with Scott Hinks

For the people of the Hawkesbury region , the threat of flooding has become a grim and seemingly inevitable reality . Over the past decade , the area has been inundated by seven major floods , yet despite countless political visits , promises of action , and well-publicised photo opportunities , little has been done to safeguard the community from future disasters .

In recent years , the Hawkesbury River has risen time and time again , leaving homes submerged and lives disrupted . The region has experienced severe floods in March 2022 , July 2022 , March 2021 , February 2020 , April 2015 , June 2013 , and March 2012 . After each catastrophe , local residents were met with the same cycle of media attention , government visits , and assurances of improvements . Yet , as of October 2024 , the area remains at high risk , with no major upgrades to flood prevention infrastructure in place .

Most recently , NSW Premier Chris Minns visited the region , promising support for residents who have faced years of uncertainty . However , like many of his predecessors , Minns ’ visit has left locals wondering if his words will amount to real change or if this will be yet another instance of empty promises . “ We ’ ve seen

politicians come and go , shake hands , and talk about plans for flood mitigation , but nothing ever happens ,” says Hawkesbury local Julie Patterson , whose home was damaged in three of the last seven floods . “ It ’ s the same story every time . We get a pat on the back and are told help is on the way , but then we ’ re left to fend for ourselves .”

A legacy of inaction and promises made by government officials in the wake of each flood have become depressingly predictable for Hawkesbury residents . In the aftermath of the March 2021 flood , there was talk of raising the Warragamba Dam wall to mitigate future floodwaters , as well as improving evacuation routes and strengthening levees . Two years on , however , those proposals remain stuck in bureaucratic limbo , with environmental concerns and funding debates cited as reasons for the delays .

Even before Premier Minns ’ recent visit , other state and federal leaders had made similar appearances . Former premiers and ministers visited the region , often captured in photo ops with local community leaders and emergency services personnel . In 2022 , former Premier Dominic Perrottet made a similar pledge to improve infrastructure in the region , but substantial projects are yet to be delivered .

Despite the mounting evidence of

the need for urgent upgrades , essential projects such as raising the Warragamba Dam wall or strengthening levees around the floodplain remain unresolved . The delay in these projects , combined with a lack of effective evacuation routes , has left many communities dangerously exposed to the next inevitable flood . To make matters worse , residents are now finding it increasingly difficult to insure their homes . With each flood event , insurance premiums have risen dramatically , pushing many locals to the financial brink . Some insurers have refused to cover homes in high-risk areas altogether , leaving families vulnerable to the financial devastation that comes with each flood .

Local business owners hit hard by the 2022 floods , voiced frustrations earlier this year at a senate inquiry : stating “ We ’ re paying through the nose for insurance , if we can get it at all . And what are we getting for it ? Nothing . No upgrades to the dam , no better roads . It ’ s a ticking time bomb .”

The lack of action from successive governments has placed residents and business owners alike in a difficult position . Many are unable to sell their homes , as the flood risk has made the properties less attractive to potential buyers , and with insurance options dwindling , they are stuck waiting for the next disaster to strike .

The intensity of extreme weather events , the Hawkesbury region remains one of the most flood-prone regions in Australia . Despite the clear and present danger , the region ’ s critical infrastructure remains insufficient to cope with future floods . Local authorities and community leaders have called for urgent action , but their pleas have , thus far , fallen on deaf ears .

The NSW Government has acknowledged the risks , but progress has been agonisingly slow . Even as experts warn of more frequent and severe flooding events , the political response has been largely reactive , with temporary measures and clean-up efforts taking precedence over long-term solutions .

As another summer approaches and the threat of more flooding looms , Hawkesbury residents are once again left in limbo , waiting for their government to fulfil its promises and take action to protect their homes , livelihoods , and lives . For now , it seems , all they can do is hope that when the next flood comes , they won ’ t be left abandoned yet again .

“ The floods are coming , we know that much , but will the government finally do something before we ’ re underwater again ? I doubt it .

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