The Greater Blue Mountains could lose its world heritage status if NSW Government proceed with plans to raise Warragamba Dam wall.
In a review of the wall raising project, the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) concluded it seemed “inappropriate in relation to the requirements of the World Heritage Convention”.
As a signatory to the Convention, Australia’s federal environment minister, Sussan Ley, is unable to approve any project that is inconsistent with the convention. A violation of the convention would see Australia breach international law and would severely threaten the area’s heritage status.
The wall raising project, which has been strongly opposed by Gundungurra Traditional Owners since its inception, would see the wall raised at least 14 metres in the name of flood mitigation for Western Sydney.
IUCN’s review of the project's Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) found Traditional Owners were not properly engaged in the development of the EIS and do not give free, prior and informed consent.
The Union also noted that the EIS did not accurately survey the predicted impact area.
Whilst it acknowledged that 70 per cent of the upstream impact area had been affected by bush fires in 2019 and 2020, it provided no evidence that field surveys had been conducted in the area after the damage.
“The implications of fire damage cannot be adequately considered on this basis, as the data may no longer be valid following the fires,” they wrote.
Gundungurra Traditional Owner Kazan Brown, who been fighting against the project since its inception, said the IUCN feedback was extremely validating.
Gundungurra women, Kazan Brown and Taylor Clarke on Country at Warragamba. Source: Supplied
"It confirms exactly what we've been saying this entire time. We haven't been properly involved; they haven't surveyed all of the sites that are at risk,” she said.
Advocating alongside Ms Brown is Colong Foundation for Wilderness’ Harry Burkitt.
Mr Burkitt described EIS’ Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report (ACHAR) as a whitewash.
“The Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Assessment Report has simply been a whitewashing process that has excused the destruction of ancient human history,” he said.
“This project would see a huge impact on an area that has immense environmental, and cultural significance, and that’s why it’s world heritage listed.”
The EIS has drawn criticism from other organisations, with the Blue Mountains World Heritage Institute, Blue Mountains People for Reconciliation and ANTaR, and the International Council of Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) - UNSECO’s cultural advisors for Australia among others submitting reviews of the document to the NSW government.
Blue Mountains People for Reconciliation and ANTaR called for the state government to “demonstrate that it has learnt from the desecration of Juukan Gorge”.
The organisation said that whilst over 1,541 identified cultural heritage sites could be inundated by the dam proposal, only 27 per cent of the impact area had been included in the ACHAR.
“Aboriginal cultural heritage, National Parks, World Heritage and threatened species need protection, not destruction. No consent has been obtained from the Gundungurra Traditional Owners for the work that will significantly impact their cultural heritage,” they wrote.
In reviewing the EIS on behalf of the Gundungurra Aboriginal Heritage Association, Gundungurra Elder Aunty Sharyn Halls concluded the NSW government had not acknowledged the importance of the Burragorang Valley, where Warragamba Dam sits, to her People.
“The EIS has failed to address the importance of Burragorang to the Gundungurra people . . . it’s our cultural lands, artefacts, rock art sites, native medicine plants and water holes – as well as everything that lives within Burragorang,” she said.
“We will never agree to destroying even one of our sites, now or in the future.”
Despite the increasing objection, Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres is adamant the wall will rise.
NSW Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres. Source: AAP/Bianca De Marchi
Mr Ayres did not respond to questions from NITV News.
However, in an interview with 2GB Radio, he said the project would “absolutely” happen.
Mr Ayres also, in a statement to the ABC, said he did not support the views of the IUCN.
Ms Brown questioned how the Minister could disagree with experts.
"They're the experts, not only is cultural heritage and world heritage at risk, but now we are talking about international obligations. I don't understand how he can disagree with experts,” said Ms Brown.
Mr Burkitt said that if the Minister is “embarrassing Australia on an international level”.
“Stuart Ayres has spent over $30-million taxpayer dollars producing an EIS that doesn’t even meet the standards of state or federal law,” he said.
With concerns for the cost of a redeveloped EIS, Ms Brown said funds would be better spent investing in alternative flood mitigation options.
Gundungurra Woman Taylor Clarke and her mother Kazan Brown standing by the Wollondilly River in the Burragorang Valley. Source: Karen Mitchelmore
“I don't understand at all why they're pushing this, it is going to cost an enormous amount to do that EIS again - money that is much better spent,” she said.
“We don't need this. There are other options, we need other flood mitigation options pursued.”
Submissions to review the project closed in December of last year.
In a statement to NITV New, WaterNSW said they are “reviewing the submissions received during the public exhibition and will address the issues raised in a submission report to the Department of Planning and Environment."
If the Department approves the project, the final decision will fall to Federal Environment Minister Sussan Ley.
With the future of the project unknown, Ms Brown said she’ll continue fighting until it’s abandoned.
"I do this for my family, to keep connected to our Country. It's been almost four-years and we just can't believe that it's still happening,” she said.
"I don't want to see it happen and know that I didn't do everything I could to stop it.”
