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Some Ipswich residents want the floodgates at Wivenhoe Dam to be opened. |
Ipswich residents whose homes were destroyed during last year's flood are keeping a close eye on Wivenhoe Dam as it nears 100 per cent supply level.
As of Monday, the dam was 97.6 per cent full. Minister for Energy and Water Supply Mark McArdle received a brief on the dam situation on Friday, and has decided at this stage no flood releases will be required.
Bundamba resident Dianne Dimitrov led the protest against the former State Government which resulted in Wivenhoe being reduced to 75 per cent ahead of last year's predicted wet season.
``Surely after what has gone on, they have learnt a lesson from that, and I really want to have faith and believe they would never let it happen again,'' she said.
``I can understand what a drought is all about for the people who weren't flooded. I can't be a selfish person, thinking `I was flooded so drop the dam'. You have to look at it overall. I think while it's sitting around 100per cent
I'm not prepared to jump up and down yet.''
Ms Dimitrov said there were ``a lot of watchful eyes on Wivenhoe'' with many people regularly driving out to check the dam levels.
In a statement, the Department of Energy and Water Supply said the current long range outlook from the weather bureau did not indicate a need to make pre-releases to draw the dam down for the coming wet season.
An El Nino, associated with an increased likelihood of drier than average conditions is forecast for 2012-13.
www.CourierMail.com.au
COMMENT: Is the Minister being advised by the same flood engineers in charge of Wivenhoe Dam - three of whom are now under investigation by the CMC - whom the Floods Commission found had operated the dam contrary to the official operating manual from 8am on Saturday 8 January 2011 - three days before the flood hit Ipswich and Brisbane? If so, all residents in flood affected areas of Brisbane and Ipswich have cause for serious alarm.
19.7.12
