Flood mitigation plan on track at Burrendong

Outflows from Burrendong Dam are continuing to follow the plan established by the flood mitigation zone reference panel last week.

The reference panel recommended that the objectives should be to reduce Burrendong to 100% as soon as possible and also give some reprieve to landholders around Warren who are being flooded with the current releases. The panel recommended that:

1. Outflows continue to target a rate of 25,000ML per day at Baroona and Gin Gin until Tuesday 11 January
2. From Tuesday, the outflows decreased by 2,000ML per day, each day, until the dam reaches 100% of capacity

This strategy has already seen the dam’s storage level drop to 106.9% as of capacity on 13 Jan 2011.

Already the reduction in releases has made a positive impact on Warren and downstream along the Macquarie River providing some relief.

It is likely that the dam will decrease close to 100% in about a week, providing the full flood mitigation airspace for any future substantial rainfall events.

Burrendong continued its flood mitigation role after unforecast heavy downpours in the Orange region between Christmas and New Year created almost 200,000ML of inflow, taking Burrendong from 114% to 128%.

-ENDS-

Media contact: Amy Selwood (02) 6841 2081 or 0428 685 769