The Dungowan spill, marking a point where the water level reached 100 per cent of the 6300 megalitre supply, sparked a surge of water down Dungowan Creek.

The dam is 50km south east of the city and the creek that flows from it joins the Peel River system at the back of the pub downstream at Dungowan.

Tamworth Regional Council yesterday estimated the overflow at the dam had contributed a bit more than 500 megalitres to the Peel system yesterday, and while rain continues, the flow will reflect that figure too.

The extra water in the valley system is reflected in other watercourses across the council region. Locals have reported good flows in some tributaries this week that haven’t flowed for up to 18 months.

  At 4pm Friday, Chaffey Dam was at 32.166 per cent, holding over 34,700 megalitres, and still rising. Rain overnight Thursday night boosted flows again.

Chaffey has risen nearly 12 per cent in just a week and now sits above the magic 30 per cent mark that triggers the easing of water restrictions, although they’re not likely to come into force until next weekend.

Tamworth Regional Council will decide if it revokes the tough no-outdoor-watering rules under the current level 4 restrictions to the new level 2 rules which would allow the use of a hand-held hose outside for 15minutes a day.

Tamworth mayor Col Murray has already indicated he will stick to the drought plan, which controls water use and benchmarks for restrictions according to dam levels, but he insists no-one needs to use a hose to water their gardens or lawns after record-breaking rain so far in June.

Another night and day of rain yesterday topped up waterways across the Tamworth area and scheduled more cancellations for some sporting events and other outdoor weekend events.

While Dungowan spilled a year ago, that was a brief event, prompted by big snow melts, and it’s four years since dam levels had tipped decent spills.

But while there might be a few more roads closed or looking shabby from a week of rain around Tamworth, there’s no real concerns about serious flooding.

Namoi SES deputy controller Heath Stimson said they weren’t overly concerned even though the catchment and around Tamworth was pretty much soaked.

“There’s no anticipated flooding but we’d be urging people to be ever more vigilant,” Mr Stimson said.

While waterways were swollen, light falls were not a danger unless there was a sudden, big downpour somewhere which would change the dynamics dramatically.

While Tamworth was the wettest part of the region, he said the Wee Waa and Pilliga areas had seen some decent falls near the forest which had made some roads impassable. 

In Tamworth, most council sports fields remained closed yesterday. Premier League Football will go ahead at Riverside 4 and Gipps St field 18 today but all other fields remain closed over the weekend.

An inspection early tomorrow will determine whether a Northern Inland Football game goes ahead at Gipps St fields.

Rain has washed out junior soccer for three weeks straight.

The council last night warned motorists to take extra care when approaching causeways because water levels are rising and falling quickly in some locations.

While Wallamore Rd was re-opened, others like causeways at Davidson Ln at Moore Creek and Daruka Rd at Upper Moore Creek were closed yesterday.

About six roads remained closed because of water across the surface.