Technology investment builds resilience for North West Queensland Dam

Joint State-Federal statement

A North West Queensland community will have access to more reliable flood warning information, thanks to investment in more technology at Chinaman Creek Dam near Cloncurry, 120 kilometres east of Mount Isa.

A network of CCTV cameras, telemetry, and an early warning system have been installed by Cloncurry Shire Council, to build resilience to future flood events.

The $300,000 Telemetry, Monitoring and Early Warning System project was jointly funded by the Albanese Government and Council through Round 1 of the Albanese Government’s flagship Disaster Ready Fund (DRF).

The project includes strategically located cameras on and near the dam to enhance Council’s year-round surveillance of the dam wall including comparing seepage, determining the appropriate disaster activation level, and monitoring during activations.

Telemetry from a rain gauge and level sensors on the dam wall provides trend data about dam levels, rainfall, and trigger points.

Cameras and a siren are central to the Early Warning System, designed to provide sufficient warning to those properties that would be impacted by a wet weather dam failure during extreme weather events.

It complements the Council’s existing real-time Flood Warning Infrastructure Network assets which allow Council to monitor 12 sites around the dam in real time.

Through the DRF, up to $200 million in Commonwealth funding is being made available per year over five years, from 2023-24, to reduce disaster risk and improve Australia’s resilience to natural disasters.

Other works previously funded at the Chinaman Creek Dam include a detailed risk review, material testing, and review of the structural competency of the Chinaman Creek Dam wall.

Quotes attributable to Senator for Queensland, Nita Green:

“I’m really pleased to see work completed on this important project which will help the region be better prepared for future severe weather events.

“We know that monitoring and early warning systems like this help save lives and provides crucial information for first responders and local disaster management authorities.

“With the Albanese Government’s support through the Disaster Ready Fund, Cloncurry Shire Council has delivered a valuable project and I congratulate Mayor Greg Campbell and CEO Philip Keirle for this achievement, and their drive to make it happen.

“Building resilience and being better prepared are vital in reducing the impacts and costs of natural disasters, and it’s great to see this system will have an immediate benefit ahead of the 2024-25 Higher Risk Weather Season.”

Quotes attributable to Queensland Minister for Disaster Recovery Nikki Boyd:

“The dam is an important asset for the Cloncurry community, making this resilience upgrade to Council’s monitoring and early warning capability a potential lifesaver.

“During the most recent disaster season, 13 destructive weather events from two Tropical Cyclones and severe flooding to bushfires cut a swathe of damage through Queensland, and an estimated recovery bill of more than $2.1 billion.

“That’s why through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, the Miles and Albanese Governments are doing what matters to back the recovery of Queenslanders, and support resilient councils to build back better.”   

Quotes attributable to Cloncurry Shire Council Mayor Greg Campbell:

“Council identified the Chinaman Creek Dam Telemetry, Monitoring and Early Warning System project as one part of a broader suite of projects to manage and mitigate risk associated with this important Council-owned asset.

“The upgrades to telemetry and monitoring at the Dam allow for remote monitoring of the facility and generate great data sets for key parameters, both of which will improve our disaster preparedness and responsiveness.

“The Early Warning System will ensure we are able to provide timely advice to those downstream residents who would be impacted in the unlikely event of a dam failure.

“We thank NEMA and the QRA for their contribution toward this important project through the Disaster Ready Fund.”

For more information on the DRF, visit www.nema.gov.au/programs/disaster-ready-fund/round-one.

Media note: Images of the dam and the new technology on site are available HERE.

Media contacts:
Senator Green: Lani Sprague 0490 841 868

Minister Boyd’s office: Darren Roberts 0427 475 089