Drought and Water Restrictions Policy
Drought and Water Restrictions Policy
Extreme weather events can put our drinking water at risk. Now more than ever we need to improve our strategies and methods to protect our precious water supply.
Why have we developed a new Drought and Water Restrictions Policy?
We have drafted a new policy based on experiences and learnings from the very significant 2019/2020 drought.
It’s all about the best strategies and methods to save water including restrictions, targets, compliance and enforcement.
Extreme weather events are happening more frequently. In January 2020, 100 per cent of NSW was drought-declared, according The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) and 2019 was the driest year on record for the Tweed. Bray Park recorded only 716.7mm of rain , less than half the average of 1571mm (Bureau of Meteorology). Water restrictions were put in place and our water supply was at serious risk. While we have experienced plenty of rain recently it doesn't mean we aren't at risk of drought again in the near future.
We've taken the learnings and experiences from the 2019/2020 drought and updated the Drought and Water Restriction Policy so we can protect our water supply.
What’s in the Draft Drought and Water Restriction Policy?
The Draft Drought and Water Restrictions Policy is part of Council’s Drought Management Strategy adopted by Council on 17 November 2009. Council adopted the water restriction triggers and levels in this Policy on 10 December 2020.
This Policy enables Council’s Water and Wastewater Unit to make operational decisions in relation to the implementation, easing and removal of water restrictions for the Tweed.
This policy:
- explains why water restrictions are needed in the Tweed
- defines the triggers and levels for temporary water restrictions
- highlights how Council will inform the community about water restrictions
- explains what you can and cannot do for water use at each level of water restriction
- explains what happens if you don’t comply.
It applies to:
- all Tweed properties connected to the town water supply, and
- all Tweed properties with rainwater tanks
- topped up by the town water supply
- refilled by a water carter with water from the town water supply.
Council’s primary responsibility is to manage the Tweed’s water supply to meet or exceed the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines
Have your say
Community feedback as invited from 30 March to 18 May 2022.
It should be noted that in accordance with Council policy and the provisions of the Government Information (Public Access) Act 2009 – ‘GIPAA,’ confidential information contained within submissions may be released upon a request being made by a third party.
