Property Council calls for Warragamba Wall raising to protect communities, homes and lives
The Property Council of Australia has called for the Warragamba Wall to be raised as quickly as possible following the release of the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for public exhibition.
Property Council’s Western Sydney Director Ross Grove said the EIS was the first step in the delivery of this critical piece of flood-proofing infrastructure and the project when approved should be delivered as a top priority.
“This project will have a vital role in protecting communities in the Hawkesbury Nepean Catchment from flood events by allowing the current dam to temporarily hold back water in for later release,” Mr Grove said.
“For this to be effective, it is important the raised portion never be used for general storage. We will seek this assurance from the government and will ask for conditions be imposed on any approval to guarantee this will occur.
“It is important to remember the dramatic flooding from earlier this year did not come close to meeting the criteria for a one in one hundred flood event. Delivering the right mix of flood infrastructure today is an important part of protecting our communities tomorrow.
“The next big flood doesn’t care about the complexity of the planning system or an ongoing web of stakeholder engagement and discourse. The Government will need to be swift and decisive in delivering the wall and supporting infrastructure if we are to protect homes, communities and lives.”
Mr Grove said the Property Council also awaited the release of the NSW Government’s floodplain management review of the North West Growth Area.
“An ongoing commitment to floodproofing infrastructure in this part of the region will likely need to occur enable the pause on future planning proposals to be lifted,” he said.
“Additionally, we encourage the NSW Government to commit to bringing forward the Castlereagh Connection motorway project to provide expanded evacuation capacity in the event of more aggressive flood events.”
Media contact: Aidan Green | M 0491 030 028 | E [email protected]