Queensland dams outlook following Cyclone Debbie

Dams across Queensland are being closely monitored by SunWater and Seqwater following Tropical Cyclone Debbie.

Minister for Water Supply Mark Bailey said that widespread heavy rainfall is predicted from now ex-Tropical Cyclone Debbie and Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a flood watch for coastal catchments between Ayr and the NSW border.

North and Central Queensland

“Early warning community communications for a range of SunWater dams in the affected area have been issued,” Mr Bailey said.

“As expected, dams in the Bowen and Mackay areas are currently experiencing inflows and minor downstream flows are occurring.

“Significant increases in outflows are likely to occur within the next 72 hours.

“SunWater is continuing to closely monitor dam levels and weather patterns. Further updates will be provided as required including posts on social media, notifications via the SunWater App and SMS to nearby downstream residents.”

Affected dams:

• Burdekin Falls Dam (175km s/w of Ayr) is at 105.9% capacity and spilling since 18 January
• Teemburra Dam (60km w of Mackay) is at 108.9% capacity and spilling since 26 March into Pioneer catchment outflow rate increasing (This is the highest recorded flood for this dam)
• Eungella Dam (80km w of Mackay) is at 110.5%  capacity and spilling since 7 March
• Kinchant Dam (near North Eton) is currently at 118.2% capacity and releases commenced to Sandy Creek
• Peter Faust Dam (near Proserpine)is currently at 71% capacity

Other Dams:

• Fairbairn Dam 44%
• Callide Dam 65%
• Cania Dam 70%
• Fred Haigh Dam 86%
• Paradise Dam 73%

All members of the community are encouraged to download the SunWater App and follow them on Facebook or Twitter.

SunWater water storage levels are updated regularly and can be found here: www.sunwater.com.au/__data/win/reports/win_storages.htm

South East Queensland

Mr Bailey said forecasts issued today from the BOM indicate that South East Queensland may experience significant rainfall from the influence of Tropical Cyclone Debbie from Thursday to Friday.

“Operational releases from Somerset Dam into Wivenhoe Dam will be made today to balance current stored water supply volumes between the dams - These releases will not impact flooding downstream of Wivenhoe Dam,” Mr Bailey said.

“Wivenhoe Dam and North Pine Dam are not currently releasing floodwater and are not likely to within the next 24 to 36 hours.

“Seqwater is continuing to closely monitor conditions and forecasts that may affect SEQ catchments and their Flood Operations Centre will go on alert today.”  

• South East Queensland’s combined water storage capacity is currently 71.7%.
• Currently Wivenhoe Dam is at 67.9%, Somerset Dam is 74.5% and North Pine Dam is 51.5%. The floodwater storage compartments at Wivenhoe Dam and Somerset Dam are fully available.
• Ungated dams, Hinze Dam, Little Nerang Dam, Wyaralong Dam and Wappa Dam, are currently spilling.

Seqwater provides a free Dam Release Notification service which sends notifications by email, text messages to mobile phones to telephone landlines when dam releases are occurring. To sign up go to www.seqwater.com.au/dam-release-information-service or download the Seqwater app.

Dam level information is updated every 2 hours on the Seqwater website: seqwater.com.au/water-supply/dam-levels

ENDS

Media contact :     Zoe Russell- 0428 079 640