Warragamba Dam Raising

To whom it may concern,
I would like to voice my objection to raising the height of the Warragamba Dam wall by 17 metres. Once again, it appears that the NSW Government is pandering to the demands of property developers. If more houses are required in Western Sydney, then medium-high density infill housing should be built. There is no more space for 500sqm blocks with single storey houses!
If the dam wall is raised, more than 1,000 sites of immense cultural and historical significance in the beautiful Burragorang Valley — irreplaceable Indigenous cave art galleries and occupation and burial sites — will be drowned under metres of muddy water. How is this in any way acceptable?

Furthermore, houses in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley will not be protected by raising the Warragamba Dam wall as 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.

The NSW Government recently released an 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.
Yet the usual "we don't give a damn" NSW Government attitude has prevailed. The NSW Government has refused to redo this work and has carried out no further field studies since receiving those severe criticisms. The EIS must be redone!

Raising the height of the Warragamba Dam wall is the most significant threat to Australia’s World Heritage in decades. It must not happen.

To whom it may concern,
I would like to object to the raising of the dam wall. I feel that the current EIS is insuffcient, as has been reported by many including Heritage NSW and NPWS as being inadequate. I request that further investigations are required to assess the true biodiversity and cultural impacts in particular.

To whom it may concern,
I oppose the raising of Warragamba Dam Wall and I am writing to request that it is not considered as a viable option for the Hawkesbury Floodplain . I have lived in the Blue Mountains for over 40 years and enjoy bushwalking and the many options that living within in a World Heritage Area is able to offer. The flooding that would result from the raising of the dam wall would be disasterous to our community, our biodiversity, our First Nations People and all aspects of local flora and fauna which has already been descimated by recent fires.
The area to be flooded is stunning, it is irreplaceable and provides a sanctuary for our ever diminishing plants and fauna and a wild place for the well being of humans. I could understand the importance of raising the dam wall if all of the floodwaters concerning the Hawkesbury basin were controlled by the Warragamba Dam but nearly half of the potential flood water does not pass through the dam. This makes the argument to raise the dam wall for flood mitigation absolutely inplausible.
Higher density urban development is the most effective option of providing more housing. Huge houses built on floodplains is not a sustainable option and does not demonstrate creative solutions. Higher density housing along the Blue Mountains train line is a more sustainable option than housing on the Hawkesbury flood plain.
The EIS conducted on the raising of the dam wall has been criticised for lack of consultation with communities and lack of time spent in the field, hence we as locals do not trust it. This concern needs to be addressed.
We have a responsibility to be the guardians of our land for future generations. Raising the dam wall has serious and irreversible consequences for the land we are connected to and care about so deeply.
Please do not allow this proposal to proceed.

To whom it may concern,
I do not support raising the dam wall. Given the immense impacts this would have on aboriginal cultural heritage, world heritage values and the special ecology of the area, this project is not justified.

To whom it may concern,
Raising the dam wall will flood pristine wild rivers and important bushwalking areas west of Sydney. 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 the Camden white gum & Sydney's last emu population.
Along with more than 1,000 sites of immense cultural and historical significance in the beautiful Burragorang Valley — irreplaceable Indigenous cave art galleries and occupation and burial sites — will be drowned under metres of muddy water.
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.
This is the most significant threat to Australia’s World Heritage in decades. There are few times in Australian history when Governments have undertaken such callous attacks on protected areas.

To whom it may concern,
I am writing to oppose raising the dam wall in Western Sydney. At a time when our wildlife and species loss is at an all-time high and habitat scarcity is a very real problem, this government need to be doing due diligence in new impact studies and preserving our habitat.

To whom it may concern,
I am making this submission as i am very concerned about the effects this proposal will have on the beautiful Blue Mtns which I have visited many times. This area needs to be protected. It is of world heritage and there are cultural sites under attack nd these need to be protected for future generations. The Gundungarra Traditional Owners have not given prior and informed consent for the dam to proceed so I suggest that you find alterantives.

To whom it may concern,
Please do not raise the dam wall and cause many hectares of beautiful natural habitat vital to many species to be flooded and ruined.
No point building houses on a flood plain anyway. Our once in 100 year floods seem to come along every couple of years now due to changing weather patterns and climate change!
PLEASE LEAVE THE NATURAL HABITAT ALONE and stop greed destroying what is beautiful and treasured by many!

To whom it may concern,
Please reconsider raising the dam wall. This will not prevent flooding, it will only result in greater threats to our natural environment and a loss of our cultural heritage. It will also not substantially increase Sydney's water security. I refer to the Draft Greater Sydney Water Strategy and Water Services Association of Australia - All options on the table report which demonstrate that increasing dependence on annual rainfall is not the most cost effective option. In fact it is short-sighted and future generations will be paying for this dinosaur of an asset and all the negative knock-on effects for years to come. Cities all over the world are diversifying water supply options- so is Sydney and we do not need a bigger dam wall.
As a resident in the area, I experienced the flooding early 2021 and it was saddening that our own government who should be serving people and keeping them safe had allowed settlement in a major flood plain. I am astounded by the greed in western Sydney, that it is OK to put the needs of developers and cronies deep pockets ahead of citizens, residents and the natural environment.
All around Australia we are seeing massive devastation of our natural environment, it's time NSW gets serious about conservation. This is an area to protect, not plunder.
In addition, Western Sydney needs the flood Plains to act as a heat sink to keep the area cooler. Nobody will want to live in a hyper hot environment.
The true cultural cost of the water security currently provided by Warragamba Dam is also not often recognised. Aboriginal people lost access to special places they'd known and cared for for tens of thousands of years. Raising the dam wall would increase their loss to more special sites, and decrease the richness of Australia's cultural heritage.
Raising the dam wall to allow for settlement in flood plains is foolhardy, greedy and wrong.
So do not raise the dam wall!

