Burrinjuck outflows fall as inflows decrease

5 December 2010  - Midday

Discharge from Burrinjuck Dam has dropped to 80,000ML/day as inflows fell to 58,000ML/day  this morning.

As a result storage levels have fallen to 100.2% of capacity, raising hopes that moves to reach a target reduction of 95.5% of capacity - leaving the equivalent of 30,000ML/d of air space to absorb - will succeed.

Inflows are down from 67,000ML/d yesterday (Saturday), and outflow has fallen from a top of 107,000ML/d yesterday. 

State Water Acting Water Delivery Manager Scott Barber said  once storage hits 100% either late today (Sunday) or tomorrow (Monday) releases will be reduced by 10,000ML/d per hour.

“ We are currently in free flow mode due to the dam being in excess of 100%, but once the level falls and we can intervene, we will start to lower releases, thereby reducing the downstream flow."

Mr Barber also confirmed that a landslip which occurred at a workshop area of the dam had no bearing on operations or the dam structure.

“The slippages caused damage to one of the buildings and blocked off the road , but this was not in the immediate vicinity of the dam structure. Feedback from our staff indicates some level of community concern which I can assure people is unfounded. The slip was at a workshop area some distance from the dam wall itself, and thankfully there were no injuries or significant damage."

For information on flood warnings, please contact the State Emergency Service on 132 500 or visit the website www.ses.nsw.gov.au.

-ENDS-
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