Minister Robertson Praises Wivenhoe Flood Mitigation
Minister Stephen Robertson today praised the SEQ Water Grid for their management of Wivenhoe Dam during the recent rains.
(Media-Newswire.com) - Minister Stephen Robertson today praised the SEQ Water Grid for their management of Wivenhoe Dam during the recent rains.
“They have adjusted the gates on a daily basis to ensure Wivenhoe Dam and the Brisbane River have the safest possible water levels for the people of South East Queensland,” Mr Robertson said.
To further protect South East Queensland, the Water Grid also mobilises a Flood Control Centre during a flood event at North Pine, Somerset or Wivenhoe Dams. It operates 24 hours a day with teams of operators at each dam 24 hours a day managing releases.
Controlled releases allow water to enter the system when the rain is not falling to ensure the best flood protection possible for the region as we face major wet weather events.
In fact, Wivenhoe is protecting low-lying Brisbane suburbs with its flood mitigation capacity.
Wivenhoe and Somerset dams have held back almost 400,000 megalitres of flood water during this event. Now that flows from the Lockyer Valley and Bremer have passed, this water will now be released over a number of days - minimizing the impact on downstream areas.
There have been reports from residents in the upper Brisbane River that flood waters were as bad as in 1974. Without the dam, this water would have flowed down the Brisbane River at around the same time as flows from the Lockyer and Bremer - compounding local flooding.
The Water Grid has coordinated closely with local councils to minimise downstream impacts of releases from all South East Queensland dams.
“We have taken the advice of experts at the Water Grid in order to protect Queenslanders from these floodwaters,” Mr Robertson said.
“The flood storage compartment means that we can hold back flood water, and make controlled releases when downstream flows subside.
“Mr Langbroek and the LNP would have the Dam continue to fill, creating a risk for all those residents downstream. We will not take risks with the safety of Queenslanders during flood events.”
Media Contact: 0437 801 960
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