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Heavy rain tops up Canberra dams

The ACT's Cotter Dam is again overflowing after heavy falls in the catchment area overnight.

Nearly 80 millimetres fell at Mt Ginnini while Tuggeranong recorded more than 53mm and Canberra Airport 22.4mm.

In surrounding areas, Goulburn recorded 16mm, Cooma 50mm and Wagga Wagga 110mm - a new daily rainfall record.

ACTEW chairman John Mackay says the rain has been a blessing.

"Three inches in 10 hours at Mt Ginnini last night and that's on top of the 4 inches we had a fortnight ago," he said.

"We haven't had rain like that in a decade - certainly not back-to-back."

Mr Mackay says the Cotter Dam is overflowing again even though they have been pumping water out of it.

"All of the dams have about 52 per cent," he said.

"It's just absolutely brilliant. This is the best position we've been in at this time of the year for many, many years."

Current water restrictions will stay in place.

The Bureau of Meteorology expects showers across the ACT to clear by this afternoon.

Mr Mackay says work to enlarge the Cotter Dam is also on schedule.

The three year $363 million project will increase the dam's capacity from 4 gigalitres to more than 70 gigalitres.

"It's running on time and on budget," he said.

"They've moved thousands and thousands of tonnes of dirt already. It really looks like a huge construction site."

He says the visitor viewing platform is nearing completion and Canberrans will soon be able to monitor construction.

- ABC

© ABC 2010

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