Flood Mitigation Measure Dismissed as "Boondoggle" Amid Wettest August on Record

As of August 22nd, 2025, New South Wales (NSW) is experiencing a brief respite from one of the wettest months on record. The state has been battered by days of heavy rain and flash flooding, which have left two people dead and prompted numerous flood rescues.

However, the respite may be short-lived. The Bureau of Meteorology has warned that above-average rainfall is likely across much of eastern Australia in the coming months, from September to November. The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has been kept "incredibly busy" this week responding to fallen trees, damaged properties, and flood-related tasks.

One of the key issues facing the state is the ongoing debate over flood mitigation measures. The Water Minister has dismissed the long-debated proposal to raise the Warragamba Dam wall as a "multi-billion dollar boondoggle," stating that it is not a viable solution to the flood risk. Instead, the state's reconstruction authority is working on a disaster adaptation plan for the Hawkesbury-Nepean catchment.

Meanwhile, residents near the Namoi River in Gunnedah have been told to prepare to isolate, as the river is expected to reach moderate flood levels on Friday evening before peaking on Saturday. The dam supplying most of Sydney's drinking water has also begun spilling, though this is not expected to have significant downstream impacts.

Despite the challenges, the state has seen some positive developments. The weather system that brought the heavy rainfall has now moved off the east coast, and rainfall totals are expected to be much lower for the remainder of Friday, with between 5 and 20 millimetres forecast.