Rainfall over the past two weeks has boosted Redland’s Leslie Harrison Dam, pushing it to 93 per cent of capacity.
It had dipped to 59.9 per cent in March and had then overflowed during ex-Cyclone Debbie.
The Weather Bureau has forecast up to a 60 per cent chance of further showers and storms this week.
Wet weather has seen the combined storage levels of the Grid 12 – the 12 dams that make up nearly 90 per cent of south-east Queensland’s drinking water supply – have increased to 76.7 per cent.
Water Supply Minister Mark Bailey said rainfall had added about 14 weeks’ supply.
“The increase in drinking water supply has delayed the need to implement the region’s drought readiness phase which is triggered when our dams hit 70 per cent but it was still important for SEQ to be waterwise, particularly on the Sunshine Coast,” Mr Bailey said.
“...The rainfall has certainly filled rainwater tanks and given gardens and lawns a much needed drenching which should allow all of us to reduce our outdoor water use over the next couple of weeks.”
Mr Bailey said that because of the record dry winter and hot start to spring, most of the initial rain soaked into the ground.
“While we have seen very large rainfall, particularly on the Sunshine Coast, the dry conditions of our catchments meant the most of the early rain was needed just to wet the catchments enough for inflows to start,’’ he said.
Last month Seqwater announced that it would not refit the gates to Leslie Harrison Dam, meaning it will operate at a much reduced water capacity.
Seqwater lowered the dam’s water and removed the gates – fitted by Redland taxpayers in 1984 – in 2015 as part of engineering investigations and to improve safety.
Once the upgrade was complete, the dam would remain at its original level, disappointing surrounding residents who enjoyed more expansive lake views with the dam at a higher level.
Then Seqwater chief executive Jim Pruss said modelling showed the additional water that the refitting of the gates would supply was not needed and that the lowered dam level would not affect water security.
“To reinstate the gates would require additional upgrade work that would need at least a further $18 million investment to a total of $42 million,” Mr Pruss said.
Cr Paul Gleeson said at the time, the government revenue from the bulk water supply had jumped 65 per cent from 2012-13 to 2016-17.
“In the last five years, the state government has received almost $130 million dollars in bulk water charges from Redland ratepayers so a full upgrade and reinstatement of the dam gates should be a priority,” he said.
