What Hervey Bay’s Level 3 water restrictions mean for Council

THE Level 3 water restrictions that come into play in and around Hervey Bay next month will also affect the Fraser Coast Regional Council’s popular play areas and public spaces.

The popular WetSide Water Park in Hervey Bay will have reduced hours outside of school holidays during Level 3 water restrictions. PHOTO: File / Shaun Ryan.

Council announced this week that residents using the Hervey Bay water supply network will have to tighten their taps from Monday, 8 November.

NOW READ: Level 3 water restrictions for Hervey Bay

Not enough rain has fallen in the right areas, meaning Lenthall’s Dam is sitting at below 50 per cent capacity.

Level 3 water restrictions will be implemented in Hervey Bay and surrounding areas stretching from Burrum Heads and Howard across to River Heads.

Fraser Coast Mayor George Seymour said Council properties and facilities would be impacted by Level 3 restrictions, with the installation of new gardens to be deferred where practical.

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WetSide Water Park will have reduced hours while high profile parks and gardens in Hervey Bay will be maintained through controlled water efficient irrigation systems.

“Council works hard to limit our water use while still ensuring we properly maintain our parks, gardens and sporting and recreation facilities,” Cr Seymour said.

“We recognise that there are significant economic, social and environmental benefits to maintaining high profile, high usage parks and local environmentally significant facilities.

“As such, Council will use controlled water efficient irrigation systems with rain sensors for up to 30 minutes a day per irrigation station at the Orchid House, the Botanic Gardens, Seafront Oval and key parks in Urangan, Torquay, Scarness, Pialba and Burrum Heads.

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“Watering systems in other parks in the Hervey Bay water supply network will be turned off as part of Council’s water saving measures.

“The fields at the Fraser Coast Sports and Recreation Precinct are irrigated with recycled water and the backwash water from the Hervey Bay Aquatic Centre is used to irrigate the football fields in Tavistock Street.

“WetSide’s hours outside of school holidays will be reduced on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays to between 1pm and 5pm, while SplashSide will not be affected as Maryborough will remain on Level 2 water restrictions.

“It should be noted that the water used at WetSide and SplashSide is taken from a closed reuse system – the water that flows through the facilities is collected, treated, filtered and reused.”

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Cr Seymour said Council officers would be monitoring water use and responding to complaints, with residents and businesses to receive warnings initially before fines could be imposed.

“We know this is a big change and we want to educate the community about the new restrictions, but fines will be imposed for people who continue to do the wrong thing after being warned,” he said.

Click the link to find out what Level 3 water restrictions mean for you at home.

Full details on Council’s water restrictions police can be found, here.