The gates of Townsville’s dam have opened to their full setting, with the city council warning several suburbs should prepare for imminent flooding from a rapidly rising Ross River.
The Ross River Dam will release approximately 1,900 cubic metres of water per second.
The council says dangerous and high-velocity flows will occur and residents in the suburbs of Rosslea, Hermit Park, Railway Estate, Townsville City, Oonoonba, Idalia, Cluden, West End, Rowes Bay, Garbutt, Aitkenvale, Cranbrook, Currajong, Mysterton, Pimlico, Mundingburra, Douglas, Annandale, Kirwan, Thuringowa Central and South Townsville areas should prepare for imminent flooding.
The council had earlier urged residents to move away from riverbanks and get to higher ground before 8:30pm.
Queensland police said dangerous and high-velocity flows posed a risk to life, with conditions changing rapidly.
Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said earlier that when the dam level hit 43 metres, the gates over the spillway would open automatically.
“The inundation will vary from area to area — some areas may only see a small amount go through their property, while other areas closer to the mouth of Ross River will see much larger inundation,” she said.
The World Observer Media produces a daily online newspaper, a daily Arabic online newspaper and a monthly printed Arabic/English magazine and a weekly printed Arabic/English newspaper.
The World Observer Media’s mission is to entertain and educate all generation from the Ethnic Communities in Australia, who are interested in local, national and foreign information. 
