Further hearings of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry have been scheduled for this week and next week after revelations the Wivenhoe Dam’s operators were too slow in releasing water last January.

The hearing has been reconvened after it was revealed the dam operator, Seqwater, was using a “low release” strategy aimed at preventing rural bridges being flooded.

It is now argued more water should have been released earlier to avoid the devastating floods that hit Brisbane.

Queensland Premier Anna Bligh said in Cairns last week that reopening the inquiry is necessary to ensure any final conclusions are “thoroughly examined and tested”.

“The [inquiry] commissioner [Justice Catherine Holmes] has advised me that these extra hearings, and any evidence gained in them, will take some time to finalise,” Ms Bligh said.

“For that reason the commission will require an extension of time until March 16 to complete their work.

“The commission and the commissioner have my full support in their decision to hold extra hearings and they have my full support for an extension of time.”

The extended reporting time for the inquiry has also resulted in the state election being scheduled for March 24 instead of March 3.