28 September 2007
STAGE 3A WATER RESTRICTIONS TO REMAIN IN PLACE
From the Minister for WaterMelbourne will remain on Stage 3a water restrictions until 30 June 2008, Water Minister Tim Holding announced today.
Mr Holding said the continuation of Stage 3a restrictions would provide Melburnians with greater certainty over the next nine months wile maintaining the existing savings by households, industry and the wider community.
"Keeping Stage 3a in place regardless of storages rising or falling is a practical and balanced approach to managing Melbourne's water supplies," Mr Holding said.
"It will provide greater certainty on water restrictions moving forward, enable gardens to be watered and allow sport to continue throughout summer and autumn."
Water storages are currently 39.6% and have risen by more than 11 percentage points in just over three months.
During September average daily water consumption across the city has dropped to 992 million litres per day (at 28 September) down from 1115 million last year.
Mr Holding said that maintaining Stage 3a restrictions, which were first introduced on 1 April 2007, will allow businesses including nurseries, car washes and landscape gardeners to approach this summer with greater security.
"It will be a great relief to these small business owners, their employees and their families to have certainty and increased job security over the coming months," he said.
"Consistent water restrictions over an extended period will allow everyone to confidently plan for the future."
Mr Holding said water savings that have been achieved over the past 12 months had reduced water consumption by around 28 per cent compared to the average from the 1990's.
"All Victorians - households, industry and farmers - have done a great job saving water in recent years," he said.
"The community has responded well to water restrictions with saving water now an everyday part of life for most households."
Mr Holding said 20 billion litres from environmental reserves to the Thomson and Yarra rivers could be used to supplement Melbourne's supplies as was announced earlier this month as a contingency measure.
"This can increase supplies, as will the savings being achieved by industry through mandatory water saving plans and the increased use of recycled water," he said.
Water usage in Melbourne has dropped to levels not recorded in 60 years.
The daily average water use in 2006/07 was 303 litres on a per capita basis, levels not seen since 1945/46 when that figure was 300 litres per person per day.
In 2005/06 average daily water use was 330 litres per person per day.
Mr Holding said households use approximately 60 per cent of Melbourne's water, so saving water at home is vital to securing our water supplies.
"Water conservation is a key part of the Victorian Government's long term plan to secure water supplies, along with increased recycling for industry, building Australia's largest desalination plant and improving irrigation systems in Victoria's Food Bowl, Mr Holding said.
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 - 8am.*
- An automatic dripper system can be used to water as required on specific watering days between midnight - 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 8am and 10am.
More details about the Stage 3a water restrictions are available at www.ourwater.vic.gov.au.