Infrastructure NSW (INSW) has attempted to shed itself of responsibility for major flaws in its Draft Cultural Heritage Assessment for the Warragamba Dam wall raising project, after being invited by Blue Mountains and Wollondilly Councils to attend a Traditional Owner Community Consultation this Friday to discuss the matter.
In email correspondence with event organisers, the Government body refused to confirm their attendance, and instead shed responsibility of the embattled Assessment to WaterNSW. Infrastructure NSW said in an email:
"WaterNSW, as the dam owner and operator, is responsible for preparing the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) and detailed design for the proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall."
This is despite INSW having budgetary responsibility for the project, and their website stating:
"Infrastructure NSW is overseeing and coordinating the delivery of the... Warragamba Dam Raising proposal – EIS and detailed concept design"
Traditional Owner, Kazan Brown, said she was disappointed that the NSW Government would be playing such childish games with the future of her people's culture.
"There has already been over $25 million of taxpayers money poured into this dam project and no one in the government will take responsibility for the shoddy work that the money is being spent on.
"Ultimately the buck stops with Infrastructure NSW. Maree Abood, as the chief bureaucrat running the dam project, simply needs to step-up and listen to our voice on Friday night.
The GIVE A DAM community campaign has sent over 550 personalised emails to Maree Abood and WaterNSW, requesting she attend Friday's meeting to hear from Traditional Owners.
The Traditional Owner Community Consultation will be held at 7pm this Friday (August 16) at the Faulconbridge Community Hall, 9-9A Home Street, Faulconbridge NSW. All media is invited.
The email chain referenced above between Infrastructure NSW and the GIVE A DAM Campaign is contained within the attached media release.
Media contacts:
Harry Burkitt: 0490 010 909
Aunty Sharyn Halls: 0428 270 594
Kazan Brown: 0424 789 140