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Water bans for three years
Herald Sun, 4 March 2008
Melbourne faces another three years of water restrictions. With the north-south pipeline not due to be running until the end of 2010, and the desalinisation plant due at the end of 2011, Water Minister Tim Holding yesterday conceded bans will be around for years ahead.
The warning came as Australia's top water and weather experts confirmed the drought was far from over.
Melbourne is on Stage 3a restrictions, with the city's dams at only 35.3% of capacity yesterday.
'We are continuing to keep water use at all-time low levels, despite 11 years of drought,' Mr Holding said.
But householders were warned yesterday that water prices could double within five years.
'The trend is only going to be one way for urban water prices, and that's going to be up,' said Ross Young, executive director of the Water Services Association of Australia
Water experts predicted autumn and winter rains would not refill water storages to pre-drought levels.
City moves to tougher water restrictions
April 01, 2007 01:45pm
Article from: AAP
MELBURNIANS face tougher water restrictions from today despite having saved 300 billion litres of water in the past three years.
Victorian Environment Minister John Thwaites said the amount saved was the equivalent of two large dams, but he could not rule out the prospect of further restrictions.
'Stage 3a restrictions, which came into effect today, were necessary to protect the city's storage levels following record low inflows into catchment areas since winter last year', Mr Thwaites said.
'People have done a fantastic job in saving water but they need to continue to save water in their gardens,' he said.
'We are hopeful that we can continue to get some reasonable rain, but we know that we've got to keep saving water.'
Speaking at the Melbourne International Flower and Garden Show, Mr Thwaites said recent water-saving efforts meant there was a reasonable chance of avoiding harsh stage four restrictions.
Melburnians used 35 per cent less water per head per day than the average use for the month in the 1990s. That means we're not putting as much pressure on our reservoirs.
Over the last three years, people have saved the equivalent of 100 billion litres of water a year, that's the equivalent of two large dams.
Level Five Water Restrictions Hit
March 09, 2007 01:01pm
Article from: AAP
RESIDENTS of southeast Queenslanders will be banned from washing cars, filling pools and watering lawns under harsh level five restrictions.
The Queensland Water Commission said the limits were aimed at saving 127 megalitres a day, as the southeast corner faces its worst drought on record.
Households that use more than 800 litres a day will be sent a water audit form to be self-completed, detailing their household water use.
The commission will write to those who cannot demonstrate why their use is so high, detailing ways they can curb their use.
Failure to complete the audit will attract a penalty of a total outdoor watering ban and breaking the ban will attract a $150 fine.
Outdoor watering times for gardens will be cut in half, while watering of lawns and washing of cars with town water will be banned.
After July 1, the topping up of swimming pools and spas with town water will be banned, but pool owners can use a water-saving downpipe or water tank.
Water price rises ranging from 13 to 22 per cent will push costs up an average $71 a year.
Queensland Water Commissioner Elizabeth Nosworthy said that by 2012-13 a typical household's annual water cost would increase from $355 to $876 - an increase of 147 per cent.
Ms Nosworthy said the price rise was justified because the $8 billion investment in new infrastructure would provide better services and secure water for the long term.
'Historically, water has been a very cheap commodity and even with the proposed increases it still remains very affordable,' Ms Nosworthy said.
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