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Update 26 October 2021 | 11:50 am
Audible tests of the two Paradise Dam Emergency Sirens are now complete.
Update 26 October 2021 | 8:00 am
Audible tests of the two Paradise Dam Emergency Sirens will be conducted between 10:00 am – 12:00 pm on Tuesday 26 October 2021.
More information about Sunwater’s Dam Emergency Sirens is available on our Emergency Management page.
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, residents may wish to secure their animals 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. Sunwater has received feedback following previous tests that the siren was not heard at some locations.
The sirens and Sunwater’s existing SMS alerts supplement the many ways residents will be notified in the unlikely event of dam failure. Other notification warning channels include SMS alerts, ABC local radio, websites (BoM, QLD Disaster and Alerts and ABC online) and the social media pages of local authorities.
To learn more about Sunwater’s Dam Emergency Sirens, please visit the Emergency Management page