Cooby Dam spilling; no immediate risk to Oakey

Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) is advising there is no immediate risk to Oakey township from water spilling over the Cooby Dam wall. Council is monitoring the situation.

TRC Local Disaster Management Group (LDMG) chair, Mayor Paul Antonio, said a standard emergency alert for a Flood Watch and Act was issued this morning (February 27) at the request of the Local Disaster Coordination Centre.

“Council’s Water Operations centre is monitoring the Region’s three dams around the clock and will provide updates as required,” Mayor Antonio said.

“Council yesterday (February 26) started contacting the property owners who are directly downstream of Cooby Dam.

“Water started flowing over the Cooby Dam wall around 3.30am today (February 27).

“We are continuing to update these residents in line with our emergency action plan.

“There is no imminent threat to Oakey township. Council will continue to issue advice that directly concerns the Oakey community if the situation changes.”

Dam levels at 8am today (February 27): Cooby Dam: 107.7%; Lake Perseverance: 110.5% (125.4mm of rain in past 24 hours) and Lake Cressbrook: 88.6% (148.2mm of rain in past 24 hours); combined storage capacity: 96.3%, which includes volumes above the spillway height at Cooby and Perseverance. (The rate of rise has slowed at all three dams as of this morning. Rainfall in the catchments will influence further inflows)

“Please avoid travelling if possible and always heed the simple message; ‘If it’s flooded, forget it’,” Mayor Antonio said.

In a life-threatening emergency call 000 and for emergency flood or storm assistance, call the State Emergency Service on 132 500.

Listen to ABC Radio for relevant disaster information updates and warnings.

Advice about TRC road closures will be notified at http://disaster.tr.qld.gov.au/ 

For Bureau of Meteorology updates and warning, please visit, http://www.bom.gov.au/