Paradise water put to productive use

The final water release from Paradise Dam to reach the target level of 42 per cent capacity occurred on 2 December.

More than 96 per cent of the water released from the dam has been stored or used for productive purposes.

Of the total 103,954 megalitres released, 75,539 megalitres was made available for free to the Bundaberg Water Supply Scheme and users not normally supplied from the dam.

A further 25,000 megalitres has been stored in Ben Anderson Barrage and Ned Churchward Weir for future use.

Sunwater has made every effort to ensure the water is being used as productively as possible.

Irrigators across the region have taken up the offer for free water, while the releases also filled Gregory Weir, owned by Bundaberg Regional Council.

Water was also delivered to Elliot River, Mahogany Creek, Gregory River and Logging Creek.

Normal operational releases will continue to meet irrigation demand.

Reducing the dam’s storage level will facilitate essential work to lower the spillway by five metres.