Water restrictions

[johnno]

MORE WATER FOR HOUSEHOLDS, SPORT, RIVERS AND FARMERSFrom the Premier
Tuesday, 16 March 2010

Melbourne will join Bendigo, Ballarat and Geelong in having water restrictions eased to Stage 3 because of record investment by the Victorian Government in major water projects, outstanding water-saving efforts by households and welcome rainfall, Premier John Brumby announced today.

Melbourne’s water restrictions will be eased from Stage 3a to Stage 3 from Good Friday meaning:
• Three in four sportsgrounds and school ovals will be able to be watered – up from one in four (effective from today);
• Households will be able to water gardens every second morning for two hours;
• Councils can increase watering of public gardens by 50 per cent; and
• Target 155 will remain in place to encourage households to continue saving water.

Mr Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding also announced new measures for stressed rivers and farmers including;
• 10 billion litres of water will be returned to the Yarra (7 billion) and Thomson (3 billion) rivers in environmental flows; and
• 5 billion litres of water will be available for farmers in Werribee (2 billion) and Bacchus Marsh (3 billion).

Mr Brumby said Stage 3 water restrictions would provide Melbourne households with more flexibility watering their garden as well as more water for community sport.

“Victoria’s water supplies have turned the corner. Our Government’s unprecedented investment in diverse water projects is pulling Melburnians and regional Victorians away from severe water restrictions,” Mr Brumby said.

“Around 260 towns across Victoria have had their restrictions eased since the start of last year which shows the benefits our investment in water projects are having right across the State.”

“The easing of water restrictions in Melbourne would not have been possible without the Tarago Reservoir re-connection, Sugarloaf Pipeline and the desalination plant.

“Melbourne’s water storages are 34.6 per cent full – up more than 90 billion litres from the same time last year – which has given us a healthy buffer.

“The relaxing of restrictions on watering sportsgrounds is effective immediately to enable councils to prepare their grounds for the upcoming football and soccer seasons.”

Melbourne’s major water projects include:
• The desalination plant will supply up to 150 billion litres of water from the end of 2011;
• Tarago Reservoir which was re-connected in June last year and is supplying around 15 billion litres of water per year;
• Sugarloaf Pipeline will supply 75 billion litres of water this year and has already provided 2.5 billion litres since the pipe was turned on last month; and
• Eastern Treatment Plant Upgrade will provide Class A recycled water for non-drinking purposes including industry, sportsgrounds and agriculture in 2012.
Water Minister Tim Holding urged Melburnians to continue their water saving efforts.

“While we are providing more flexibility for Melburnians we want people to continue to conserve water so we will be encouraging everyone to keep to Target 155. For the past year Melburnians have used on average 149 litres per person per day which is a fantastic effort,” he said.

Mr Holding said the additional water for rivers and farmers would provide significant benefits.

“The Werribee and Bacchus Marsh vegetable growers play a vital role providing food and jobs to Victorians. This additional water will provide welcome relief from the ongoing low water levels in that region,” he said.

“Victoria’s rivers have been under enormous stress following 13 years of drought so returning much needed environmental flows will be a real boost for the Thomson and Yarra Rivers.

“The Tarago River will also receive 2-3 GL in environmental flows as a direct result of restrictions being eased. Rules on water taken from the river required these flows to be returned if restrictions were eased below Stage 3a.”

Stage 3a water restrictions were first introduced on 1 April 2007.

Under Stage 3 water restrictions:

Gardens
Lawns are not permitted to be watered.

A manual dripper system, hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a watering can and a bucket can be used to water gardens between 6 am - 8 am every second day*

Automatic dripper systems may be used between midnight and 2 am every second day*

*Alternate dates - Even numbered properties can water gardens on even dates. Odd-numbered properties can water on odd dates. Households with someone over the age of 70, may water at the alternate time of 8 am-10 am. Odds and even properties can both water on the 31st of the month.

