Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) Water and Waste Committee has moved to simplify water restriction guidelines for residential users. The recommended changes will be considered at the Council meeting on Tuesday, 21st May 2019.
TRC Chair of Water and Waste, Cr Nancy Sommerfield said the committee's proposed changes would simplify water restrictions and make them consistent throughout the Region.
"The changes proposed by the committee 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.
"Despite current dry conditions green space is important for the wellbeing 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.
"Current modelling suggests that our Region is facing more severe conditions than the Millennium drought.
"The Water and Waste Committee proposal redesigns our restriction levels to be easily understood by our community and also address the current drought conditions.
"These are more contemporary water restrictions that will improve our water security.
Cr Sommerfield said that any changes to water restrictions would include a public awareness campaign so that the community is fully informed of their water saving responsibilities.
"As a region, our aim is to limit our water consumption level to a more practical level to sustain our water use during the drought conditions. The more water we can save the better," Cr Sommerfield said.
"Toowoomba Region residents have demonstrated their ability to use water responsibly.
"As in the past, we are asking residents to work with us through these water restrictions until our aquifers and dams are replenished by rain.
"With the Millennium drought in our recent memory, we ask the community to use water responsibly."
