Resilience building tech online at north west Queensland dam

An investment in new flood warning technology has boosted the resilience of a vital piece of community infrastructure in the north-west Queensland town of Cloncurry.

Local council has installed a network of CCTV cameras, telemetry, and an early warning system at Chinaman Creek Dam to build resilience to flood events.

The dam, constructed in 1993 just a few kilometres west of the town centre, sustains the water supply of Cloncurry and is a popular natural and recreation asset for the community and visitors alike.

During heavy rainfalls the water level of the dam can rise quickly, and due to its proximity to the Cloncurry township any significant spikes in water volume can be cause for alarm. 

The $300,000 telemetry, monitoring and early warning system project has been delivered under the first round of the the Australian Government’s Disaster Ready Fund (DRF), with additional funding support from Cloncurry Shire Council.

First announced in 2023, the $1 billion Disaster Ready Fund allocates up to $200 million annually over five years towards projects across Australia that build resilience to natural disasters and improve risk reduction. 

With the DRF investment, new cameras have been installed at strategic points on and near Chinaman Creek Dam to enhance council’s year-round surveillance of the dam wall.

This allows local officers to review dam seepage, determine the appropriate disaster activation level, and monitor the infrastructure's overall performance.

Trend data on dam levels, rainfall, and trigger points is made possible via telemetry using a rain gauge and level sensors on the dam wall.

Meanwhile, the early warning system, comprised of cameras and a siren, is designed to provide sufficient warning to nearby properties that would be impacted by a dam failure due to severe weather.

This extra technology complements council’s existing Flood Warning Infrastructure Network (FWIN) assets at Chinaman Creek Dam, with officers now able to monitor 12 sites around the dam in real time.

Projects funded under Round 2 of the Disaster Ready Fund will be announced in the coming weeks.