New opportunity to provide feedback on Warragamba Dam proposal

The NSW Department of Planning and Environment is now seeking further community input on the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam wall, with the release of WaterNSW’s Response to Submissions and a Preferred Infrastructure Report.

A spokesperson for the department said that it requested WaterNSW provide a Preferred Infrastructure Report, which details further information and any changes on the proposal in response to matters raised during the last consultation period in 2021.

“The community can lodge submissions up until midnight Monday 12 December, and then WaterNSW will provide a second Response to Submissions Report,” the spokesperson said.

“Once it receives WaterNSW’s response, the department will undertake an assessment of the proposal, before providing its final report and recommendation to the Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes, who will be responsible for making the final decision.”

The proposal includes raising the dam wall by 14 metres, to temporarily store floodwaters upstream, and release them in a controlled manner.

The Department of Planning and Environment will assess the proposal against the requirements of the Environmental Planning and Assessment Act 1979 and other legislation, while Commonwealth approval would also be required under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, in order for the project to proceed.

The proposal was declared Critical State Significant Infrastructure last month.

To read the proposal and lodge a submission by midnight Monday, 12 December 2022, visit the Warragamba Dam Raising web page.