Calls to raise Warragamba Dam wall to prevent 'catastrophic' flooding
Authorities are calling to raise the wall of Warragamba Dam to prevent flooding in Sydney's west.
Floodplain Management Australia (FMA) said raising the wall of the dam is essential in reducing the risk of "catastrophic flooding" in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has declared a second consecutive La Niña weather event, which means heavier rainfall and an increased risk of flooding this summer.
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Warragamba Dam shortly before it hit capacity and began to spill 9News
FMA President Ian Dinham said there is a clear and present risk to life for about 55,000 people in a 1 in 100 chance in a year flood.
Mr Dinham added from past experience of flooding in the Hawkesbury area that a "significant number" of people will not evacuate until it's too late.
Following the devastating floods in 2020 and this year, the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Taskforce investigated options to reduce future flood risks.
This investigation found a mix of infrastructure and non-infrastructure measures should be employed.
There are calls to raise the dam wall to prevent future flooding. Brook Mitchell
The primary measure supported by the task force was raising the wall of Warragamba Dam to "temporarily hold back and slowly release floodwaters".
"The proposed raising of the Warragamba Dam wall is the only feasible flood mitigation option," Mr Dinham said.
"For a 1 in 100 chance in a year flood raising the dam would reduce the number of people needing to evacuate from 55,000 to 14,000."
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Floods devastated towns in the Hawkesbury region after the flood crisis earlier this year. 9News
It comes after the flooding crisis in the Hawkesbury which devastated homes and businesses in the region.
The river reached levels not seen for 60 years.
Authorities believe raising the dam wall would prevent the damage seen in the recent floods.
"The consequent reduction in risk to life, damage to private property and public infrastructure, and the ongoing financial, psychological and health impacts on the community would be enormous," Mr Dinham said.
FMA reported natural disasters are costing Australia more than $560 million a year, with flooding from rivers being the most costly.
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Flooding has hit the Tamworth area as more rainfall is expected today. 9News
Eastern Australia is expected to see a wetter than average summer with La Niña.
The BoM said there is an increased risk of tropical cyclones, heavy rainfall and widespread flooding this summer.
NSW is already seeing the impacts of La Niña with parts of the state already flooding in recent weeks.
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