may yeild. The government is flying blind on this project, willfully ignoring powerful evidence that goes against it's developer-friends' wishes.
The Minister for Planning would jeopardise a World Heritage listed area, in direct breach of Australia's obligations under the World Heritage Convention. Threatening rivers, endangered species and more than 1500 irreplaceable cultural sites. All for the sake of a few developer dollars.
The government DOES NOT have consent from the traditional owners of the land affected. The Gundungurra people have not been consulted in a meaningful way.
All this destruction and recklessness for a project that isn't even going to protect the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley from flooding. There are several viable and more effective alternatives that have not been given a proper hearing.
This project is a terrible idea. To go ahead with it would be to destroy not just irreplaceable environmental and cultural treasures, but Australia's reputation on the world stage. I am embarrassed that my government is even considering this stupid project. It is obvious that this government cares more about keeping corrupt fat-cat developers rich than actually governing for the people of the state. No wonder the former Premier and Deputy Premier are before the ICAC. This whole thing reeks of corruption. For shame.

To whom it may concern,
I am very concerned regarding the proposal to raise the dam wall.
There is a risk of irreversible environmental damage and this area has significant relevance to First Nation people.
It also concerns me that this is likely to impact on future generations of people, not to mention the flaura and fauna down stream from the dam site.

To whom it may concern,
I am a hiker and lover of the Australian environment. As someone who undertakes single and multi-day hikes to enjoy the landscape we have in Australia, this proposal is removing yet another of the beautiful areas of natural environment that hikers and nature lovers pine over and have on their bucket list of must see places.
Raising the Warragamba Dam wall will mean the loss of 6,000ha of the Heritage Listed Blue Mountains National Park, loss of the wild river which provides ecological values and homes to natural habitat and wildlife, and further endanger the already threatened native species of Honey Eater and Camden White Gum.
The argument for raising the dam wall due to flooding is not accurate, given much of the water that floods the Hawksbury/Nepean Valley comes from other water supplies than the Warragamba Dam.
I strongly oppose the raising of this dam wall and the destruction of pristine natural environments it will cause.

To whom it may concern,
Houses in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley will not be protected by raising the Warragamba Dam wall, Almost half of the flooding in the valley comes from waters that are not controlled by Warragamba Dam.
Upstream inundation would also destroy the mighty Kowmung River, 6,000 hectares of the World Heritage-listed Blue Mountains National Park, and further endanger already threatened species like the regent honeyeater and the Camden white gum.

Many experts disagree with the environmental impact statement (EIS) that downplays – and denies – the environmental and cultural damage this project will cause.

The impact assessment was heavily condemned by several agencies:
The National Parks and Wildlife Service said it failed to address impacts on species and ecological communities affected by last year’s bushfires.
Heritage NSW said the EIS failed to properly consider cultural heritage values or adequately consult Traditional Owners.
The Commonwealth Environment Department said the evaluation failed to consider impacts on iconic species like the platypus, and told the NSW Government to redo the entire heritage assessment.
Raising the dam wall would be an act of environmental vandalism.

To whom it may concern,
I am a regular visitor to the Blue Mountains. My husband and I go on walks, and also visit our aunt and uncle in the lower Blue Mountains.
I oppose the raising of the Warrangamba Dam for the following re
asons.
1. The Blue Mountains are a world heritage area with outstanding value, not only to those lucky enough to live close by to visit regularly, but also to the world (hence world heritage). Raising the dam would not only be in breach of the res
ponsibilities we have under the World Heritage Convention in preserving this heritage, but would also endanger many of the natural wonders within the National Park. These include many unique plant species, such as eucalypts and grasses, and also the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater and Greater Sydney's emus - the last of t
heir kind in our area.
2. There are over 1500 identified culutral heritage sites that would be destroyed if the plan went ahead. That is just unfathomable. We have an obligation as Australians to preserve these sites. I understand there has also been no meaningful consultation with the local Indigenous community. How can this be even possible in this day and age? B
efore any decisions are made, the Traditional Owners have to give their consent.
3. I understand there has been a wholly inadequate and flawed "assessment" by an engineering firm, with very questionable reputation and a history of ignoring Indigenous rights. The c
ompany's work did not adequately assess the impact on threatened species, nor does it include any modelling of the economic benefits. It must therefore not be used as a basis for further decisions on the matter.
4. Raising Warrangamba Dam would be a misguided decision, because these
days big "technological" endeavours rarely are the right solution for our long-term sustainable future. We need to rethink the way we deal with floods and multiple small scale steps are more effective, particularly those that involve the wider community in how we protect our flood and catchment areas.

Please do not raise the dam wall. This is very poor water and conservation management. Protecting habitat for our unique and wonderful wildlife is not compatible with raising the dam wall. We cannot keep destroying every bounty nature has provided us. Other life on this planet is just as important as ours. Mandate rainwater tanks for every home, it will be cheaper than the dam and more effective and less environmental damage. Thankyou for consideration.