Kiama's councillors have voted to decommission Jerrara Dam, arguing alternative options for the 53-hectare earth-fill embankment dam are simply too expensive.
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In recent years, the dam has regularly been the subject of emergency warnings or ‘‘amber’’ alerts during heavy rain.
Kiama Mayor Brian Petschler said the integrity of the dam wall had never been in question, but the NSW Dam Safety Committee had concerns – based on updated climate forecasts – that the dam could overtop in extreme weather circumstances.
Kiama Council factored $1.3million into future budgets for the decommissioning to take place, while cost estimates to raise the embankment or widen the spillway ranged between $3.1 million and $3.6 million.
‘‘In the end, it comes down to money,’’ Cr Petschler said.
‘‘This way the area will be returned closer to its natural state.
‘‘There will still be a small water-holding area, but it will be a shallow lake that is much smaller and we believe will be a nice recreation area.’’
The decision was not unanimous, with Cr Mark Way arguing the dam could be retained for other purposes and that the fear of the dam overtopping was unwarranted. Cr Way said the costs of widening the spillway or raising the wall were only ‘‘guesstimates’’ and the actual cost would not be known until it went to tender.
The council’s director of engineering and works, Bryan Whittaker, expected work on the decommissioning to take place mid-2015.
Tucked away in a picturesque valley between Kiama and Jamberoo, Jerrara Dam has long been viewed as a site of enormous potential and, in recent years, many suggestions have been put forward for what the Jerrara site should be used for.
During the recent exhibition period, the Illawarra Folk Club lodged a submission in support of the decommissioning to allow for the development of the reserve as a major festival site.
Mr Whittaker said alternative proposals for the Jerrara site would be considered as part of a separate process.
Jerrara Dam was built by the NSW government in 1955 to supplement Kiama’s water supply. In 1975, it was no longer needed as a supply dam and was transferred to the council’s ownership.
The Jerrara Dam Reserve wetlands area was identified in 1996 as ‘‘potentially one of the most valuable fresh water habitat wetland habitats in coastal Illawarra’’.
The council said the nearby arboretum would not be adversely affected by the decommissioning, as it was fed by a different source and restoration of the natural flow regime would have positive environmental results.