Sportsgrounds
Councils can water three in four sportsgrounds – effectively 50 per cent more water than under Stage 3a. Councils may choose how increased water is allocated to their sportsgrounds as part of a water conservation plan in consultation with their local water authority.

Washing Cars
No change from Stage 3a - cars can be washed at a commercial car wash. A bucket filled from a tap can be used to clean windows, mirrors and lights; and spot-remove corrosive substances.

[Karl Lijnders]

I think it's ourageous and bad management.

[Jake Smethurst]

Just moved this topic to the Social Soapbox

[Anthony Violi]

I dont know whos worse, the federal governments management of the economy, or the state governments management of anything at all..

[mz_grim]

So not happy about this decision. Just cos we got a few extra mls of rain over a couple of days doesnt mean that water restictions should be relaxed. Just wait now by next summer we will most likely be put on stage 4 cos the government just cant manage things effectively.

[Lily]

Will be very interesting to see what rainfall the rest of the year brings, mz_grim, and also interesting to see what the government's response to it is.

At what capacity did they apply 3a restrictions? Was it at 30%? I can't remember lol.

[Jake Smethurst]

I am just shell shocked for the governments response to 'lower' water restrictions for Melbourne. They are doing it for votes IMHO. We can see right through their ideas and schemes!!

Seriously though, I'm with Anthony, there is some major corruption in figures re: dam levels and amounts they receive over events. I think they are much higher than indicated, but despite that, they shouldn't be lowered (restrictions).

[Onetahuti]

A couple of points from what I have read, know or 'consider' why the government has moved to lower the level of restrictions

They have the north - south pipeline up and running though not to the capacity they led us to believe but there is more water coming into Melbourne's storages to flush our loos with while the Murray River downstream continues to die. Yes I think it is outragous that they have built it, any saving by improving the irrigation systems in the north of the state should have gone wholely to those irrigators who have had their water rights slashed or into additional flows to the rivers.
The $3B desalination plant that is being thrust apon us has a couple of interesting clauses in the agreement that entices the state government not to want our dams to have too much water in them hence one of the reasons for the easing of restrictions. We the taxpayers have given the consortium AquaSure a financial undertaking that if they were to fail we would pick up the tab, we are so generous We also have guaranteed that we will buy all the water they produce if our catchments are not 65% full in March, and guess when our dams are generally at their low point? If over 65% we do not have to buy which raises the stakes of a failure thus the government (us) picking up the bill so us muggins will keep on paying higher water usage rates to buy this very power hungry / costly supply of water.

[Lily]

Great. So you're saying that either way, it's a Fail! We pay regardless of what happens.

[Onetahuti]

Great. So you're saying that either way, it's a Fail! We pay regardless of what happens.

We do and if too many of us put tanks in thus reducing the profit on water usage as has been the case with period of restrictions the usage charge will go up to compensate.

[Lily]

Excuse me while I bang my head against my laptop in frustration *bangs*

[daviescr]

More relaxation of water restrictions today:
From the ABC:
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010 ... 990751.htm
Melbourne's water restrictions eased

Melbourne will move to Stage Two water restrictions from the end of next month.

Melbourne will move to Stage Two water restrictions from the end of next month.

The change will mean householders with approved hose nozzles will be able to water their plants at all times, on all days.

Currently watering is only allowed early in the morning on alternate days.

Only approved drought-tolerant lawns can be watered under the relaxed restrictions.

[Twister]

SO HAPPY TO HEAR THIS FROM CITY PEOPLE

It is insane and no one up here is happy about that, also totally agree its for votes let it get to 60% plus before that happens and stop pumping north water down to Melbourne the handling of water in this state is a HUGE mess, i could go on about it for days on what has occurred up here with the government buying back water from the grape growers in this region that didn't exist in the first place then selling it back for higher rates, or just not at all.

Let MUCH more rain fall before this occurs, should have waiter till at least November but by then its election day