UPDATE: Qbn flood watch downgraded
Queanbeyan is bracing for possible floods, as heavy rains and storms threaten to swell the Queanbeyan River over the next few days.
The Bureau of Meteorology issued a flood watch for the area yesterday, and the State Emergency Service has urged residents along the river to start making preparations.
The bureau has given a 70 per cent chance of localised flooding and between 50mm to 100mm is expected to fall until tomorrow, when conditions are expected to ease.
The Googong Dam, which sits upstream of Queanbeyan, is currently at 100 per cent capacity, and water was already coming over its spillway yesterday.
But Actew managing director Mark Sullivan has told The Canberra Times that no water has been released from Googong Dam.
Mr Sullivan said the dam did not have the capacity to release large amounts of water, and said doing so while water was already flowing over the spillway would create its own flood risk.
''If we release too much, it can affect the low level crossing at Queanbeyan very quickly,'' he said.
''We can release some water, [but] it's insignificant to what's going over the top.
''Our capacity to release water is very limited, it's basically using some of the plumbing of the dam to make a minor release, and we have been making those minor releases for most of this year, but it continually fills up.''
David Poland knows the dangers posed by a swelling Queanbeyan River all too well.
Just over a year ago, the principal doctor at the Brindabella Family Practice was wading waist deep through the flood waters, desperately trying to rescue equipment from the Morisset Street facility.
The Queanbeyan River had burst its banks following a deluge of 200mm of rain. The rising flood waters seeped into the busy practice, leaving a hefty damage bill and requiring a lengthy clean-up effort.
''The river came up very quickly, there was very little warning,'' he said.
''The water came into the surgery and damaged the wiring and the fittings, but fortunately, in a rather mad rush, we were able to carry everything upstairs.''
Now, Dr Poland is worried he may be hit by floods yet again.
He believes water releases from Googong, no matter how small, could mean the difference for his business.
''The ACT government should be releasing as much water as it can today, in preparation for possible extra rainfall tomorrow,'' he said.
''We can't just ask everybody in the ACT to drink more tap water, the government needs to let more water out of the dam.''
Flooding is also expected along the NSW South Coast, and flood watches have been issued for Moruya and Bega.
Weatherzone meteorologist Brett Dutschke said the heavy rains were being brought by low pressure troughs moving over the south-east of NSW.
''This trough is intensifying, so there's a gradual build-up in moisture, and the storms are potentially getting heavier over the next few days ... and it's mixing in with relatively cold air coming in from the west,'' he said.
''That typically is a combination that leads to intense rainfall of any kind, storms or rain only.
''There is a high chance of some sort of flooding, most likely flash flooding.''
Local State Emergency Service volunteers were preparing themselves for potential flooding, but were not expecting large rises in the level of the river.
SES deputy region controller Kevin Anderson urged locals not to drive, walk, or ride through floodwaters, and to keep away from streams, creeks, and stormwater drains in the event of flooding.
''But we've got to prepare for the worst case, which is possibly heavy falls from isolated thunderstorms causing localised flash flooding.''
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