11 June 2008
STAGE 3A TO STAY IN PLACE
From the Minister for Water
Melbourne will remain on Stage 3a water restrictions until at least 30 November, 2008.
Water Minister Tim Holding today announced the extension to the current water restrictions, which allows limited garden watering to continue and some sportsgrounds to be watered.
“We are keeping Stage 3a water restrictions in place to ensure that the record water savings that we have experienced in Melbourne continue,” Mr Holding said.
“Melburnians have done a great job saving water, with 34 per cent less water used per person in 2007 compared to the 1990s – but there is no room for complacency, with households using 60 per cent of Melbourne’s water.
“Melbourne is the most water efficient major city in Australia and we use more recycled water than anywhere else in the nation which is a credit to everyone – households, business and industry.”
Stage 3a water restrictions were first introduced in Melbourne on 1 April, 2007.
Melbourne's water storages are 29.6 per cent full (as at Tuesday 10 June), holding 525,535 million litres. At the same time last year storages were 28.5 per cent full, holding 505,548 million litres - an improvement of around 20 billion litres this year.
Mr Holding said Stage 3a water restrictions have enabled businesses including nurseries, car washes and landscape gardeners to continue to operate during the ongoing drought.
“Stage 3a or modified Stage 4 water restrictions are now in place in 95 towns right across Victoria which allows a balance between the need to save water, protecting businesses and allowing sporting activities to continue,” he said.
“In other parts of Victoria 63 towns are on Stage 1 water restrictions, 70 are on Stage 2, 41 are on Stage 3 and 97 on Stage 4.
“The flexibility of these water restrictions and the increased use of recycled water has enabled every sporting league across Victoria to operate this year which is so important to young people and the wider community.”
Autumn rainfall in Melbourne’s four major catchments was down to around 45 per cent of the 30-year average, which has meant a reduction of streamflows into our storages.
Yarra Valley Water Managing Director Tony Kelly said the community had responded well to water restrictions with saving water now an everyday part of life for most households.
“More than 190,000 Victorian homes have claimed a water saving rebate and of these 25,000 have installed a rainwater tank and claimed up to $1000 off their water bills,” Mr Kelly said.
“Industry is also doing its bit with more than 1250 of the biggest water users in Melbourne having completed a Water Management Plan with individual water saving and recycling targets.
“In 2006/07 industry in Melbourne saved nine billion litres of water which is a fantastic effort.”
Mr Holding said that water prices will increase next month to help pay for the $4.9 billion investment in water projects which are currently underway.
“The Government indicated in August last year that average household water bills in Melbourne will increase by 14.8 per cent plus CPI from 1 July, 2008,” he said.
“Concessions were increased in the recent State Budget to reduce the impact on low income families.”
Mr Holding said while water restrictions played a key role in reducing demand for water, The Next Stage of the Government’s Water Plan was crucial to securing long-term water supplies.
“Ongoing water conservation is a key plank in the Government’s long term water plan, along with increased recycling, building Australia’s largest desalination plant at Wonthaggi and saving lost irrigation water through the Food Bowl Modernisation Project,” Mr Holding said.
“As these large water projects provide a boost to our storages over the next few years we expect water restrictions can be slowly eased back.”
Under Stage 3a water restrictions:
- A manual dripper system, hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle, a watering can and a bucket can be used to water gardens as required on specified watering days between 6am and 8am*.
- An automatic dripper system can be used to water as required on specific watering days between midnight and 2am*.
- 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.
- One in four sports grounds can be watered. Councils must complete a water conservation plan and ensure water use on these sports grounds is cut back by an additional 25 per cent.
* Even numbered properties can water on Saturday and Tuesday; odd numbered can water on Sunday and Wednesday. People aged 70 and over can water between 8 am and 10 am.
More details about the Stage 3a water restrictions are available from the Our Water, Our Future website.