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State Significant Infrastructure

Withdrawn

Warragamba Dam Raising

Wollondilly Shire

Current Status: Withdrawn

Warragamba Dam Raising is a project to provide temporary storage capacity for large inflow events into Lake Burragorang to facilitate downstream flood mitigation and includes infrastructure to enable environmental flows.

Attachments & Resources

Early Consultation (2)

Notice of Exhibition (2)

Application (1)

SEARS (2)

EIS (87)

Response to Submissions (15)

Agency Advice (28)

Amendments (2)

Submissions

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Showing 21 - 40 of 2696 submissions
Katherine Meares
Object
THORNTON , New South Wales
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.
In particular, the proposal has unacceptable impacts to the Regent Honeyeater and is inconsistent with its National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
It is also internationally embarrassing that a State would place development interests above World Heritage Area obligations. My only hope is your refusal of this proposal as offets and mitigations are too often proven inadequate.
Sylvia van der Peet
Object
SKENES CREEK , Victoria
Message
I am a retired Park Planner and Threatened Species Group Coordinator and I still have a strong interest in birdlife. My husband and I are volunteer Hooded Plover monitors along our section of the coast.
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species, especially the Regent Honeyeater.
The draft EIS states that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.” However, the Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 
Extensive Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting all remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.
The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.
There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.
Regards
Sylvia van der Peet
Name Withheld
Object
SURRY HILLS , New South Wales
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.

Regent Honeyeaters are one of Australia’s most threatened species, with a current population estimate of only 350 birds. If this amazing bird is going to survive and recover, we must protect the precious places where they breed and raise their young. The Burragorang Valley, located within the Warragamba Dam-raising footprint, was one of only three areas used for breeding across all of NSW in 2017, and is considered a key site for the conservation of the Regent Honeyeater into the future. The vast majority of the few remaining Regent Honeyeaters now breed around the edges of the Greater Blue Mountains and we must protect every breeding site, especially those situated inside a World Heritage-listed National Park.

The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.” The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild.  Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area. Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”. The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole. The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program. It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater. Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater. There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.
Paul Sayles
Object
PARRAMATTA PARK , Queensland
Message
Hi my name is Paul Sayles, and I live in Cairns QLD,
I do not believe this project is worth proceeding, as the impact and long term effects will greatly impede the environment and have irreversible impact on the lives of birdlife that live in this region.
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.
The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.”
The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 
Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area.
Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.
The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole.
The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.
It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.
Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater.
There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.
If stipulations in regards to laws are made for the public to abide too, then there should be no question that the government should also conform to said laws.
Yours faithfully,
Paul Sayles
Name Withheld
Object
SPRINGFIELD , New South Wales
Message
I object to the dam wall raised due to the destruction to the precious environment it would cause. The perceived benefits are not going to last, there still will be smore flooding. However: To permanently flood a large chunk of the Blue Mountains Heritage Area is environmental vandalism , especially as there is not too much largely unspoilt nature left and given that it is habitat for many struggling species of Flora and Fauna , and provides recreational areas for the population you are endeavouring to protect.

Other objections are:
+The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.”
+The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild.
+The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.
+It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
+I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.
Susan Gould
Object
COOMBA PARK , New South Wales
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s inevitable impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and to highly likely significant impacts on threatened species including the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater. The draft EIS concludes that if implemented, the project will potentially have significant impacts on breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater. The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 

There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area. Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”. The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole.

Furthermore, modelling by BirdLife Australia indicates that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is therefore of the highest conservation priority.

The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is completely inconsistent with our commitments to protect biodiversity. It would also be inconsistent with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program, not to mention the huge amount of volunteer work that has been undertaken in good faith to protect this much loved species.

It is simply not acceptable that consecutive governments keep on eroding away the integrity of our natural environment. Our natural environment is critical for protecting biodiversity and for providing ecosystem services. There is increasing evidence of the huge value of ecosystem services including for the spiritual and emotional health of people. Quite apart from the utilitarian values to humans of ecosystem services, as a bird lover it is unacceptable to me that government should consider any actions which will almost certainly lead to the extinction of such an amazing species. It is also inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.

I therefore strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.

Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species. There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.

