Steady rains lead to overflow of Wellington Dam (nr Collie)

29/7/96

Steady winter rains have produced one of the most spectacular sights in Western Australia today - the overflow of Wellington Dam near Collie in the South-West.

Water Resources Minister Roger Nicholls said that the overflow of Wellington Dam was expected to draw hundreds of visitors to witness the cascade of water down the dam's 34-metre spillway.

They would join the flow of visitors who had already watched the cascade of Harris Dam, 12 kilometres north of Collie.

Other dams overflowing in the South-West were Big Brook (Pemberton), Drakesbrook (near Waroona), Greenbushes 1, Balingup, Kirup, Nannup, and Mungalup (Collie).

The Millstream (Bridgetown), Greenbushes 2, Ten Mile Brook (Margaret River), Harvey, and Glen Mervyn (also near Collie) dams were about three-quarters full.

Mr Nicholls said the Perth catchments, which also served the Goldfields and agricultural areas, were thoroughly saturated and producing good run-off into the seven dams serving the metropolitan area.

"The rate of inflow into the metropolitan dams - South Dandalup, North Dandalup, Serpentine, Wungong, Canning, Victoria and Mundaring - is at its peak for the year," he said.

"They are now 34 per cent full, compared with 29 per cent at the same time last year.

"It is too early to predict what the final storage will be at the end of the winter, but at this stage it appears that we could be four or five per cent upon last year's total.

"Total storage in metropolitan dams is currently 33 million kilolitres more than last year which is pleasing, but we are still hoping for more rain."

In the Pilbara, the 64-million kilolitre Harding Dam near Karratha has already overflowed.  There is also plenty of water in the Mill Stream aquifer, while the Fortescue River is still running.

In the Kimberley, there is plenty of water in the Ord River.

Media contact: Hugh Ryan 322 6529