tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29101447.post4756529822369196683..comments2023-11-18T11:49:19.163+11:00Comments on Bairnsdale Conservative: ALP Bans This ForeverDaoDDBallhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14116429233512306142noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29101447.post-21689350399964085022007-09-16T17:05:00.000+10:002007-09-16T17:05:00.000+10:00Water bans to stay foreverBy political writer Lind...Water bans to stay forever<BR/>By political writer Linda Silmalis<BR/>SYDNEY'S water restrictions will become permanent because of the threat of climate change, the State Government has decided.<BR/><BR/>Daytime use of sprinklers and watering systems will be banned forever - as will the hosing down of driveways.<BR/><BR/>After weeks of speculation, The Sunday Telegraph can reveal NSW Cabinet has decided against simply rolling back the restrictions as dam levels fall.<BR/><BR/>In an exclusive interview, NSW Premier Morris Iemma said the decision was based on scientific evidence on the impact global warming would have on rainfall over the Sydney basin.<BR/><BR/>He said the permanent measures, together with recycling and the Kurnell desalination plant, were necessary to ensure Sydney would never again run low on drinking water.<BR/><BR/>"This is part of a plan to secure our water supply in the future,'' Mr Iemma said.<BR/><BR/>"We've got the evidence that climate change is real, it's here and we've got to plan accordingly.<BR/><BR/>"We face the prospect of a reduction in average rainfall.<BR/><BR/>"We've got scientific advice that there will be an eight per cent increase in evaporation rates and a doubling of hot days in Sydney by 2030, so we've had no choice but to introduce a long-term plan to secure our water.''<BR/><BR/>Mr Iemma said the restrictions were aimed at ensuring the community continued to actively save water when the current level three water bans were eventually lifted.<BR/><BR/>Residents and businesses across Sydney, Illawarra and the Blue Mountains have been living under mandatory water restrictions since October 2003.<BR/><BR/>The level three restrictions ban the use of watering systems and sprinklers at any time and a permit from Sydney Water is required to fill new or renovated pools bigger than 10,000 litres.<BR/><BR/>Mr Iemma said the Government would examine lifting the restrictions when dam levels reached 65-70 per cent.<BR/><BR/>The latest figures from the NSW Sydney Catchment Authority show dam levels rose to 59.1 per cent capacity last week, up by 0.2 per cent on the previous week.<BR/><BR/>Warragamba Dam received 30 millimetres of rain while the Woronora catchment received 40mm from the rain between last Friday and Sunday.<BR/><BR/>Water supplies are now at the same levels they were in January 2003.<BR/><BR/>The last time dams were full was in 1998.<BR/><BR/>Mr Iemma said the permanent restrictions would be introduced under the Sydney Water Act. Regulations will be gazetted on Friday.<BR/><BR/>Ironically, the permanent bans are expected to ensure the $1.76 billion desalination plant will never become operational.<BR/><BR/>The State Government has set a trigger point of 30 per cent dam-level capacity before the plant begins to operate.<BR/><BR/>According to Sydney Water, the average Sydney household uses about 250,000 litres of drinking water a year.<BR/><BR/>The introduction of restrictions has reduced consumption from a record 500 litres per person a day in 1991 to about 340 litres per person.<BR/><BR/>"Both the community and business have responded magnificently to the need to save water,'' a Sydney Water spokesman said.<BR/><BR/>"Since water restrictions became mandatory in October, 2003, total consumption has fallen by 322.2 billion litres or 13.6 per cent less than what's called the seasonalised 10-year average.''Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com