“It ... means that we can probably release more land in the north-west for construction and development,” Mr Elliott told Triple M radio,adding he currently opposed development in his Baulkham Hills electorate – which was affected by floods – due to lack of infrastructure.
His comments contradict those of Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres,who is overseeing the $1.6 billion proposal,and who toldThe Sydney Morning Herald earlier this month that raising the wall “will not allow development to take place in flood impacted areas where it is currently not permitted”.
Mr Ayres added to his position on Monday,saying he didn’t support residential development below the one-in-100 flood level at which it is currently permitted:“Raising the dam wall won’t change that position.”
Planning Minister Rob Stokes,who last week revealed he hadpaused residential rezonings in the north-west due to evacuation fears,also recently said the future development of the area did not hinge on raising the wall,and that the project would not give him the capacity to rezone any additional land.
Former State Emergency Service deputy director-general Chas Keys also recently hit out at the level of development already occurring in the area,saying “we’ve got it in the worst possible flood environment in the state.”
Aleaked planning document presented during a budget estimates hearing earlier month said the wall-raising plan was intended “to ensure safe,flood resilient,sustainable,well-planned growth and development in areas affected by severe to extreme flooding like the Penrith CBD”.