A documentary revealing what’s at stake if the raising of the Warragamba Dam wall goes ahead, will be shown in Springwood on February 16.
The one-hour documentary, produced by Give a Dam campaigners from The Colong Foundation for Wilderness, captures the beauty of the world heritage area under threat. The Gazette was shown a preview of the first 15 minutes of the film, which included interviews with several experts.
Professor Jamie Pittock from the Fenner School of Environment and Society at ANU says the water quality within the dam catchment will be affected if the proposal goes ahead.
The water will contain more sediment, increased turbidity, and more organic carbon leaching out of leaves and trees, requiring extra chlorination and processing to treat the water to an acceptable standard, which incurs extra cost.
“We should not be taking any activities that put the quality of Sydney drinking water at risk,” he says in the documentary.
Others talk of threatened species such as the Camden white gum put at risk, as well as food sources and habitat for the Regent honeyeater; a rare bird under threat of extinction.
Gundungurra woman Taylor Clarke explains their creation story will be impacted, as sacred sites will be flooded if the proposal goes ahead.
It’s proposed to raise the Warragamba Dam wall by 14 metres to reduce flood risk in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley. The NSW government is developing an environmental impact statement for the dam plan, to be released this year.
The documentary will be shown from 3.30pm-5pm at The Hub in Springwood and includes guest speakers and a Q and A. Entry is free but donations are appreciated. A second screening will be held at Mt Vic Flicks on February 19 from 6pm-7.30pm.
