Further Easing of Water Restrictions for Mansfield, Merrijig and Sawmill Settlement

26 September 2007

Goulburn Valley Water is happy to announce that water restrictions will be reduced from Stage 2 to Stage 1 effective from Monday 1 October 2007 for Mansfield, Merrijig and Sawmill Settlement.

Goulburn Valley Water’s Managing Director Mr Laurie Gleeson said that the Corporation has been able to ease the water restrictions thanks to consistent and reliable streamflows in the Delatite River over winter which has allowed the Corporation to fill Ritchie Reservoir.

“We will continue to monitor streamflows in the Delatite River and storage levels on a weekly basis,” said Mr Gleeson. “If flows in the Delatite River again fall below the environmental flow limit specified in our bulk entitlement document then diversion will cease and water restrictions will again need to be increased.”

The Corporation is investing $3.6 million to construct an additional 350 megalitre water storage at Mansfield.  “This storage will be double the size of the existing Ritchie Reservoir and once completed will provide adequate storage for the town during normal summer periods and reduce the need for the regular water restrictions during summer,” said Mr Gleeson. 

Construction works, which will take approximately 28 weeks to complete and are expected to start before December, subject to finalisation of planning approvals and land acquisition, with the storage being filled next winter.

Key elements of Stage 1 water restrictions for private gardens are outlined below:

RESIDENTIAL and COMMERCIAL GARDENS and LAWNS

• Manual watering systems (the kind you turn on or off by hand) can only be used to water gardens and lawns between 6am-8am and 7pm-9pm on alternate days

• Automatic watering systems (the kind you set to turn on and off automatically) can only be used to water gardens and lawns between midnight-4am on alternate days.

• Hand-held hoses with a trigger nozzle, a bucket or watering can may be used at any time.

Alternate days means that properties with an odd street number may operate a watering system between the set hours on odd numbered days of the month and properties with even numbers or no number on even numbered days of the month. All properties can water on the 31^st day of the month.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank the community for their understanding and co-operation during the period of higher water restrictions,” said Mr Gleeson.  “I also request that everyone continues to conserve water wherever possible as drought conditions continue.”

For full details on Stage 1 water restrictions please see our Water Restrictions page or contact the Corporation’s 24 hour customer service centre on Free Call 1800 45 45 00.

Authorised By L.J. Gleeson 104-110 Fryers Street Shepparton