NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns has committed to scrapping the plan to raise the Warragamba Dam Wall.

An internal document by Water NSW has shone a light on the actual costs of raising the Warragamba wall, which are:

• It can be done for $1.6 billion.
• Water bills will stay the same.
• It can be done in just 4 years.
• And if it’s completed, almost 75,000 fewer Western Sydney residents will have to evacuate in the event of a flood.

However, Chris Minns disagrees and is still considering adopting a policy of keeping water 12m below the dam level. But according to the leaked document, this will:

• Cost $1 billion to modify the current floodgate.
•  $3.5 – 4 billion is needed to build a new desalination plant to meet Sydney’s drinking water demands.
•  Modifications will take six years to be completed.
•  Only 56,000 fewer Western Sydney residents will have to evacuate if a flood hits – compared to 75,000 if the wall is raised.
•  Labor’s potential plan will see $130 added to every annual household bill.

Mr Minns told Jim Wilson that Labor’s plan is the most effective.

“I don’t think [raising the wall] is a good cost-effective way of dealing with things.”

Press PLAY below to hear the full plan

Image: Nine