Sunwater

Supporting Australia's best in disaster rescue 🚒

As a responsible dam operator, we know how important it is to support our emergency services during natural disaster and help keep our communities safe and prepared year-round.

Earlier this month, the Tinaroo Falls Dam team, Shane and Frank, supported the Queensland team in the Australian National Disaster Rescue Challenge over the weekend. This is a prestigious annual event that brings together SES and emergency service personnel from across the country to test and showcase their rescue capabilities.

With Queensland hosting the challenge this year, our crew worked closely with the SES, providing full access to site compounds and facilities, assisting with equipment storage and conducting site tours to help teams identify the best vantage points for drone operations throughout the exercise.

To cap off an incredible weekend, the Queensland team claimed Gold 🏅, demonstrating the outstanding skill, teamwork and dedication of the state's SES volunteers and emergency services personnel.

A big thank you to Shane and Frank for the support they provided to emergency services personnel and local communities throughout the weekend.

Beneath the surface 🪨

Earlier this year, Sunwater geologists at Tinaroo Falls Dam carried out investigations to better understand what lies beneath the dam. This included examining concrete within the dam wall and assessing the granite foundation below it.

To build a clearer picture of the dam's foundation, the team moved beyond limited historical geological and geotechnical records, developing a 3D geological model to build a clearer picture of the dam's foundation and identify areas for further investigation.

The site visit was also a great opportunity for learning and knowledge sharing. For Cassandra, it was her first visit to the gallery, where she gained hands-on experience observing drilling operations and undertaking geotechnical logging in the field.

While much of this work happens behind the scenes, it's a reminder that every project is powered by dedicated people who are building knowledge and solving complex challenges.

👀 Keep your eyes peeled as we continue showcasing the people behind the work and the expertise helping to keep our assets safe, reliable and performing at their best.

Helping young Queenslanders stay safe around water 🌊

Our Community Engagement team visited five primary schools across the Lower Mary region during the final week of Term 3 as part of our School Water Safety Education Program.

Around 250 students took part in fun, interactive sessions that taught them about the risks around dams, weirs and waterways, as well as important safety messages they can share with their families.

We're proud to have provided valuable water safety knowledge to more than 1,900 students across the Burnett and Lower Mary region to date.

By working with local schools, we're helping young Queenslanders stay safe around water and raising water safety awareness in the communities where we operate. 📚

🚨Annual ‘live’ audible dam emergency siren testing 🚨

Sunwater will conduct its annual ‘live’ testing of dam emergency sirens during October at the following locations:

🔹Biloela township (Callide Dam) Tuesday 6 October 10:00am – 12:00pm
🔹 North Eton (Kinchant Dam) Wednesday 7 October 9:00am – 12:00pm
🔹Pinnacle (Teemburra Dam) Wednesday 7October 9:00am – 12:00pm
🔹Emerald township (Fairbairn Dam) Thursday 8 October 10:00am – 12:00pm
🔹 Inglewood township (Coolmunda Dam) Tuesday 13 October 10:00am – 11:00am
🔹Coringa (Paradise Dam) Thursday 15 October 10:00am – 12:00pm

Each test will last up to three minutes. The siren will sound along with voice announcements of ‘THIS IS ONLY A TEST’. No action is required.

For more information, please visit: https://bit.ly/SirenTesting2026

WURUMA DAM | Blue-green algae alert

Routine monitoring has detected high levels of potentially harmful blue-green algae at Wuruma Dam and a Red Alert is now in place. Blue-green algae (cyanobacteria) can produce toxins that pose serious health risks to humans and animals, including skin irritation, gastrointestinal illness, and other symptoms.

During this red alert period, it is recommended to:
• Avoid direct contact with the water, including swimming and recreational activities.
• Do not consume untreated water from the affected area.
• Avoid areas with visible surface scums, especially during windy conditions when particles may become airborne.
• Minimise exposure to livestock and pets where surface scums are observed.
• Consumption of mussels or redclaw during the red alert period should be avoided.
• Consumption of fish should be avoided, or if consumed, be thoroughly cleaned using clean water and have internal organs removed before cooking.

The alert will remain in effect until monitoring indicates a reduction in algae levels.

For updates and further information, please visit https://bit.ly/Blue-greenAlgae

Fish passage on show 🐟

On the weekend, our Rockhampton team attended the Fitzroy Barrage Open Day. They had the opportunity to connect with the local community and share information about the fish passage, as well as the important fish and turtle monitoring programs we conduct in the Fitzroy River.

With around 1,400 community members attending, it was a fantastic day of engagement. The team shared water safety information, showcased the important role the barrage and fish passage play in supporting river health and hosted fishway tours throughout the day.

Thank you to everyone who stopped by, asked questions and joined a tour. It's always wonderful to see such strong community interest in our local waterways and the environment. 🌊

Innovation, resilience and knowledge-sharing were on full display during the recent WRRA tour of the South Burnett region. 🌾🧶🌿

Thanks to local connections, the group had the opportunity to visit one of Sunwater’s valued customers, Adam McVeigh, a leading cotton and grain producer operating within the Barker Barambah Water Supply Scheme. Adam is also an active contributor to regional water management through his involvement with our Customer Advisory Committee.

Following the major flood events of 2010 and 2012, Adam developed an innovative double-cropping program that successfully balanced profitability with effective risk management. His forward-thinking approach and commitment to continuous improvement not only impressed the group but also earned him the prestigious Nuffield Australia Scholarship.

Widely regarded as the highlight of the tour, the visit provided participants with valuable insights into mixed-farming operations, irrigation development and modern agricultural practices in regional Queensland.

Thank you, Adam, for sharing your knowledge and experiences, and for your ongoing contribution to South Burnett agriculture. ⭐

We were disappointed to find someone had lit a campfire at the Leslie Dam recreation area on Sunday night. No attempt was made to extinguish it properly and the embers were still hot yesterday morning.

The rec area is popular with local families and children often run around this area barefoot. This is a serious risk to their safety.

Given the current weather conditions, there’s also a risk that a campfire left burning could spark a more extensive fire.

Public spaces are for everyone, and we all have a role to play in looking after them. Respecting these shared facilities ensures they remain safe and accessible for the entire community.

🚫 If you see any vandalism or suspicious activity, please alert the police.

Strengthening dam safety 💧

With the start of the wet season only a few weeks away, our Dam Duty Operators have completed their annual training and assessment program, ensuring they have the skills, knowledge and ability to safely undertake dam safety responsibilities.

Operators were assessed across all 24 of our referable dam locations throughout regional Queensland, achieving an impressive 98% completion rate (a small number of operators are still to be trained due to leave or illness).

This program is about more than meeting regulatory requirements. It's about the people across our business, from operators and supervisors to regional leaders and dam safety specialists, working together to make sure we are ready for the upcoming wet season.

Dam Safety Officer Rebecca Barry said: "This program has been a labour of love over the past 12 months. Seeing the progress we've made and knowing operators are better prepared and supported in their roles makes me incredibly proud."

Congratulations to everyone involved in helping strengthen dam safety, operational readiness and reliable operations across Sunwater. ✨