Emergency siren testing to be conducted at Fairbairn Dam

Sunwater will conduct audible testing of its two Fairbairn Dam emergency sirens on Thursday 7 October.

The siren located at Rundle Park, Opal Street, in Emerald, will be tested between 11am and 12pm, and the other at the East Nogoa Water Treatment Plant on Rivergum Road between 12pm and 1pm.

Each test will last up to three minutes and may be heard within a 3km radius of the sirens’ locations.

There are several variables which may influence where the sound travels, including wind direction, the topography of the landscape and other noise interference at the time, such as machinery and traffic.

The testing is an important method of reminding our community the siren is in place. No action is required by residents.

Sunwater is distributing flyers informing of the testing to 7,000 residential properties in and around Emerald.

A drop-in information session at Rundle Park will be open to the Emerald community from 10am to 11am on the day of the testing. Sunwater staff will be on hand to answer any questions about the sirens.

Sunwater conducts regular silent testing and monitoring of the dam emergency siren systems.

Audible testing is the most effective way to ensure the siren is working and can be operated properly in the event of an emergency that could lead to dam failure.

The sirens complement existing warning systems and is part of an effort to continually improve Sunwater’s emergency management processes.

These tests are part of a broader ongoing testing schedule.

Sunwater has installed dam emergency sirens at six locations across Queensland, including Emerald, Biloela, Coringa, North Eton, Pinnacle, and Inglewood.

The sirens will only be activated if a dam’s Emergency Action Plan has been triggered for dam failure ensuring downstream communities receive urgent warning alerts.

They will not be activated during water releases or standard flood operations.

A map outlining the areas in Emerald the sirens may be heard is available here.