WATER SECURITY STATUS REPORT February 2021

SEQ Water Grid capacity Average daily residential consumption SEQ Water Grid operations and overall water security position (L/Person) South East (SEQ) remains in Drought Response with The average residential water usage is at 163 litres per person, per 100% 250 2020 February average combined Water Grid storages at 56.8%. The Water Grid storages day (LPD). This is lower than recent historical averages for the month 90% 200 continued to trend down during the month of February, with there being of February, however it is above the recommended 150 LPD average 80% 150 no significant inflows into Somerset and Wivenhoe . according to the SEQ Drought Response Plan.

70% 100 SEQ Drought Readiness 50 The region's largest water storages, Somerset and Wivenhoe, are The Southern Regional Water Pipeline continues to operate in a northerly 60% average Drought Response 0 currently at a combined storage level of 46.6%. Hinze is at full direction, and is supported by the Gold Coast Desalination Plant. In the 50% capacity and currently spilling. Production at the Molendinar and month of February, the Northern Pipeline Interconnector operated in a % 40% 163 175 156 187 154 163 Mudgeeraba water treatment plants (both supplied by ) was southerly direction. Grid flow operations help to distribute water in where 56.8 30% *Data range is 28/01/2021 to 24/02/2021 and 30/01/2020 to 26/02/2020 maximised to make use of the excess water. The Gold Coast Desalination it is needed most in SEQ. 20% See map below and legend at the bottom of the page for water service provider information. Plant continues to supplement water supply to the central region. In Autumn (March to May) rainfall is likely to be wetter than average for 10% large parts of eastern Australia, according to the Bureau of Meteorology  0.8% 1 month ago 0% (BOM). The current La Niña is also forecast to end during autumn.  10.7% 1 year ago Sunshine *as at 28 February 2021 Coast Dam storage levels Somerset Water Grid storage *Data correct at 28 February 2021 – Dams selected are largest storages for north, south Moreton and central areas. Visit the website for more information. End of month storage decline Bay assuming a repeat of the Water Grid storage actual drawdown to February 2021, particularly dry 2019 year and projected drawdown to June 2021. Baroon Pocket (2020 data not used): The Water Grid drawdown graph shows historical storage data and a projected Full supply capacity 61,000 ML four month drawdown if the rate observed during the dry calendar year of 2019 was Current capacity 54,445 ML repeated.1 The 2019 data is used because it was a particularly dry year. The Water Grid  0.2% 1 week ago Mar 21 56.4% May 21 54.8% storage could reach 50% as soon as September 2021 if dry conditions, as observed in 2019, were to continue from March onwards. The Millennium Drought is shown with 0.5% 1 month ago Redlands Apr 21 56.0% Jun 21 54.1% STORAGE  today's demand, current grid and drought response plan to compare drawdowns over LEVEL  9.1% 1 year ago City an extended drought period (see Figure 1). 89.3% Ipswich City Council Figure 1: Water Grid storage drawdowns. 1. This projected drawdown does not account for differences in demand and supply conditions, such as continued operation of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant. Lockyer Valley North Pine (Lake Samsonvale) 100.0% Full supply capacity 214,302 ML Current capacity 104,198 ML 80.0%  0.6% 1 week ago Scenic Rim  0.2% 1 month ago STORAGE Legend LEVEL  18.5% 1 year ago 60.0% City of 48.6% Water Grid flow direction Gold Coast 40.0% Water Grid storage level (%) Wivenhoe/Somerset Hinze 20.0% Full supply capacity 1,545,089 ML† Full supply capacity 310,730 ML Jun-15 Jun-16 Jun-17 Jun-18 Jun-19 Jun-20 Jun-21 Jun-22 Jun-23 Jun-24 Jun-25 Sep-15 Sep-16 Sep-17 Sep-18 Sep-19 Sep-20 Sep-21 Sep-22 Sep-23 Sep-24 Dec-15 Dec-16 Dec-17 Dec-18 Dec-19 Dec-20 Dec-21 Dec-22 Dec-23 Dec-24 Current capacity 719,873 ML Current capacity 314,616 ML Mar-16 Mar-17 Mar-18 Mar-19 Mar-20 Mar-21 Mar-22 Mar-23 Mar-24 Mar-25 Millennium Drought modelling Recorded storage levels 2021 Predicted storage decline assuming 2019 drawndown scenario is repeated  0.1% 1 week ago  0.1% 1 week ago STORAGE  1.2% 1 month ago STORAGE  0.9% 1 month ago LEVEL  11.6% 1 year ago LEVEL  0.8% 1 year ago 46.6% †combined dam levels 101.3% Soil moisture The rise in deep soil moisture that occurred during the Feb-March 2020 rainfall continues to slowly decline and is now at 30.24 % full.

