The dam spilled up to 225 gigalitres per day since last Saturday unleashed downstream onto the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers’ system.
Water NSW said the volume of floodwater offloaded from the dam whose catchment received 158.4 mm of rainfall over two days equaled to half the amount of Sydney Harbour.
On Monday, the agency said the spill rate from Warragamba Dam that supplies 80 percent of drinking water across Greater Sydney’s 5.4 million households has been reduced to 19 gigalitres per day and decreasing further as water catchments become steady.
This update comes as impacted residents and businesses along the Nepean and Hawkesbury Rivers have returned to their damaged properties with the NSW and Federal government agencies jointly opening Recovery Centres to assist them.
In the Macquarie electorate covering the Hawkesbury, MP Susan Templeman has pressed for urgent recovery assistance for households, farmers, and businesses on the floodplains in Richmond and Windsor.
“I’ve already signaled they’ll need substantial help for turf, farm and vegetable producers whose properties are still underwater,” Ms Templeman said.
NSW Climate Minister Penny Sharpe has lifted the waste levy on impacted residents who are disposing wastes and debris generated on their properties due to the recent flood.
“I welcome the announcement from the state government that they have lifted the waste levy fee for the Hawkesbury to assist in flood recovery,” Ms Templeman said.
“This will help ease the financial burden of the clean-up and will ensure the disposal of water damaged items is done in a safe and responsible way.”
NSW State Emergency Services assistant commissioner Dallas Burnes said their current focus is on transition to flood recovery resupplying the remaining isolated communities and finalising damage assessments.
“As we transition to recovery, our volunteers are out in the community undertaking damage assessments and supporting community members with clean-up activities,” Mr Burnes said.
SES volunteers are undertaking damage assessments in Sackville, Ebenezer, Pitt Town and Colo whose residents ordered to evacuate over the weekend.
Despite sunny days back on the horizon, Mr Burnes said those impacted households must conduct their recoveries with caution.
“Damage to roads and buildings caused by flooding may still exist in your area. Be aware of road hazards including mud and debris and take care as local roads could still have water over them. Check in on your neighbours, animals and livestock if safe to do so,” he said.
From Thursday, April 11 to Saturday, April 13, Recovery Centres are open for eligible residents and businesses whose properties were damaged by the recent flooding event across Western Sydney.
The multi-agency centres provide access to urgent support services through representatives from Service NSW, NSW Reconstruction Authority, Hawkesbury City Council and NSW Legal Aid.
Head to the Windsor Function Centre Recovery Centre, at 7 Dight St, Windsor or if unable to attend, phone customer care specialists on 13 77 88.
“It is important that affected residents in the region get back on their feet as quickly as possible, which is why we’re working quickly to make sure people can access funding and find support they need at our Recovery Centre,” NSW Reconstruction Authority chief executive officer Mal Lanyon said.
