THE state's peak water supply regulator is releasing 4000 megalitres a day from Burrinjuck Dam in a bid to keep rising dam levels under control.
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The dam, located to Wagga's east, is expected to reach 95 per cent of capacity in the coming days, with more rain forecast for later in the week.
WaterNSW's executive manager of system operations, Adrian Langdon, said they were preparing for the very real possibility of a dam spill.
He said flooding was not an immediate threat given the current weather forecasts, but that they would need to remain on the lookout for any unexpected future rainfall events.
"While there is no cause for alarm, the ongoing rain events - especially over the Burrinjuck catchment - are generating large inflows and we are monitoring the situation carefully," he said.
"We work very closely with the Bureau of Meteorology so we have access to the nation's best weather forecasting, and we will use that information to help us decide whether to make flood mitigation pre-releases in the event of a significant rain forecast."
Rural Fire Service veteran Wayne Connors has seen many floods over the years, and he says the 2012 floods were especially devastating.
He was one of the volunteers who helped the SES in the sandbagging, evacuation, and clean-up efforts, and he says the aftermath was heartbreaking.
"The floods in North Wagga were pretty severe. It's sad to see all that devastation," Mr Connors said.
"In some ways it's worse than a fire, because with a fire everything's gone but with a flood everything's still there but you've got to clean it up and throw it away."
In the face of this season's high rainfall, Mr Connors is urging residents to remain flood-safe this year and to plan well in advance.
"Be aware of the warnings, have a flood plan in place, listen to advice, heed warnings of the SES and the police, and don't drive through floodwaters," Mr Connors said.
North Wagga Residents' Association's Dan Grentell said the rising dam levels were a cause of anxiety for residents, who vividly remember being inundated in 2012.
"At the moment it's at 94 per cent and they should be releasing more water out there," he said.
"That [flooding] is what will happen to us if we get a decent rain event up around that dam - down here will be underwater."
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Kenji Sato
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
Kenji Sato is a handsome journalist at The Daily Advertiser who enjoys writing flattering bios about himself in the third person. He can be contacted by email at kenji.sato@dailyadvertiser.com.au or by mobile on 0448 927 612.
