FLASH flooding fears have resurfaced with both of the Riverina’s dams bursting at the seams after a spate of wild, wet weather.
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Burrinjuck Dam has reached a staggering 89 per cent of its maximum water capacity this week while Blowering Dam surpassed 82 per cent.
It comes as the Bureau of Meteorology on Wednesday issued a minor flood warning to residents living along the Murrumbidgee River.
Tensions are running high as farmers and city residents have braced themselves for what could be the beginning of a catastrophic spring season.
Councillor and former flood risk management committee chairman Paul Funnell said the city is exposed to an inevitable disaster.
“I cannot see how we are going to escape a serious flood event in the coming months,” he said.
“The dams are expected to be over capacity in the next week and we haven’t even had the snow melt yet.
“Once WaterNSW are forced to release more water into the rivers there’s a good chance we’re going to see the Murrumbidgee levels become critical.”
A spokesperson for WaterNSW confirmed the department were now releasing 2900 megalitres from Burrinjuck every day to keep the dam from reaching its capacity.
“Based on the current storage level and forecasts, we anticipate that Burrinjuck Dam will be able to absorb the inflows generated by the rain band later this week,” he said.
“However we are continuing to work closely with the Bureau of Meteorology to monitor the situation.”
Meanwhile, calls have reignited to fast track Wagga’s levee bank upgrade amid concerns of a looming calamity.
It comes after The Nationals announced a $10 million cash splash which would see the project finalised in three years instead of eight.
Council candidate Richard Foley fears the lack of action taken to protect the city from flooding will prove devastating.
“I’m no weather or water expert but these dams are filling very fast and its only logical to assume that we’ll experience a big flooding event towards the end of spring,” he said. “We need the money now and we need to get it underway before the damage is done.”
Constant seasonal downpour saw Wagga record its wettest winter in 25 years in 2016 as the city prepares for what has been predicted “a wet spring”.