Regional dams for drought-proofing or mining profits?

The raising of the Wyangala dam wall near Cowra is the centrepiece of the NSW government’s water infrastructure plans.

Thanks to its classification as Critical State Significant Infrastructure, the project has been fast-tracked. Preliminary works have begun without either a business case or an environmental impact assessment for a project that is expected to capture a combined 770 gigalitres from the Murray-Darling basin. And without a business case, there is no final cost for the project. Taxpayers are already on the hook for $1.5 billion, with the costs having blown out from an initial $650 million.

The Wyangala Dam wall raising was announced in October last year. Other planned water projects including building a new dam at…