Wivenhoe, Somerset dams to open gates to combat Cyclone Alfred

Wivenhoe and Somerset dams are likely to open their gates in the next two days in a bid to combat Cyclone Alfred.

Water is released from Wivenhoe Dam in 2022.

Wivenhoe, Somerset and North Pine dams are likely to open their gates in the next two days in a bid to combat Cyclone Alfred.

An alert from Seqwater advised due to the forecast rainfall associated with the tropical cyclone the dams – including Wivenhoe which is at 100 per cent of capacity – would likely open gates.

“Seqwater advises our flood engineers are closely monitoring the weather and dam conditions 24/7 at the Flood Operations Centre which has moved to the stand up activation level,” the alert said.

“These releases will consider downstream flows in accordance with the Manual of Operational Procedures for Flood Mitigation for Somerset Dam and Wivenhoe Dam.

“Several ungated dams are spilling excess water. Please stay away from fast flowing or deep water near waterways downstream of the dams.”

On Monday Seqwater confirmed it would not be pre-emptively releasing water despite the forecast.

Seqwater said its flood manual that was drawn up after the 2011 disaster dictated that decisions about when and if to release water should be based on rain that had actually fallen – rather than solely on what was forecast to fall.

“We don’t always know when and where rain will fall,” a spokeswoman said at the time.

“Our 24/7 Flood Operations Centre is mobilised and – pending rainfall – is prepared to make controlled, gated releases later this week if required.”

The Seqwater spokeswoman conceded the dam manual offered limited guidance on what to do in the case of a tropical cyclone, but instructs engineers to use a flood forecasting system to account for predicted inflows and time-gated releases.

Premier David Crisafulli on Tuesday called for Seqwater to be more transparent with anxious Queenslanders about the plan for water releases.

“I want residents to know that as I get information, I’ll be giving it,” Mr Crisafulli told 612 ABC Radio Brisbane.

“I’d like to think we’ve shown that in the last few days. I’m a big believer, if you give people info, they will make the right call.”

Mr Crisafulli added that Seqwater’s management of dam releases changed in 2011 following the Royal Commission.

“There were a few things that were put in place after those big floods and one of them was there was an emergency action plan put in place, and a manual that’s attached to that,” he said.

“What that means is that the flood operations engineer for the dam makes those calls.

“Now, what I’ve asked of Seqwater as part of that is, you’ve got to be open and upfront with people, and you have to explain why at what point it will be released, what are those triggers, and why is that being followed?

“I’d like to think that if you do that, and if you give people information, people will come on the journey, so it’s important they do that.

“That is their responsibility, and that was clearly put in place post that Royal Commission, but information flow matters in a disaster, and I’d like to see that improve.”