Mayor to again press state government to release water from dams

Brisbane Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner will press the state government again this week to release water from south-east Queensland’s dams.

His request follows an initial call on September 5 to release dam water, which was rejected by Queensland Water Minister Glenn Butcher.

Brisbane’s lord mayor Adrian Schrinner will again press the state government about releasing water from dams as the wet season begins.Credit: Fairfax Media

After Thursday evening’s rain deluge in the state’s south-eastern corner, Schrinner on Friday afternoon repeated his call.

“We now have a firm prediction from the Bureau of Meteorology of a third La Nina,” Schrinner said.

“It’s important we are as ready as possible, which is why the discussion around proactive dam releases needs to be had.

“It’s a fair-enough question to ask – should we change our dam management, so we’re ready in case this predicted high rainfall occurs?

“I will be raising this question again at a weather-preparedness meeting with the state government next week.”

South-east Queensland’s major dam levels at 3.30pm Friday

• Wivenhoe Dam - 89.6 per cent, but flood storage area not used.
• Somerset Dam - 80.6 per cent, less than 1 per cent of flood storage used.
• Hinze Dam, Gold Coast Hinterland - 105 per cent, dam is spilling.
• Lake Samsonvale Dam at North Pine - 67.4 per cent.
• Gold Creek Dam, Upper Brookfield - 105 per cent, dam is spilling.
• Enoggera Dam -  101.1 per cent, dam is spilling.

Source: Seqwater dam water levels information page

Butcher expects detailed information from his department before the end of September on the effectiveness of any early dam releases.

Seqwater can recommend to Butcher under the safety provisions of the Water Supply Act 2008 that he declare a temporary fully supply level (TFSL) and release water from Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams.

Water released from Wivenhoe Dam, north-east of Ipswich.Credit: Nine News.

On Friday Butcher said he had been briefed by his department, but said, “each weather event is unique.”

“Each instance needs to be considered based on the individual facts and circumstances at the time,” he said.

“I have been briefed and will continue to take the advice from experts at the right time, including on what actions might be necessary based on potential rainfall events over summer.

“We know wet weather is forecast, but we don’t know when or where rain will fall.”

He said he was mindful that stored water could not be used once it was released from dams.

“So it is absolutely critical that we take expert advice from both Seqwater and department officials.”

South-east Queensland’s two biggest dams, Wivenhoe and Somerset, are at 100 per cent capacity, however the flood storage areas are empty.

Both major dams can store as much in their flood storage areas as the dams can hold in the drinking water supply zone.

Overall, south-east Queensland’s water grid, which includes the major dams in the state’s south-east corner is at 87.5 per cent full, and some dams, including Brisbane’s Enoggera Dam and the Gold Coast’s Hinze Dam, are now spilling.

The Gold Coast hinterland received 317 millimetres of rain in almost 24 hours, while the BIG4 caravan park at Helensvale flooded on Thursday night.

Clagiraba, near Lower Beechmont, received 104 millimetres in an hour by almost midnight and 118 millimetres in two hours by 12.18am on Friday.