The MDBA’s priority is keeping the dam safe, capturing and storing water, and mitigating floods.
The Murray–Darling Basin Authority increased the release of water from Hume Dam on Friday ahead of last weekend’s heavy rainfall.
Releases from Hume Dam increased from 85 gigalitres (GL) per day to 95 GL per day.
The priority was to generate more airspace in Hume Dam ahead of the rain event, while minimising the impact of increased releases on Murray River communities downstream of the dam.
Creating airspace helps to capture some of the rainfall in the dam and reduce the full impact of the floods on communities downstream.
For the latest river height information and flood alerts please visit the Bureau of Meteorology website.
As of midday Friday Hume Dam was 96% full, with 112 GL of airspace.
Since May 2022, the MDBA has released 4,780 GL from Hume Dam to mitigate flooding in the Murray River – this is the equivalent of 1.6 times the volume of Hume Dam.
River operators continue to work around the clock to assess new inflow and weather information and manage releases accordingly. This includes close collaboration with WaterNSW and the Bureau of Meteorology to get the most up-to-date rainfall and inflow forecasts.
The MDBA’s priority is keeping the dam safe, capturing and storing water, and mitigating floods.
If you live, work or holiday on a floodplain, you need to be prepared for floods.
- Develop your own flood emergency plan www.ses.nsw.gov.au www.ses.vic.gov.au/get-ready
- Sign up for WaterNSW’s Early Warning Network to get alerts of Hume Dam releases www.waternsw.com.au/supply/ewn
- Check the Bureau of Meteorology website to receive latest information including warnings, river conditions and rainfall in your area www.bom.gov.au/australia/warnings www.bom.gov.au/australia/flood
- Stay informed: check weather warnings, listen to emergency broadcasters, talk with your neighbours.
- Have an emergency kit – a ‘survival’ kit with 3 days’ supply.
- The SES looks after the impact of flooding on you.
- In New South Wales sign up to the SES distribution list for flood bulletins: shz1publicinformation@ses.nsw.gov.au
- In Victoria, download the Vic Emergency App, and set your flood watch zone: emergency.vic.gov.au/prepare
