Level One Water Restrictions - Mungindi, Weemelah and Boggabilla

Level One Water Restrictions - Mungindi, Weemelah and Boggabilla

Council recently asked residents of the Shire (and in particular, Mungindi and Weemelah) to continue with their efforts to be water conscious. This was due to formal advice received from WaterNSW that there will be no further planned water releases to supply water to these towns. Further water releases are not envisaged until sufficient rainfall allows the usual catchments to replenish their water supplies to allow for future water releases.

Since this notification, Council has continued to monitor water levels and consumption across all towns to ensure adequate supply is maintained to all residents. This monitoring of water usage by the community, together with the ongoing unprecedented drought conditions, has led Council to instigate more proactive measures to control water consumption by imposing Level One water restrictions in Mungindi, Weemelah and Boggabilla.

Council has in place a Water Supply Schemes Drought Management Plan which prescribes the approach to adopting water restrictions. In accordance with this Plan, Level One water restrictions will be imposed from 1 September 2019 in the towns of Mungindi, Weemelah and Boggabilla.

“Decisions such as these aren’t taken lightly by Council,” explained General Manager Lester Rodgers. “But with dry conditions persisting and warmer temperatures expected over coming months, Council is taking this proactive step to ensure supply is preserved for these towns coming into Summer.  

“These water restrictions will provide residents with clear guidelines on how they can reduce their water consumption and Council will continue to closely monitor the supply levels in these towns and take appropriate actions to ensure supply is maintained.”

Residents in Mungindi, Weemelah and Boggabilla should adhere to the following restrictions:

Sprinkler Systems are not to be used between: 7:00am - 7:00pm. Handheld hoses and buckets can be used at any time. Paved and concrete surfaces are not to be washed down. Residents are encouraged to use swimming pool covers when not in use. Car washing can only take place using a trigger hose and bucket. Residents are encouraged to only clothes wash when they have a full load. Fountains are to be turned off between 10:00pm and 7:00am and ponds are not to be cleaned.

For Commercial and Industrial water users in Mungindi, Weemelah and Boggabilla, the following will apply:

Irrigation (Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 5%. Irrigation (Non Efficient User) consumption should be reduced by 15%. Washing of commercial buildings and windows should be limited to sprinkler hours (sprinkler systems cannot be used between 7:00am -7:00pm.)

Further details of these water restrictions can be found on Council’s website www.mpsc.nsw.gov.au  within its Water Supply Schemes Drought Management Plan.

If residents of these towns have any questions about these restrictions they are encouraged to contact Council directly.

As well as taking these measures, all residents in Moree Plains are encouraged to make changes within their homes and be considerate of their water consumption.

“Small changes in your daily habits around the house such as taking shorter showers, only running the dishwasher when it is full and not washing down concrete driveways and pavers can make a huge difference to how much water we use daily,” explained Mr Rodgers.

“Again, Council urges residents across the Shire to promptly report any leakages through its Customer Service Centre on (02) 6757 3222 even if it is after hours. The smallest water leak can cause a huge water loss if left unattended.”

Council recognises the community’s ongoing efforts to be water conscious in these times.

“Plenty of our neighbouring local government areas are facing severe water restrictions or even trucking in water for town water supply in these unprecedented times. Our investment in water infrastructure in many parts of our Shire has meant that this has largely been avoided in the Moree Plains.

“Council will continue to closely monitor water levels in all towns and take actions as necessary to ensure our town water supply is sufficient and preserved for the coming Summer months,” continued Mr Rodgers.