A broad coalition opposed to the raising of Warragamba Dam wall have today condemned the plan at a colourful protest outside of Stuart Ayres' electoral office. Representatives from political organisations spanning the entire spectrum have slammed this plan, calling on Ayres, and the NSW Government, to ditch this highly unpopular and damaging project.
Protestors arrived wearing swimmers and flotation devices, placing bids on a flood-prone property during a mock auction run by an auctioneer. This represented one of thousands of flood-prone, dodgy properties that Stuart Ayres and the NSW Government plan to release if the dam wall is raised and the floodplain is opened to massive overdevelopment.
Harry Burkitt, campaign director at GIVE A DAM said: The people of western Sydney are sending a clear message to this government. They do not want their suburbs ruined by overdevelopment. Groups from opposite ends of the political spectrum have come together today to condemn this plan, showing that this is an issue that their members and communities feel strongly about.
Carl Halley, One Nation candidate said: The huge flood of people into western-Sydney which will occur if the dam wall is raised will cause massive problems for the area. It will put another 134,000 people in harm’s way that won’t be able to get out in a major flood, with these numbers placing massive strain on communities and amenities already at bursting point. Western Sydney is saying no to this plan and to cramming people onto the dangerous floodplain.
Antony Lewis, Greens representative said: If the dam wall is raised, western Sydney will lose precious remaining green spaces. It will turn some of our most fertile agricultural land into housing estates. Wetlands and other downstream ecosystems which rely on regular flushes from minor floods will be destroyed. These ecosystems and green spaces are what makes western Sydney such an attractive place to live, and without them, the standard of living goes down.