Wyangala Dam in the 2022 floods. Photo credit Farmpix Photography.
Cowra Shire Council Mayor Bill West has encouraged the community to “remain positive” despite no indication of funding for Cowra and Wyangala Dam in the second federal budget delivered by Labor Party Treasurer, Dr Jim Chalmers.
Mayor West, who along with Council and the Central NSW Joint Organisation has long advocated for the Wyangala Dam wall to be raised after record flooding throughout the Central West over the past decade.
Mayor West said that it was vital all stakeholders continue to engage and there are reasons to still be optimistic.
“It is particularly important our State Government counterparts jump on the front foot especially now with a new Labor Government in power as floods (and drought) won’t disappear,” he said.
“Last year the Central NSW Joint Organisation backed calls by Lachlan Valley Water for the NSW Government to finalise the business and environmental cases for the Wyangala Dam wall raising project as a matter of priority,” said Mayor West.
Record spills from Wyangala Dam peaked at a rate of 230,000ML a day – well above flows of 125,000ML earlier in November 2022 and at least 25,000ML above the infamous 1990 levels (205,000ML).
“We have been waiting for decades for a decision on additional storage for the Lachlan valley and we need to get this finalised so we can effectively plan for the future of our communities.”
“It’s imperative the new government continues with the business case and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project – just as the previous government had so we can have informed discussions and make decisions,” Mayor West said.
Mayor West’s comments come after a report from Infrastructure NSW released this time last year suggesting the Wyangala Dam wall raising project not proceed.
More information can be found on Council’s website www.cowracouncil.com.au or by calling Council on (02) 6340 2000.