What’s that sound? Council tests new siren in event of dam catastrophe

No, it wasn’t a submarine preparing to dive in Copperlode Dam, nor the sound effect from a 1980s era video game. Take a listen to the new warning sirens that blared across a Cairns suburb today.

NO, it wasn’t a submarine preparing to dive in Copperlode Dam, nor the sound effect from a 1980s era video game.

The bizarre noises that blared across Redlynch Valley this morning was Cairns Regional Council testing its emergency siren network, in the event of a catastrophic dam wall collapse.

Cairns Council maintenance workers Ivan Orsag and Jack Booker listen in Redlynch as the Copperlode Falls Dam early warning sirens are being tested PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

Early warning stations, installed from Crystal Cascades to Brinsmead earlier this year, have been designed to provide residents and businesses with as much warning as possible about the extremely unlikely event of flooding from a major dam breach.

Redlynch resident Denise Kilpatrick and owner of Coconuts restaurant in Redlynch Valley Ravi Perera listen as the Copperlode Falls Dam early warning sirens are being tested PICTURE: ANNA ROGERS

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Ravi Perera, who owns Coconuts restaurant at Redlynch Valley, believed the siren sounded like an 80s video game.

He believed, however, it was not loud enough.

“You could hear it outside, but not inside the restaurant — where you’d want to hear it,” he said.

What do you think of the new warning system? Let us know in the comments below.

Originally published as What’s that sound? Council tests new siren in event of dam catastrophe