STATUS REPORT January 2021

SEQ Water Grid capacity Average daily residential consumption Grid operations and overall water security position (L/Person) South East (SEQ) remains in Drought Response with The Southern Regional Water Pipeline (SRWP) continues to 100% 250 2020 January average combined Water Grid storages at 57.7%. There was no significant operate in a northerly direction and is supported by the Gold 90% 200 change to the combined grid storage level over January 2021. Coast Desalination Plant when required. The Northern Pipeline 80% 150 Interconnector operated predominantly in a southerly direction for The region's largest water storage, Lake Wivenhoe, remains below 70% 100 the month of January. The grid flow operations help to distribute SEQ Drought Readiness 50 50% capacity for the eighth consecutive month. Hinze is at full 60% average water in SEQ to where it is needed most. Drought Response 0 capacity and is overflowing. Production rates at the Molendinar and 50% Mudgeeraba Water Treatment Plants (both supplied by ) According to the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) La Niña remains active % 40% 161 179 153 184 158 154 are being maximised to make use of this surface water. The Gold Coast but is likely past its peak. Model outlooks suggest a return to neutral 57.7 30% *Data range is 31/12/2020 to 27/01/2021 and 2/01/2020 to 29/01/2020 Desalination Plant continues to supplement for SEQ, where conditions (i.e. neither El Niño nor La Niña) is likely by late summer or 20% See map below and legend at the bottom of the page for water service provider information required, after maximising use of Hinze Dam. early autumn. However, the influence on Australian rainfall patterns is 10% likely to continue until at least early autumn. La Niña typically increases The average residential water usage remains high at 161 litres per the likelihood of above-average rainfall across eastern and northern  0% 1 month ago 0% Sunshine person, per day (LPD). While this is less than the same period last year during summer and early autumn.  1.6% 1 year ago *as at 27 January 2021 (174 LPD), it is still 11 litres above the recommended 150 LPD average Coast according to the SEQ Drought Response Plan. Dam storage levels *Data correct at 27 January 2021 – selected are largest storages for North, South Somerset and Central areas. Visit the website for more information. Water Grid storage End of month storage decline Baroon Pocket assuming a repeat of the Water Grid storage actual drawdown to January 2021 Full supply capacity 61,000 ML particularly dry 2019 year and projected drawdown to May 2021. Current capacity 54,702 ML (2020 data not used): The Water Grid drawdown graph shows historical storage data and a projected  0.6% 1 week ago drawdown if the rate observed during the dry calendar year of 2019 occurred in the corresponding months from February 2021 until May 2021.1 The 2019 data is used  3.3% 1 month ago Redlands STORAGE Feb-21 55.2% Apr-21 51.8% because it was a particularly dry year, rainfall is usually higher in the summer period LEVEL  10.9% 1 year ago City Mar-21 52.5% May-21 51.2% than it was in 2019. The Millennium Drought is shown with today's demands, current 89.7% grid and drought response plan to compare drawdowns over an extended drought Ipswich period (see Figure 1). City Council 1. This projected drawdown does not account for differences in demand and supply conditions, such as continued Figure 1: Water Grid storage drawdowns. operation of the Gold Coast Desalination Plant. Lockyer Valley North Pine (Lake Samsonvale) Full supply capacity 214,302 ML 100.0% Current capacity 104,723 ML  0.4% 1 week ago 80.0% STORAGE  1.2% 1 month ago Scenic Rim LEVEL  9.3% 1 year ago 48.9% Water Grid flow direction City of 60.0% Gold Coast 40.0%

Wivenhoe/Somerset Hinze Water Grid storage level (%) Full supply capacity 1,545,089 ML† Full supply capacity 310,730 ML 20.0% Current capacity 737,780 ML Current capacity 312,139 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 Mar-16 Mar-17 Mar-18 Mar-19 Mar-20 Mar-21 Mar-22 Mar-23 Mar-24 Mar-25  0.3% 1 week ago  0.3% 1 week ago Millennium Drought modelling Recorded storage levels 2021 Predicted storage decline assuming 2019 drawndown scenario is repeated STORAGE  0% 1 month ago STORAGE  0.8% 1 month ago LEVEL  0.3% 1 year ago LEVEL  14.4% 1 year ago † 47.8% combined dam levels 100.5% moisture The rise in deep that occurred during the Feb-March 2020 rainfall continues to slowly decrease and is now at 29.8% full.

