Water operations at Cressbrook Dam are back online following days of emergency works from Ergon Energy and Toowoomba Regional Council staff. However, while systems come back up to full operational speed Council urges everyone on the Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply to continue conserving water.
Following the Pechey bushfires, which burnt powerlines connected to some of Council’s water infrastructure assets, including the Cressbrook Dam pump station, Mayor Paul Antonio said he was pleased to hear water was again being pumped from Cressbrook Dam.
“Over the past week and a half our Region has been through one of the most difficult periods that any of us have ever had to experience,” Mayor Antonio said.
“The outbreak of the Pechey fire, coupled with the consequences that came from this, saw this community come together in a way that I’m extremely proud of.
“Led by the Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), with assistance from the police and ambulance services and our community, together with our staff, we’ve been managing this fire.
“Last night Ergon Energy advised the power lines, which were damaged at Cressbrook, have been successfully replaced and energised, meaning Council crews were today able to return to the site to get the pumps back in action.
“This is a terrific result and I cannot thank everyone enough for the work that has taken place to get us to where we are today.
“While QFES appears to have the fire contained, there will no doubt be ongoing challenges over the coming weeks and months for families who have lost homes, properties that were burnt, fauna and flora that has been lost and all of the mental scarring that comes with these situations.
“Please continue to band together during these trying times and get help where it is needed.”
While pumping has resumed at Cressbrook Dam, Water and Waste Portfolio Chair Nancy Sommerfield reminded residents of the need to continue conserving water.
“We’re truly grateful for the way the community has responded to calls for water conservation while our water supply at Cressbrook has been unavailable,” she said.
“Having been out on site this week looking at the devastation that’s been caused by these bushfires, the fire has gone right up to beside each of our assets yet we have been lucky to get the outcome that we have.
“Since that time Ergon Energy has been working non-stop with crews galore out there to ensure we get power back to Cressbrook which is vital for us in relation to our water supply.
“While it’s great we are back up and running, it will take some time for Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply systems to return to normal.
“Since Cressbrook Dam has been offline, Perseverance Dam infrastructure has been running overtime so there are a number of checks and services that need to be performed to ensure the equipment at all our facilities is in good working order.
“While we continue to undertake this maintenance, I’d like to remind the community to continue conserving water at every available opportunity.
“Over the past week the response from residents has been incredible and I applaud everyone for being so responsible during this difficult time.”
The Toowoomba Bulk Water Supply services Toowoomba City and the surrounding towns of Oakey, Jondaryan, Highfields, Crows Nest, Kingsthorpe, Gowrie Junction, Meringandan, Wyreema, Westbrook, Hodgson Vale and Goombungee. This will also apply to the towns of Cambooya, Clifton, Greenmount, Cecil Plains and Vale View who remain on High Level water restrictions with Council is currently trucking water.
