South East Queensland

Water restrictions

Urban water restrictions have been in place in the South East Queensland (SEQ) region since 2005, reaching their most severe at Level 6 in 2007–08. Following the building of the SEQ Water Grid, heavy rainfall and the commencement of the construction of the Gold Coast desalination plant, the water restrictions were revised into high, medium and low, and permanent water conservation measures to be used across all councils in the SEQ region. The Queensland Water Commission managed decisions about water restrictions across the SEQ region for 2009–10.

During the first half of 2009–10 either high or medium-level restrictions were in force for all councils in the SEQ region. From 01 December 2009, permanent conservation measures were in force consistent across all councils in the SEQ region.

Queensland Water Commission restriction level, dates and relevant council areas
Restriction level	Start date	End date	Councils
Level 1	13 May 2005	3 Oct 2005	Schedule for adoption by councils²
Level 2	3 Oct 2005	13 Jun 2006	Schedule for adoption by councils²
Level 3	13 Jun 2006	01 Nov 2006	Schedule for adoption by councils²
Level 4	01 Nov 2006	10 April 2007	Beaudesert Shire Council (SC), Brisbane City Council (CC), Caboolture SC, Council of the Shire of Esk, Gatton SC, Gold Coast CC, Ipswich CC, Kilcoy SC, Laidley SC, Logan CC, Pine Rivers SC, Redcliffe CC
Level 5	10 Apr 2007	23 Nov 2007	Beaudesert SC, Brisbane CC, Caboolture SC, Council of the Shire of Esk, Gatton SC, Gold Coast CC, Ipswich CC, Kilcoy SC, Laidley SC, Logan CC, Pine Rivers SC, Redcliffe CC
Level 6	23 Nov 2007	21 Jul 2008	Brisbane CC, Gold Coast CC, Ipswich CC, Lockyer Valley Regional Council (RC), Logan CC , Moreton Bay RC, Scenic Rim RC¹ and Somerset RC
High level	21 Jul 2008	10 Apr 2009	Brisbane CC, Gold Coast CC, Ipswich CC, Lockyer Valley RC, Logan CC, Moreton Bay RC, Scenic Rim RC¹ and Somerset RC
Medium level	11 Apr 2009	1 Dec 2009	Brisbane CC, Gold Coast CC, Ipswich CC, Lockyer Valley RC, Logan CC, Moreton Bay RC, Scenic Rim RC¹ and Somerset RC
Permanent conservation measures	1 Dec 2009	Current	Brisbane CC, Gold Coast CC, Ipswich CC, Lockyer Valley RC, Logan CC, Moreton Bay RC, Redland CC, Scenic Rim RC³, Somerset RC, Sunshine Coast RC

Table notes:

Scenic Rim Regional Council (RC) except for the part of the Scenic Rim Regional Council described as Boonah Shire Council before 15 March 2008.
Schedule was created for the adoption by local councils as required.
Entire Scenic Rim Regional Council area.

Redland CC, Scenic Rim RC and the Sunshine Coast RC were not subjected to Queensland Water Commission water restrictions until 1 December 2009. Each of these councils imposed their own level of restrictions.

From 8 January 2008 until 01 December 2009, the Gold Coast City Council (CC) had periods where restrictions were temporarily suspended when the main storage for the Gold Coast received significant

Queensland Water Commission restriction level and water saving measures for each level
Restriction level	Water saving measures
High level	Maximum residential consumption of 800 L/day per house or 200 L per person if greater than five residents Maximum 10 ML/year for non-residential premises where an approved water efficiency management plan is not in place Watering of established lawns is banned Bucket watering of established gardens between 4 pm and 8 pm daily only Odd and even hose watering of established gardens between 4 pm and 4:30 pm on Saturday and Sunday only Odd and even top-up of swimming pools three days per week between 4 pm and 7 pm only where rainwater is also used to fill the swimming pool Outdoor showers and play pools not allowed Bucket watering of vehicles at any time Odd and even hose watering of vehicles between 4 pm and 4:30 pm on Saturday or Sunday only Playing surfaces are required to register and comply with the active playing surface guidelines
Medium level	Maximum residential consumption of 1000 L/day per house or 250 L per person if greater than five residents Maximum 10 ML/year for non-residential premises where an approved water efficiency management plan is not in place Watering of established lawns is banned Garden watering on a Monday is banned Bucket watering of established gardens between 4 pm and 8 pm daily only Odd and even hose watering of established gardens between 4 pm and 4:30 pm two days a week only Odd and even top-up of swimming pools three days per week between 4 pm and 7 pm only where rainwater is also used to fill the swimming pool Bucket watering of vehicles at any time Odd and even hose watering of vehicles between 4 pm and 4:30 pm two days a week only Playing surfaces are required to register and comply with the active playing surface guidelines
Permanent conservation measures	Maximum residential consumption of 1200 L/day per house, exemptions apply to large families and special health requirements Watering of gardens and lawns can only occur between 4 pm and 10 am any day except Monday and must use an efficient irrigation system with manual timer or electronic timer with rain sensor Portable sprinklers can be used for a maximum of 30 minutes Bucket watering of gardens and lawns can occur at any time New gardens and lawns can be watered at any time on the day of establishment. Swimming pools can be filled or topped up with town water where rainwater is also used to fill the swimming pool and there are several other water conservation measures installed in the house Bucket, hand-held hose or high pressure cleaning of vehicles, buildings, equipment and animal can occur at any time Washing of paved areas may only occur to prevent health, safety or environmental hazards

See the Queensland Water Commission Restrictions website for more information on water restrictions and for fact sheets.

National Water Account 2010