I am writing to clarify the issues around the drainage of the Wallangarra Beehive Dam water supply.
With three water reservoirs, Wallangarra/Jennings water supply is one of the most complex and intricate systems that council is challenged with managing.
This water not only supports the community but also the abattoir, the major employer in the region.
Council considers it important to secure the long term supply for the area and is taking multiple steps to do so.
In the last 12 months, council has invested significant funds to secure long term access to water from Cusack’s Dam in NSW.
Now we have turned our attention to upgrading Beehive Dam.
This has traditionally been the back-up water supply for the other two water storages, The Soak and Cusack’s Dam. However, it had been out of action for four years due to a very poor water quality and ageing water delivery infrastructure.
To reinstate the 97Ml Beehive Dam as a viable supply of water for Wallangarra, council needed to upgrade underwater infrastructure at the dam.
The $60,000 project was budgeted for the 2011-12 year and council began releasing water in mid November.
It was hoped that repairs could be made without completely draining the storage, so the dam was initially lowered from six metres to two metres in depth. At that stage it became clear that repairs could not be completed without fully emptying the dam.
Councillors were advised via email on November 25, 2011, prior to further water release, that the dam would be completely emptied in order for our staff to complete the work.
Our staff finished releasing the remaining water in December and we anticipate that full remedial works will be completed by the end of the month.
It was important to carry out the repairs at this time of year to have the best opportunity for replenishing this dam during the summer storm season.
Once the dam is full, we intend to restock the storage with fingerlings.
At the end of the day we acknowledge the community was not informed. This was an unfortunate oversight.
Steps have now been taken to avoid this happening in future.
Mayor Ron Bellingham
Southern Downs Regional Council