To whom it may concern,
Here are my profound concerns about the raising of the dam wall:
• 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. I was very aware of this as I am a volunteer firefighter with RFS who fought fires in this region during December 2019. 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.
• 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 appalling damage to natural and cultural values would be a clear breach of these undertakings and Australia’s obligations under the World Heritage Convention.
Furthermore, 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.
• 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 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.
• The whole reason for raising the dam wall is flawed and must be stopped now.

To whom it may concern,
From the critques I have read it is very clear that the environmental assessment needs to be expanded and peerformed by truly independent experts. It is clearly defective.

I wish to strenuously OBJECT to raising the Warragamba Dam wall by 17 metres.
It is time NSW rejected the demands of developers and cared for the citizens of NSW.
In addition this is a World Heritage area, listed by UNESCO.
We have a desalination plant which will engender enough water to make raising the sam walls unnecessary.
It was built - at great expense - and has yet to be fully used.
The area behind the new proposed walls will impace the Kowmung River - supposed to be protected!
Unique Eucalyptus species will be annihilated, and will habitat for endangered and critically endangered species, (Regent Honeyeater, and Sydney's last Emu population)
There are alternatives to raising Warragamba Dam wall

These alternatives MUST be fully considered, instead of caving in to the demands of developers.

The New South Wales Government is under investigation for corrupt practices by ICAC

Time to show citizens that this government has the welfare of the State in mind, rather than allowing this project to continue and ruin a huge area of National Park.

Hey Department . Take this as a Warning . Please Do Not be bribed by Developers , you can no longer hide behind "The Department" you will be help personally legally liable when , in no time at all , another "Once In 50 Years Flood" wipes out these new housing estate and the Developers have long gone . Tell them to f@@@ off .

To whom it may concern,
I am extremely alarmed that Blue Mountains World Heritage area is threatened by this proposal to raise the Warragamba dam wall and by the possibility of the consequent irreplaceable damage to natural and cultural heritage.
That the Kowmung River - declared a ‘Wild River’, protected for its pristine condition under the National Parks and Wildlife Act 1974 should be damaged is personal. My late parents lived in Oberon and were founders of the Kowmung music festival which brought renowned classical musicians and audiences to the area. One of the concerts was held on the banks of the beautiful Kowmung River.
Please recognise thethat the loss of this and other environments due to the raising of the wall will be a tragic and dreadful mistake.

To whom it may concern,
Hi I love bush walking Seeing the beautiful bush we have here in Australia What is going to happen to ourcNational Parks we want to leave for my children and their children and so forth. How do our traditional land owner feel No good What about all the culture sites they will vanish if this goes ahead I could almost write a book at why it should not go ahead

To whom it may concern,
Where is the commonsence in raising the dam wall. Benefits no one just destruction on so many counts. Save our land think of our future stop being greedy.

Hi, I wish to lodge my objection to allowing the encroachment of residential land such that it affects our native habitat. Governments need to stop allowing the growth or cookie cutter suburbs and find more sustainable way of managing and growing our populations. I strongly object to raising of the dam wall. You may be aware that wilderness areas have shrunk to the extent that the longest wilderness area in the world now is only a three day walk and that is in the Himalayas. Australia's greatest asset is it's open space and wildlife and we are in a unique situation not only to enjoy our unique place in the world but also to profit from saving nature, rather than destroying it. thanks,

To whom it may concern,
I oppose the raising of Warragamba Dam’s wall 17 metres.
You do understand that the National Park in the Blue Mountains is world heritage listed?

If the dam wall is raised, more than 1,000 sites of immense cultural and historical significance in the beautiful Burragorang Valley — irreplaceable Indigenous cave art galleries and occupation and burial sites — will be drowned under metres of muddy water.

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.

The governmnet 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.
All this net-zero stuff really is just hot air when the most sensible and basic thing you can do to tackle cliamte change is protect the environment.

To whom it may concern,
I implore you to not raise the dam wall if it means you can develop land further. I have a heart for the animals and I sincerley beleive if we do not protect animals through government and policy it will be to late and this will happen in my life time now. I am old enough to (in theroy) be a grandmother and this makes you stop and think about how I can make a difference. And I can't make any difference but you can.
THINK OF THE ANIMALS, NOT THE MONEY WHEN YOU MAKE THIS DECISION.

To whom it may concern,
I am very concerned about the proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall. The Kowmung River must be preserved. The proposal is unlikely to achieve its desired effects because of the substantial tributaries of the Hawkesbury-Nepean that enter the system below the dam wall.