Wilson Inlet sandbar to open earlier than usual due to recent rainfall

Water Corporation plans to open the Wilson Inlet sandbar in Denmark early next week in accordance with an agreement reached in recent discussions with the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER), the Shire of Denmark and the City of Albany.

Water Corporation Great Southern Regional Manager Adrian Stewart said the water level of the Wilson Inlet had exceeded the minimum level required for the opening of the sandbar, under the protocol put in place in 2009.

“As water levels have been rapidly rising in the area following the recent rainfall, we have reached the trigger point to activate the opening of the inlet,” Mr Stewart said.

“We anticipate the sandbar opening to occur on Tuesday sometime between 10am and 12 noon.

“This is one of the earliest bar openings for many years and is the result of heavier autumnal rainfall with the progression of several cold fronts across the entire Wilson Inlet catchment.

“If this weekend’s rainfall exceeds the current forecast, we may be required to open the sandbar earlier than Tuesday to help prevent flooding.

“An excavator will be onsite from Sunday afternoon in preparation.” 

Mr Stewart said the sandbar usually attracted widespread community interest and precautions would be taken to ensure public safety.

“We also want to remind surfers to be mindful of the potential for changeable conditions in the vicinity of the opening, due to the increased exchange of water between Wilson Inlet and the ocean.”

Mr Stewart said opening the sandbar was part of the plan to manage potential flooding in the area, and the Shire of Denmark, DWER and the City of Albany worked together to advise Water Corporation of the best time.  

Fact file:

• The opening of the bar is governed by the Wilson Inlet Sandbar Opening Protocol and the water in the inlet must reach a certain minimum level before an opening is triggered. 
• Usually the opening of the sandbar takes place when inlet levels are between 0.9m and 1.2m, between June and the end of the first week in September. 

Photo caption: Wilson Inlet sandbar opening in 2020

Media contact: 

Amanda Cruse – Customer and Stakeholder Senior Advisor
Phone: (08) 9842 4257
Email: Amanda.Cruse@watercorporation.com.au