NSW lifts water restrictions

Sydneysiders can use sprinklers and wash their cars with a hand-held hose again as
dam levels continue to rise.

The NSW government is lifting tough water restrictions, with new Water Wise rules
taking effect from midnight (AEST) on Sunday.
Sydney, Illawarra and Blue Mountains residents will now be allowed to use hand-held
hoses, sprinklers and watering systems on any day before 10am and after 4pm.
The only exception is that children may play under a sprinkler to cool down at any
time on hot days.
Under the new rules, hand-held hoses must be fitted with a trigger nozzle when
watering or washing vehicles.
The rules replace Level Three restrictions, which banned sprinklers and watering
systems and only allowed hand-held watering at specific times on Wednesdays and
Sundays.
NSW Water Minister Phil Costa said the changes ended five years of tough drought
restrictions, after careful consideration of storage levels and additional water
sources, such as recycling and desalination.
"Our dam levels have been on the rise over the past year and we have 20 recycling
schemes across greater Sydney now recycling about 25 billion litres of water per
year," he said.
"These few simple rules reinforce the importance of using water responsibly and
minimising waste."
The state opposition and NSW Greens welcomed the changes, but again questioned the
need for the desalination plant being built at Kurnell in Sydney's south.
It is expected to begin pumping water this summer.
"The relaxing of these restrictions is welcome. People should be happy," Opposition
Leader Barry O'Farrell said.
"What they are not happy about is $2 billion into a desalination plant that may
never be used."
He said the money would have been better spent fixing leaks in pipes and on
recycling and harvesting stormwater for industry and recreational uses.
Greens MP John Kaye suggested the new rules were an attempt to justify the
desalination plant.
"The next time Warragamba levels begin to fall, the NSW government will need to
reverse its message and ask households to re-plant their gardens again," he said.
"Sooner or later gardeners will lose patience with the on-again-off-again message
coming from Sydney Water."
Fines of $220 for individuals and $550 for businesses will be imposed for breaches
of the Water Wise rules.
But the regulations will not apply to nurseries, market gardeners, landscapers,
garden contractors, bowling greens, cricket wickets, golf tees and croquet, hockey,
tennis and racing surfaces.
Hosing of hard surfaces is allowed only for emergency and construction activities or
for health and safety purposes.
The NSW Business Chamber says the changes are particularly important for
water-dependent companies and believes they won't abuse the new rules.
"Like the wider community, business has learnt the importance of conserving this
important natural resource," chamber CEO Kevin MacDonald said.
"Besides the environmental benefits, businesses have recognised the benefits to
their bottom line of developing practices that conserve water.
"This announcement will be welcome by these water-dependent businesses.
"These businesses are by their nature water efficient, and I do not believe this
announcement will result in any increase in their water usage, rather it will remove
a layer of compliance and make it easier for them to operate."