Council listens to community on watering times
Date published: 23 August 2016
Townsville’s water restriction hours will be split between morning and evening to provide residents with more convenient times for watering.
The Townsville City Council today amended the water restrictions policy to allow watering hours under Level 3 to be changed from 6-8pm to 6am-7am and 6pm-7pm.
The odds and evens system still applies. Changes will take effect tomorrow morning.
Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said the council had listened to the community.
“These changes will make sure the watering times are in line with the needs of our residents,” Cr Hill said.
“The 6-8pm timeslot was intended to avoid water loss in the hottest part of the day, but feedback to council and councillors was that it wasn’t working for many people.
“Elderly residents were particularly concerned about their safety watering at night.
“An hour in the morning and an hour in the evening will strike a much better balance.
“The split hours will provide four opportunities each week for everyone from shift workers, early starters, businesses and the elderly to water their gardens and lawns.
“I’ve said all along that this should be a process of monitor and review and listen to what the community is telling us and that’s what the council is doing.
“We need residents to continue their good work in reducing water use and helping to meet the city’s consumption target of less than 100ML a day.
“Level 3 restrictions are prudent and necessary to ensure that the city has a secure water supply until the drought breaks.”
Cr Hill also announced that the city would begin pumping from the Burdekin when the Ross River Dam drops to 15%.
“It’s important to provide the community with certainty around when the pumps will be switched on,” Cr Hill said.
“The last time the city pumped from the Burdekin was in 2006 when the dam dropped below 5%.
“I want to reassure residents, that ten years on, the pumps will be switched on much sooner to give us greater protection against another failed wet season.
“Even with the pumping, we will still need the water restrictions in place until it rains to see us through the drought.
“The council will continue to monitor the dam level and water restrictions and work with the community to minimise impacts wherever possible.”
For more information visit our Water Restrictions page - https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/water-waste-and-environment/water-supply-and-dams/restrictions
