Leslie Dam hits 60 per cent

Recent rain has bolstered the Leslie Dam to over 60 per cent capacity.

By Dominique Tassell

Recent rain has bolstered the Leslie Dam to 60.66 per cent capacity.

The levels jumped by almost a full per cent from 8 to 9 November from 57 to 58 per cent, and have jumped

again by almost three per cent.

Leslie Dam, a major source of drinking water to Warwick, Allora and Yangan, reached 50 per cent capacity earlier this year in July.

The dam is at its highest capacity since January 2014 thanks to recent rain, with locals wondering if the current weather will cause the dam to overflow.

Connolly Dam, which also supplies Warwick, is 100 per cent full. As is Stanthorpe’s sole urban water supply, Storm King Dam.

Storm King Dam reached full capacity for the first time in years in late March 2021.

In Wallangarra, recent rainfall has restored the water level in both the Beehive Dam and The Soak to full capacity.

Current storage in both these dams has sufficient water to supply water to Wallangarra and part of Jennings for over 18 months.

Water is currently sourced from the Beehive Dam.

Southern Downs Regional Council has stated that work associated with sourcing emergency water supply for Wallangarra is now complete and can be brought online as required.

Council reports that investigation to source supplementary water as backup water for future use is ongoing.

Council is reportedly still in discussion with Toowoomba Regional Council and Seqwater to supply water to Warwick via a new pipeline – a project led by the Queensland government.

The project was mentioned at a recent town planning meeting in Killarney, with locals wondering whether it was possible to build another pipeline to Killarney from Warwick.

Council also reports that investigation work continues to identify additional bore sites for supplementary emergency water for Warwick.

Concerns were also raised at the Killarney meeting over this, with some stating that while bores are an option, using them in a large capacity may take water away from farmers and require too much treatment to be feasible.