Callide Dam – Safety and Emergency Management

Safety and Emergency Management

In June 2021, Sunwater issued a Section 399B notice to the Dam Safety Regulator. This notice required that Callide Dam be operated at a reduced full supply level (FSL) to enable work to be completed as part of the Callide Dam Gates Project.

The top of the concrete spillway crest became the maximum height of the dam (100 per cent) and the temporary FSL, and the project’s operational level was set at 69 per cent.

Prior to issuing the notice, the top of the concrete spillway crest represented 41 per cent of the dam’s capacity, however, throughout the project Sunwater will refer to the top of the concrete spillway as the dam’s FSL of 100 per cent.

In the instance of extreme weather events, the water level reaching 100 per cent signals a forthcoming spill.

Once investigations and some of the work to resolve the gate vibrations were completed, Sunwater increased the project’s temporary full supply level from 69 (38,160ML) to 94.1 per cent (52,098 ML) in December 2021.

As of early December 2022, Sunwater had completed on-site works as part of the project and as of March 2023, Sunwater had finalised the Operations Manual and Emergency Action Plan (EAP) to reflect changes to the gate control system.

A Section 399B notice has been submitted to the Dam Safety Regulator to operate Callide Dam at the pre-project level.

There was no change to flood operation trigger levels or to downstream resident messaging as part of the EAP update.

The Sunwater app provides the latest dam information and alerts at your fingertips. Download the app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to stay informed about Sunwater dam operations especially during heavy rain and flood events.