Tinaroo Dam hits capacity after seven years below spillway

A long-running water shortage on the Tablelands has finally broken with Tinaroo Dam overflowing for the first time in seven years. WATCH THE VIDEO

• Green Ant Cantina shuts doors
• Severe weather warning in place for parts of Cape York
• Opinion: Studio 10 faces tough decision on Kerry-Anne Kennerley

A LONG-RUNNING water shortage on the Tablelands has finally broken with Tinaroo Dam overflowing for the first time in seven years.

Emergency Services Minister Craig Crawford said it was an overwhelmingly positive outcome for the region’s agricultural industries.

“That’s such an enormous thing for irrigators around the Atherton, Mareeba and Walkamin areas,” he said.

“But also for all the leisure sports, speed boats and water skiers as well — it’s great for tourism.

“It’s the first time in seven years that water has been running over the spillway.”

These normally inundated dead trees and deadwood at Lake Tinaroo near Tinaburra were exposed forming an interesting vista for sightseers in 2017. David Anthony photo.

Reaching capacity is good news for farmers but could cause safety issues in the event major rainfall.

“Obviously, we have to continue to watch it now that it’s full,” Mr Crawford said.

“All that water that used to get trapped by the dam will now come down the Barron River.

“That could mean the Barron becomes more prone to flooding that it already is.”

Originally published as Tinaroo Dam hits capacity after seven years below spillway