Thank you for your consideration of my submission.
Simon Verdon
Object
RESERVOIR , Victoria
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam. The proposed actions represent a clearly unacceptable impact on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species. Furthermore, the idea that offsets can be used to mitigate the impact of the proposed project is farcical. There are only ~350 Regent Honeyeaters that remain in this world. They are on the edge of extinction. To knowingly destroy breeding habitat of this species is honestly beyond my comprehension. It is knowingly wiping the species off the face of the earth. For these reasons, I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater. Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species. I understand that cities need water security for the future, but I am sure that there are alternative strategies to achieve this outcome; Alternative strategies that do not have unacceptable impacts on Critically Endangered species ans World Heritage Areas. Please, please please consider and prioritise alternative strategies to secure Sydney's water supply for the future.
Name Withheld
Object
Kingaroy , Queensland
Message
L oppose the raising of the dam wall because it will affect the habitat of the endangered regent honeyeaters.
Name Withheld
Object
WARRAGAMBA , New South Wales
Message
I am deeply concerned about the impact of the project on residents of the Warragamba area given the long and protracted disruption of increased traffic congestion, pollution from so many trucks and vehicles on a daily basis, air quality concerns caused by the demolition of existing structures and building of new components. I am especially concerned with the proposed northern access route which will significantly impact such a small and congested residential community. Of this project were to proceed it would need to abandon this route and seek an alternate possibly via Werombi road which are less congested residential areas comprised of larger blocks. The community is already experiencing the air quality impacts of the construction of the new western Sydney airport and these added works over such a long period will only deteriorate air quality further. The Warragamba community comprises of a large demographic of elderly, families with young children as well as individuals with chronic health conditions whom may be impacted by negative health impacts of these works. The community is still in the midst of some significant growth and development in the silverdale area which is seeing a significant increase in residential homes which is already impacting on the local environment and once open will see many more vehicles on the road. The current infrastructure is not capable of tolerating this significant increase in traffic and would need to at least double the number of available lanes in and out of the area via both the proposed northern and southern access routes. This means doubling lanes from 1 each way to 2 each way on park road from the northern road all the way through and across the walls via bridge which will require widening and up the mountain on farms worth avenue through to silverdale and warradale roads for this minimise the impact of these congestions. There is also the very likely risk of the walls is bridge flooding which it has done on a couple of occasions in the past couple of years and if which occurs during this construction will see an entire community stranded for a considerable time given the likely congestion via the proposed southern access almost certainly going to cause. This makes things very dangerous for the community given these are the only ways in and out to access emergency health care and treatment via Nepean and Campbelltown hospitals which are the closest hospitals and will add significant travel time for ambulances accessing these hospitals from Warragamba ambulance base. Many Warragamba residents work and travel for work outside of the local area and these works risk significantly increase travel times in busy peak periods which on top of like traffic, congestion and noise impacts may have considerable effects on the mental health of residents sitting in long traffic cues which may be particularly dangerous during the hotter summer months of the years. The risk of bush fires in the local community is another major concern of mine. It is unclear what impact the aforementioned environmental and air quality concern will have on the local micro climate of Warragamba and whether the addition of so much extra traffic congestions is a risk during bushfire seasons which again may make it difficult for RFS and other fire fighting services to access the community in the event of fires. The lack of access to mainstream food and grocery services means we are highly dependent on local grocers having stock delivered via road on a regular basis. The increased congestion and traffic risks delays in deliveries and stock shortages due to possible delivery time changes and added costs involved for local businesses and traders. This may also impact mail and parcel delivery services and time frames for similar reasons. I am also concerned about the impact of the proposed works on water supply and quality as well as electricity supply given the previously mentioned air quality concerns likely entering the dam and whether construction will likely impact on the electricity load and capacity in the area. The proposed works are also likely to increase existing risks pertaining to the current COVID-19 pandemic in that residents of the community are required to travel outside the local community to access COVID-19 testing. The increased congestion may cause residents to delay getting tested due to increased travel time requirements in the absence of any community based testing sites. This increases the risk of positive cases in the community which are further compounded by the previously mentioned concerts with accessing a local hospital in the event this is needed. NBN and telecommunications infrastructure in the local community was already very poor prior to the pandemic and has been even worse with people working from home more as a result of public health order lockdowns. These works may result in even more people working from home or remaining in their homes to avoid the congestion and extra travel times during peak times placing an even greater load on NBN bandwidth and 4G cellular mobile phone towers. As the community is dependent on delivered LPG services and there being no natural gas available these works will likely significantly impact on the frequency and availability of LPG gas delivery to the community in the colder months as well as increased transport costs incurred by suppliers being passed onto consumers. Increased congestion and travel times may make the community less appealing for outside trades and services which the community regularly needs and whom may be less inclined to access the community for required services without an increased cost to residents. The proposed length of time of these disruptions of 5 years is far too long for the community to accept and tolerate without considerable effects to residents physical and mental health and needs to be reconsidered on balance with the need for such works.
Name Withheld
Object
STAGHORN FLAT , Victoria
Message
Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
Reuben Grawert
Object
JINDALEE , Queensland
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.
The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.”
The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 
Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area.
Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.
The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole.
The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.
It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.
Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater.
There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.