Figure 2: Brisbane River catchment monthly deep soil moisture – modelled estimate to Feb 2021 (source Bureau of Meteorology AWRA-L)

1300 SEQWATER 1300 737 928 www.seqwater.com.au Gympie Weather outlook Regional Council Noosa Shire Temperature Rainfall Council The BOM outlook is for an equal likelihood of exceeding or not The BOM outlook is for a likely chance of exceeding the 273mm (Lake Macdonald) exceeding the 26.2°C median maximum temperature in the Brisbane median rainfall for the Brisbane area from March to May with a area from March to May. 70-75% probability. Water Supply Scheme status

Cooloolabin Dam (Lake Cooloolabin) Seqwater supplies water to rural landholders and (Lake Borumba) businesses that are licensed to take water from dams and waterways via Water Supply Schemes. The amount of

Poona Dam water that can be extracted by licensed irrigators varies according to local water conditions. In times of drought Sunshine Coast or low flows, irrigation entitlements may be restricted or Regional Council suspended. (Lake Baroon) Somerset This data has been updated as at 28 February 2021. Regional Council

Somerset Dam Moreton Bay (Lake Somerset) Regional Council Full allocation Restricted Suspended http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/temperature/maximum/median/seasonal/0 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/rainfall/median/seasonal/0 Cedar Pocket Water Supply Scheme (Lake Kurwongbah) (Lake Wivenhoe) Cedar Pocket Dam currently 63.5% (down 3% from last month) Low probability of reaching drought trigger in next 3 months Announced allocations Medium Priority 100% Off-grid community drought status (Lake Samsonvale) The SEQ Water Grid allows us to move treated drinking Medium probability of reaching water around the region. Off-grid communities are not drought trigger in next 3 months connected to the SEQ Water Grid. Mary Valley Water Supply Scheme High probability of reaching Brisbane City Borumba Dam currently 78.7% (down 0.6% from last month) This table has been updated as at 28 February 2021. Redland drought trigger in next 3 months Cabbage Tree Council Announced allocations Medium Priority 100% Creek Dam (Lake Manchester) City Council Clarendon Dam Gold Creek (also supplies high priority) (Lake Clarendon) Dam

Amity Point Kalbar (Boonah, Aratula and Mount Alford) (Lake Dyer) Central Supply Scheme Supply: North Stradbroke Island groundwater Supply: 13.1% Wivenhoe Dam/ currently 46.6% Lockyer Valley Ipswich Standing water level 16.44 m AHD* Level 2: drought response in effect as of 30/8/20 City Council Regional Council (down 1.2% from last month) Level 1: drought trigger at 15 m AHD Level 3: drought trigger at 7.5% dam level Announced allocations Medium Priority 100% Beaudesert Logan (also supplies high priority) Kenilworth City Council Supply: 57.1% Supply: Wells near the Bellbird Creek flow ~59 ML/day City of Level 1: drought response in effect as of 19/10/20 Gold Coast Lower Lockyer Water Supply Scheme Level 1: drought trigger at 0 ML/day flow Level 2: drought trigger at 25% dam level Atkinson Dam currently 3.2% (down 0.5% from last month)

Kilcoy Wyaralong Announced allocations Medium Priority 0% Canungra Dam Supply: Canungra Creek; stream flow ~77 ML/day Supply: Somerset Dam 78.1% Hinze Dam Level 1: preparedness and monitoring; Flow falls to <7ML/day (Regional Water Grid storages response) (Advancetown Lake) Warrill Valley Water Supply Scheme Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 (Bromelton Weir) Moogerah Dam currently 13.1% (down 1.5% from last month) Dayboro Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Moogerah Dam (Lake Moogerah) Supply: groundwater/ carting Nindooinbah Announced allocations Medium Priority 31% Well No. 1 standing water level 41.15 m AHD Kooralbyn Dam (also supplies high priority)

Supply: Maroon Dam 57.1% Little Nerang Level 1: Well No. 1 standing level falls below 40.70 m AHD Dam exited from drought response on 11/02/2021 Level 1: drought response in effect as of 19/10/20 Scenic Rim Maroon Dam Regional Council Level 2: drought trigger at 25% dam level (Lake Maroon) Logan River Water Supply Scheme Dunwich Maroon Dam currently 57.1% (up 1.3% from last month) Supply: North Stradbroke Island groundwater Linville Announced allocations Medium Priority 100% Standing water level 16.44 m AHD* Supply; Brisbane River at Linville ~1.6 ML/day (also supplies high priority) Level 1: drought trigger at 15 m AHD Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Next drought trigger: Cart from Kilcoy when water treatment Esk plant is unable to meet demand Central Lockyer Water Supply Scheme Supply: Wivenhoe Dam 36.2% Rathdowney Clarendon Dam & Bill Gunn Dam currently 2.5% (down 0.6% from last (Regional Water Grid storages response) Supply: Maroon Dam 57.1% Lowood month) Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Level 1: drought response in effect as of 19/10/20 Supply: Wivenhoe Dam 36.2% Announced allocation Morton Vale 0%, Medium Priority 0% Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Level 2: drought trigger at 25% dam level (Regional Water Grid storages response) (surface water) (all zones) Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Somerset Announced allocation Medium Priority 80%, Low Priority 60% Jimna Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Supply: Yabba Creek; plant operating to meet demand Supply: Somerset Dam 78.1% (Regional Water Grid storages response) (ground water) Level 1: preparedness and monitoring; no water flowing Point Lookout Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 over the weir Supply: North Stradbroke Island groundwater Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Standing water level 16.44 m AHD* Level 1: drought trigger at 15 m AHD *The bore chosen has the most reliable and up-to-date data that can be continuously monitored.