-Hawkesbury Community Alliance expresses disappointment about NSW Reconstruction Authority’s announcement ‘Community input sought on State’s first plan to reduce risk and impact of floods in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley’ (19 March 2024) –
Hawkesbury Community Alliance is extremely surprised at yet another request for community input from the NSW Reconstruction Authority. Two years after the last major floods, the NSW Government has yet to provide tangible results, and we appear to be still in a consultation phase. This is yet another ‘talk fest’ with no action.
Despite the community’s active participation in the NSW Parliamentary Flood Inquiry and unwavering cooperation with all information requests, the current government and the one before it have failed to deliver meaningful outcomes. This inertia is frustrating and disappointing.
Hawkesbury Community Alliance has gone above and beyond by inviting several politicians to witness the devastation firsthand, including speaking to impacted residents. It also hosted the Flood mitigation forum, with expert input from Professor Stuart Khan for the community, politicians, and media, sharing what actions would make a difference in the future. Yet, despite these efforts, the situation remains stagnant.
After Professor Khan’s presentation, it was apparent that lowering the full supply level of Warragamba Dam prior to a flood, along with adopting the greater Sydney Water Strategy, provides the best mitigation with the best cost outcomes. Hawkesbury Community Alliance believes the next step is to make legislative changes to allow this.
There is too little focus on mitigation and too much on recovery. A greater focus on mitigation could avoid so much waste.
The Council has engaged in multiple discussions, yet the lack of any resultant substantial action is glaring. Ultimately, residents and small communities have been repeatedly left to fend for themselves in a flood until the water recedes.
Hawkesbury Council seems to have little regard for the community’s plight. After each flood, it has failed to learn or take action to change the outcome of future flood events. By contrast, neighbouring Councils Blacktown and Penrith appear to have made tangible improvements after each flood.
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