Wallace announces lifting of Condamine water restrictions

Natural Resources and Water Minister Craig Wallace today announced an early Christmas present for water-harvesters along the Condamine River.

Mr Wallace announced the lifting of all restrictions above Loudon Weir following the best flows in nearly two years.

“The restrictions have been in place since Christmas Day, 2006,” he said.

“Widespread falls across the South West with predictions of more to come has lifted the hopes of residents right across the region,” Mr Wallace said. “The drought has not broken, but these latest falls will bring some much needed relief.”

Mr Wallace said isolated flooding was being experienced in some areas for the first time in a decade, while the rain has ensured the water supply for some towns along the Condamine River, which were becoming desperate.

“Chinchilla and Cecil Plains weirs are now over-flowing after being at such low levels that the towns’ water supply was under threat only a few months ago,” Mr Wallace said. “It is the first time that water has flowed at Cecil Plains Weir for nearly two years.”

“The flows in this part of the system have triggered water-harvesting conditions for some properties which is very good news for farmers doing it tough in the drought,” he said. “The Chinchilla Weir had more than 13,000 megalites overflow and go past the gauge in the past 24 hours.”

Mr Wallace said the Department of Natural Resources and Water (NRW) has activated its system of gauging stations to monitor the flows and ensure the best management of the flows as they makes their way downstream.

“Isolated heavy storms from the far west through to the Darling Downs have caused creeks to flow. The Department is keeping a close eye on the data through the electronic gauging stations, while there are also officers in the field monitoring the flows as they progress downstream.’’

“All this information is collated to form a complete picture on the flow and how best to manage it. The volume of water has allowed the relaxation of the current restrictions on water harvesting above and below Cecil Plains Weir.’’

Restrictions on water harvesting in this part of the Condamine system have been in place since December 2006 due to the ongoing drought.

“The Department has contacted the water harvesters along this part of the system and told them of the relaxation of the restrictions to ensure that they had a chance to take their fair share of the water on offer,” he said.

“A range of factors were taken into account including environmental flows and the current state of the river system before limitations were relaxed.”

There have also been significant falls in the western region as well with 75mm falling in Charleville on November 12, which to date has resulted in 50,000 megalitres flowing down the Warrego River past Wyandra and 33,000 megalitres past Cunnamulla.

With more than 100mm of rain in the Chinchilla and Roma areas over the weekend there are also several flows in to the Condamine and Balonne Rivers below Chinchilla Weir.

“It is difficult to estimate how much of this water will make it downstream to Beardmore Dam, but the storage will definitely receive some welcome replenishment especially if the predicted rains arrive across the region later in the week.”

For further information: Paul Childs, Craig Wallace’s office, on 0407 131 654