Gladstone Area Water Board release statement on Awoonga Dam levels following recent rainfall activity

Despite rainfall gracing the Gladstone region over the past fortnight, Awoonga Dam largely failed to benefit sits at 49 per cent capacity.

The Gladstone Area Water Board has advised Awoonga Dam’s Low Supply Alert status remains active despite the Gladstone region’s recent rainfall.

Capacity at Awoonga Dam is currently 49 per cent, indicating a slight improvement since the start of November (48 per cent).

Gladstone Area Water Board (GAWB) CEO Darren Barlow said the Low Supply Alert was declared earlier this year following prolonged drought conditions and three consecutive failed wet seasons.

Awoonga Dam.

“Under GAWB’s Drought Management Plan, a Low Supply Alert is declared when there is five years reliable water supply remaining in Awoonga Dam,” he said.

“While the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a wetter than average summer, our message remains the same: we all need to play our part and make every drop count.”

Mr Barlow said the water board would not rule out formal supply restrictions if the coming wet season did not deliver significant rainfall.

“The Low Supply Alert will remain in place until more stringent level one supply restrictions are deemed necessary or, alternatively, when significant inflows are received and it can be removed,” he said.

“People are seeing green parks and gardens and may not realise that capacity at Awoonga Dam continues to fall and the Gladstone region remains drought declared.

“As the weather warms up, we typically see increased water consumption across the region so we’re asking everyone to be aware and make every drop count this summer.

“Long term water security in the region is our number one priority and we’re working with our community, industrial customers and the Queensland Government to respond to water supply challenges brought on by drought, climate change and customer demand.”