(Photo: Twitter)
May 14, 2019
Toowoomba Regional Council plans to update its water restriction guidelines in the wake of the drought gripping the region.
Cr Nancy Sommerfield said current modelling suggested the region was facing more severe conditions than during the Millennium drought.
She said the new guidelines aimed to simplify restrictions so they could be easily understood by the community as well as address the drought.
“These are more contemporary water restrictions that will improve our water security,” she said.
The recommended changes, from the Water and Waste Committee, will be considered at next week’s Council meeting.
“The changes will see the four current water restrictions documents replaced by a single, simpler and more user-friendly document for residential customers,” Cr Sommerfield said.
The proposed changes include:
- Permanent Conservation Measures name will change to Low-Level Restrictions
- Target levels for each restriction level have been lowered
- No water on Mondays will remain
- Watering times have been changed from 4:00pm–4:30pm to 5:30pm-6:30pm
- One day per week extra for garden watering added to Medium Level restrictions to assist gardeners to keep their gardens alive; and
- After a formal warning, water restrictions will be enforced and fines will be issued.
“Water is an extremely valuable commodity and we are asking all residents to work with us through these challenging times,” Cr Sommerfield said.
“Despite current dry conditions green space is important for the well-being of the community.
“The proposed changes to our region’s target levels are a balance between sustaining regional water supplies while being practical for water users.
“The drought conditions are causing significant stress on water supplies and Council bores are under pressure in a number of regional communities.
“We still need the community’s help to reduce water consumption as the drought conditions continue to impact us all.”
Cr Sommerfield said any changes to water restrictions would include a public awareness campaign so that the community was fully informed of their responsibilities.
- Footnote: Currently Yarraman water restrictions are at Medium Level
