When will releases begin?
How much water is being released?
What impacts will the releases have on local roads?
On Sunday 13 November 2011, Rachel Nolan, the Minister for Natural Resources announced the government’s decision to lower Wivenhoe Dam’s level, currently at 80 per cent, to 75 per cent of its drinking level capacity following expert advice.
This is to prepare for the coming wet season and the decision has been made in accordance with recent amendments to the Water Act.
The decision was in response to the Bureau of Meteorology (BoM)’s latest climate outlook advising with “moderate to high level of confidence that rainfall over the November to January period will be above the long-term median” for the region.
BoM presented its latest Australian Seasonal Climate Outlook to the Queensland Government advising "a moderate to high level of confidence that the rainfall over the November to January period will be above the long term median in southern Queensland and New South Wales.
The State Government sought advice about this forecast from Seqwater, the Water Grid Manager, the Water Commission and DERM.
The advice was that if water levels are maintained at 75%, then in the event of a flood like the one in January 2011 the flood peak would be 0.3 metres lower at the Port Office (Brisbane CBD gauge).
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Releases will begin on late Friday 18 November and will continue for a period of up to 7 days.
How much water is being released?
Releases will be at a rate of around 120 cubic metres per second and an estimated 57,000 megalitres of water will be released over a period of up to 7 days.
What impacts will the releases have on local roads?
Twin Bridges will be closed due to inundation at the commencement of the releases.
Savages Crossing will be closed initially as a precaution and maybe open again on Saturday morning depending on flows and whether it is safe to do so.
The release rate is not expected to impact Colleges Crossing or provide any noticeable change to water levels in the Brisbane River below Moggill. As a result, Burtons Bridge, Kholo Bridge, Mt Crosby Weir Bridge, Fernvale Bridge and all other Brisbane River bridges and crossings below Moggill are also not expected to be not be impacted by the release.
For further information regarding road closures or possible impacts in their local area, residents should contact their respective local councils.
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Will releases from Wivenhoe Dam impact recreation users downstream?
Water releases from Wivenhoe Dam may have impacts on recreational activities on the Brisbane River downstream of the dam wall.
Seqwater advises people to view the Notice To Mariners No.1124T of 2011, which was issued by Maritime Safety Queensland on Tuesday 15 November 2011 in relation to this water release from Wivenhoe Dam.