Bega Valley Shire Council has introduced level 2 water restrictions in the northern half of the shire due to the decrease in the groundwater level at Bega and declining storage levels in the Brogo and Cochrane Dams.
Brogo Dam has fallen to around 10 per cent of capacity while Cochrane Dam storage is at around 15 per cent capacity, with daily releases from the dam continuing to maintain a flow to the Bemboka village pump station and beyond.
The restrictions would come into effect on Friday, January 29, for Bega, North Bega, Tarraganda, Kalaru, Tathra, Mogareeka, Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Beauty Point, Wallaga Lake, Bemboka and all rural properties with a water connection to the trunk mains of the Bega-Tathra and Brogo-Bermagui water supply systems.
Under Level 2 water restrictions:
- only one hand-held hose per property may be used outdoors under an ‘odds and evens’ system between 6 am and 8 am and between 6 pm and 8 pm
- anyone using a hand-held hose outside of the permitted hours or on an odd date for a property with an even numbered street address or on an even date for a property with an odd numbered street address will be in breach of the restrictions
- the use of fixed sprinklers and unattended hoses, the watering of paved areas and the use of micro and drip irrigation systems are all not permitted
Bega Valley Shire Council has requested State Water to reduce releases from Brogo Dam as soon as possible with water restrictions introduced to help conserve the remaining water in the dam until good rainfall returns to the catchment.
In the southern half of the Shire, level 2 water restrictions which were introduced in early December 2009, remain in place.
Yellow Pinch Dam is currently at 59 per cent capacity.
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