Figure 2: catchment monthly deep soil moisture – modelled estimate to Jan 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 a likely chance of exceeding the 28.1°C The BOM outlook is for a likely chance of exceeding the 335mm (Lake Macdonald) median maximum temperature in the Brisbane area from February to median rainfall for the Brisbane area from February to April with a April with a 65-70% probability. 60-65% 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, entitlements may be restricted or Regional Council suspended. (Lake Baroon) Somerset This data has been updated as at 27 January 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/monthly/0 http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/outlooks/#/rainfall/median/monthly/0 Cedar Pocket Water Supply Scheme (Lake Kurwongbah) (Lake Wivenhoe) Cedar Pocket Dam currently 66.4% (up 6.8% from last month) Low probability of reaching drought trigger in next 3 months Announced allocations Medium Priority 87% 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 79.3% (up 0.9% from last month) This table has been updated as at 27 January 2021. Redland drought trigger in next 3 months Cabbage Tree Council Announced allocations Medium Priority 100% Creek Dam (Lake Manchester) City Council Clarendon Dam (also supplies high priority) (Lake Clarendon) Dam

Amity Point Kalbar (Boonah, and Mount Alford) (Lake Dyer) Central Supply Scheme Supply: North Stradbroke Island Supply: 14.6% Wivenhoe Dam/ currently 47.8% Lockyer Valley Ipswich Standing water level 16.48 m AHD** Level 2: drought response in effect as of 30/8/20 City Council Regional Council (no change 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: 55.8% Supply: Wells near the Bellbird Creek flow ~137 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 3.7% (down 1.7% from last month)

Kilcoy Wyaralong Announced allocations Medium Priority 0% Canungra Dam Supply: Canungra Creek; Stream flow ~75 ML/day Supply: Somerset Dam 78.6% 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 14.6% (down 0.9% from last month) Dayboro Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Moogerah Dam (Lake Moogerah) Supply: groundwater Nindooinbah Announced allocations Medium Priority 31% Well No. 1 standing water level 40.8 m AHD Kooralbyn Dam (also supplies high priority)

Staged drought exit as of 22 January 2021. Monitoring demand Supply: Maroon Dam 55.8% before decision on drought exit enacted or additional drought Level 1: drought response in effect as of 19/10/20 Scenic Rim Maroon Dam Regional Council actions required. Level 2: drought trigger at 25% dam level (Lake Maroon) Water Supply Scheme Dunwich Maroon Dam currently 55.8% (up 6.5% from last month) Linville Announced allocations Medium Priority 100% Supply: North Stradbroke Island groundwater Supply; Brisbane River at Linville ~53 ML/day (also supplies high priority) Standing water level 16.48 m AHD** Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Level 1: drought trigger at 15 m AHD Next drought trigger: Cart from Kilcoy when water treatment Esk plan unable to meet demand Rathdowney Central Lockyer Water Supply Scheme Supply: Supply: Wivenhoe Dam 37.8% Lowood Supply: Maroon Dam 55.8% Clarendon Dam & Bill Gunn Dam currently 3.1% (Regional Water Grid Storages response) (no change from last month) Supply: Wivenhoe Dam 37.8% Level 1: drought response in effect as of 19/10/20 Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Announced allocation (surface water) Morton Vale 0%, (Regional Water Grid Storages response) Level 2: drought trigger at 25% dam level Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Medium Priority 0% (all zones) Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Somerset Announced allocation (ground water) Medium Priority 80%, Jimna Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Low Priority 60% Supply: Somerset Dam 78.6% (Regional Water Grid Storages response) Supply: Yabba Creek; Plant operating to meet demand Point Lookout Level 1: drought response in effect as of 15/09/20 Level 1: Preparedness and monitoring; No water flowing over the weir Supply: North Stradbroke Island groundwater Level 2: drought trigger at 50% Water Grid level Standing water level 16.48 m AHD** Level 1: drought trigger at 15m AHD *Groundwater level in metres Australian Height Datum (AHD) **The bore chosen has the most reliable and up-to-date data that can be continuously monitored.