Update: Dam Emergency Siren tests

Siren

Update 2 – 7 October 2021 | 3:00pm

The audible test of the two Dam Emergency Sirens located in Emerald (Rundle Park, Opal Street and East Nogoa Water Treatment Plant on Rivergum Road) is now complete.

Sunwater thanks the community for its patience while we conducted the tests.

More information about Sunwater’s Dam Emergency Sirens is available on our Emergency Management page.

Update 1 – 15 September 2021 | 1:00pm

Coolmunda Dam

The audible test of the Dam Emergency Siren located near Rabbits Hill adjacent to Potters Road in Inglewood is now complete.

Sunwater thanks the community for its patience while we conducted the test.

Dam Emergency Siren tests: Coolmunda and Fairbairn dams

Sunwater will conduct audible or ‘live’ testing of its Dam Emergency Sirens for Coolmunda and Fairbairn dams in September and October 2021.  

Each test will last up to three minutes. The siren will sound followed by a voice announcement ‘THIS IS ONLY A TEST’.   

Testing dates, times and locations are as follows:  

Coolmunda Dam | Wednesday, 15 September 2021 
  • The siren located in Inglewood near Rabbits Hill, adjacent to Potters Road will be tested between 11:00am and 12:00pm
Fairbairn Dam | Thursday, 7 October 
  • Siren 1: the siren located in Rundle Park, Opal Street in Emerald will be tested between 11:00am and 12:00pm 
  • Siren 2: the siren located at the East Nogoa Water Treatment Plant on Rivergum Road in Emerald will be tested between 12:00pm and 1:00pm  
  • A drop-in information session at Rundle Park will be open to the Emerald community from 10:00am to 11:00am where our local Sunwater team will be on hand to answer any questions about sirens.

Why do we have sirens? 

Sunwater’s Dam Emergency Sirens complement existing warning systems and are part of an effort to continually improve Sunwater’s emergency management processes.   

The sirens are only activated in the unlikely event of a dam failure as part of its’ Emergency Action Plan, ensuring downstream communities receive urgent warning alerts. 

The sirens are not activated during water releases or standard flood operations. 

Why are the tests being conducted?  

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

Audible or ‘live’ testing is the most effective way for Sunwater to ensure the sirens are working and can be operated properly in the event of an emergency that could lead to dam failure.  

Audible testing is also an important method of reminding people that the sirens exist as the tests create awareness of what the sirens sound like and helps to prepare communities for a very unlikely event leading to a dam failure.   

What do I need to do?  

No action is required by community members during the test however, Sunwater urges residents to secure their pets and check-in with neighbours to ensure they are aware that the tests are being conducted.  

Sunwater team members will be onsite to confirm the efficacy of the tests.   

Will I hear the sirens?  

Each siren may be heard within a 3 km radius (in all directions), although there are a number of variables which may influence where the sound travels. These include wind direction, the topography of the landscape and other noise interference at the time, such as machinery.  

Maps of the siren locations are available below:   

To learn more about Sunwater’s Dam Emergency Sirens, please visit the Emergency Management page.