Thank you.
Hilary Stiel
Object
HORNSBY , New South Wales
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam. The environmental cost of the project is greatly concerning to me. In particular, loss of habitat for threatened and endangered bird and animal species is unacceptable. These are losses that can never be recovered. We have a responsibility to provide stewardship of the natural environment to protect it for future generations and this project represents further losses to the environment - including habitat for critically endangered species such as the Regent Honeyeater that cannot be avoided or minimised.
These natural environments and the bird, animal, plant and tree species that exist in them have intrinsic value that cannot be replaced or managed. Please do not proceed with this project.
Name Withheld
Object
BRISBANE CITY , Queensland
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.
The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.”
The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 
Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area.
Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.
The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole.
The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.
It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.
Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater.
There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.
Name Withheld
Object
DOWNER , Australian Capital Territory
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.
The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.”
The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 
Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.
There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area.
Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.
The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole.
The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.
It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.
I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.
Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater.
There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.
Pearl Cardis
Object
MAROUBRA , New South Wales
Message
I am absolutely against this environmentally detrimental project. The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild.  Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”. I strongly urge you to consult your conscience and consider what right you have to impinge on the survival of a species.
Name Withheld
Object
AVALON BEACH , New South Wales
Message
I vehemently object to the project because it will have devastating environmental effects (including on our Regent Honeyeaters) and the project has the potential to create an even more dangerous situation because of climate change and flooding. This is an unviable and unsafe project at a terrible cost to our biodiversity and our future.
Name Withheld
Object
ALTONA , Victoria
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.
Tara Sydney
Object
CAMMERAY , New South Wales
Message
I strongly oppose the proposal to raise Warragamba Dam due to the project’s unacceptable potential impacts on the environment including to the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and threatened species.

The draft EIS concludes that the project poses potential significant impacts to contemporary breeding habitat for the Regent Honeyeater that “cannot be avoided or minimised.”

The Regent Honeyeater is listed as Critically Endangered at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 

Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggested that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.

There are only a handful of contemporary breeding sites for Regent Honeyeater and during the assessment of the project a total of twenty one (21) Regent Honeyeaters, including active nests, were recorded within the impact area.

Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for Regent Honeyeater and it states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.

The destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole.

The destruction and degradation of breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters is incongruous with the time and money that the Federal and NSW Governments have invested into the recovery program, including the Regent Honeyeater Captive Breeding and Release program.

It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.

I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.

Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the Critically Endangered Regent Honeyeater.

There is no evidence that breeding habitat for Regent Honeyeaters can be successfully offset and any offsets would be unlikely to provide direct benefits for both the local affected population and the species.
Janette Mattey
Object
WEST WODONGA , Victoria
Message
I strongly oppose the raising of the Warragamba Dam.

This will have serious impacts on the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area and breeding habitat that is pivotal for the survival of the critically endangered species, the Regent Honeyeater.

It is unacceptable and inconsistent with the National Recovery Plan for the Regent Honeyeater for any avoidable loss or degradation of breeding habitat to occur.

I strongly oppose the Project’s offset strategy for the Regent Honeyeater.
Offsets are rarely an appropriate response to proposed biodiversity loss and especially for critical habitat for the survival of a species, in this case breeding habitat for the critically endangered Regent Honeyeater.

I am part of Birdlife Australia's Regent Honeyeater monitoring program, and while I live only a few kilometres from the Chiltern-Mt Pilot National Park, I have never seen a Regent Honeyeater in the wild. I want to see the hard work that has been put in to date in efforts to save this beautiful bird pay off and for future generations to be able to see these birds in the wild again.

The Regent Honeyeater is listed as 'Critically Endangered' at both a state and federal level, with as few as 350 individuals remaining in the wild. 
Modelling by BirdLife Australia suggests that up to 50% of contemporary Regent Honeyeater foraging and breeding habitat was burnt in the 2019/20 Black Summer bushfires. Protecting remaining unburnt breeding habitat is of the highest conservation priority.

Any breeding habitat is considered habitat critical for survival of the species under the National Recovery Plan for the Regent Honeyeater, which states “It is essential that the highest level of protection is provided to these areas and that enhancement and protection measures target these productive sites”.

Hence the destruction or degradation of a contemporary breeding site for Regent Honeyeaters would have dire consequences for the species as a whole and cannot be justified or countenanced.

Thank you for your time
Dr Janette Mattey, BVSc, BAnSc.
Gretchen miller
Object
ERSKINEVILLE , New South Wales
Message
I am most concerned about the proposal to raise the Warragamba dam. The Blue Mountains are World Heritage. They are home to some of our most unique animals, including the Regent Honeyeater, which is on the endangered list. I have observed the volunteers at the Capertee Valley planting trees there for over a decade, in order to attempt to provide the birds a place to nest and forage. We cannot afford to lose a single site, for the Regent Honeyeater. This government has to be a government that works for us all, and that includes non-humans - we are in a mutual relationship. If we don't start looking after the nature world of which we are a part, we have no hope. Our governments are responsible for all our futures. Including the climate futures. Raising the dam wall is not the way forward, it is a step backwards.
Yours sincerely,
Gretchen Miller.

Pagination

Project Details

Application Number
SSI-8441
Assessment Type
State Significant Infrastructure
Development Type
Water storage or treatment facilities
Local Government Areas
Wollondilly Shire

Contact Planner

Name
Nick Hearfield
Phone