Seeney slams water release

Flooded Colleges Crossing.

Rob Williams

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Wet and wild Ipswich

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CONTROLLED releases of water from Wivenhoe Dam are expected to continue for at least as long as the current wet spell.

Seqwater said all south-east dams were receiving heavy inflows from surrounding catchments after heavy rainfalls across the region.

The water body’s decision to open the flood gates at the officially 100 per cent full Wivenhoe came under fire from the state opposition.

Opposition spokesman Jeff Seeney told parliament the dam was not completely full.

“Is not this release of water from Wivenhoe Dam, when it is holding only 40 per cent its available storage capacity, a clear indication that the government has learnt nothing from the water crisis,” Mr Seeney said.

But Natural Resources Minister Stephen Robertson said the extra capacity was needed to prevent a repeat of the 1974 floods.

“What Mr Seeney on behalf of the LNP suggests is that Wivenhoe Dam should not be used for flood mitigation purposes,” Mr Robertson said.

“As a result, that puts into jeopardy the very safety of people in Brisbane and surrounding areas.”

Seqwater said the releases would continue even though that meant Colleges Crossing at Kholo had to be closed.

“Wivenhoe and Somerset dams, which began controlled releases at the weekend, have been adjusting their output and will continue to do so until dams return to full supply level,” a spokesman said.

Other levels include Maroon (90 per cent), Moogerah (63 per cent), Lake Manchester (92 per cent) and Atkinson Dam (92 per cent).