<
https://theconversation.com/why-building-more-big-dams-is-a-costly-gamble-for-our-future-water-security-and-the-environment-239106>
"Climate change and biodiversity loss are mounting threats to Australia’s water
security. So we often hear calls for more dams. But is that the answer?
Our recent research reveals large dam projects are costly gambles with public
money. They often fail to deliver promised economic benefits. They also have
major environmental, financial and social impacts.
In New South Wales, some members of the Lower Lachlan River community were
concerned about plans to expand Wyangala Dam. They first asked us in 2020 to
investigate its full costs and benefits, with findings presented at a local
workshop in 2022.
The first WaterNSW estimate of capital and operating costs was A$620 million in
2018. Within a few years, it had soared to as much as $2.1 billion. In 2023,
the project was scrapped because it wasn’t economically viable.
Similar concerns surround other projects overseas and in Australia, including
Hells Gate Dam in Queensland, and Dungowan Dam and Snowy Hydro 2.0 in NSW.
To avoid repeating costly mistakes and mismanaging taxpayers’ money, we need a
smarter approach to major water projects. This includes independent assessments
and greater transparency, with business cases made public and decision-making
open to scrutiny. And planning for climate change must become a priority."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
