I believe the true Sydney figure is below 30% of capacity.

The Iemma "government" (my quotes <g>) redefined the levels a little while ago so that the previously uncounted "bottom supply" water was included in the %age capacity statistics. The figure previous to this was around 30%.

The bottom supply water is water that was previously deemed unavailable/unfit for use.

Go figure!

sorry but really their are far more important things than a green lawn . Come live in the country, were much of your town water is transported from, come have a look at the farmlands were your food is grown, come see the meat markets overloaded with cattle that are getting thinner by the second, and no feed to feed to them as the irrigation rights have been removed or reduced for the farmers so that the'city folks' can wash their dam cars and water their lawns. Have a read of the rural papers, horse mags, see how many stock are being sold, given away sent to the markets for meat, or left in the paddock to die.Their is no hay/grain pasture left for them and what is available costs so much they just can't do it
They would all love a bit of 'green' grass, but they don't get it.
If you want lush rolling green hills move to wales, yorkshire, the cotswolds. We will probaly get green lawns again when it rains, as I am sure it will, but probaly not before many country people have gone under.
So next time your invited to a BBQ in the brown dusty flie ridden backyard of a firend...dont wear white, take the areoguard..........and have abloody good weekend
As for LA and London getting less rain than Melbouren.re-equate that to size of land............the whole of England and Ireland can fit into Victoria alone..the amount of arrable land is huge compared to London, which has none, and LA which has none.Oh they also don't have the fly population either

I'd be going back if it looked like Beverly Hills...

in our part of the world - extreme south of Dandenongs we get slightly more rainful which I am glad for. I'd forgotten the North gets less.

Australia has so many diverse environments, it ranges from lush tropical rain forest to dry arid dessert and thats in most states, the cities have been established around the nearest water ways and the best'at the time' land for developing. These towns have spread,they now converge into areas that are not as hospitable to development. Australia has always been a drier country than most. Put into it its been a profitable country for most of its time, people do not like to 'economise' om anything, its the way they have developed. We as a nation are a wasteful lot especially with our natural resources. We do not make the most of them and take them for granted. especially those of us who live in the city were it all seem to 'just happen'.

My wife was born in Parkes, outback NSW, and grew up in Bendigo, I've been here for 27 years. I've got family (in law) all over Northern Victoria. The drought was far worse in 83 as there were dust storms almost daily, so I've been reliably informed and reminded of by my Wifes country relations. I know about the bush problems, and would not live there, neither would my wife. I do however have sympathy for the people that "choose" to live in those areas.

My point is, that this country if prompted can afford to build the infrastructure to make most of the decent arrable land as green as it wants. There is no need to put up with the effect of drought if some decent money goes into building the infrastructure to provide this. Whether that be from desalnation, recycling sewage, or pipelines from other parts of Aussie who knows. I'm more than willing to pay a premium on my water rates, I'd far rather that option than long winded restrictions, which will end up necessitating what I'm banging on about anyway.

I'm damn annoyed that I've not got the choice now, to use townwater on my grass, as I would have paid whatever cost the powers that be wanted to charge me.

It's more than the simple issue of a green lawn, it's a restriction of freedom of choice, due to poor government planning.


I will install tanks, I will continue to use grey water, but I wish i could pay a premium on my water rates to ensure the long term viabilty of abundant water for the whole of Australia.

When your driving up to the Mallee, on your way out of Melbourne, where the Hume starts to open up, you pass a place called Craigeburn, beyond that is a large hill, with about 200 very large homes built there. It's called Highlands..... Without any vegetation in sight.... I think it would look a lot better with some Greenary Badge... In fact it could look very pleasant indeed, like a showpiece for Melbourne, Which I suppose given the arid brown, dry and forbiding presence of the place, it already is ...... Melbournes Showpiece. Fan bloody tastic.


Personally I really resent the fact that the government is forcing me to economise. That may sound selfish, but If I'm willing to pay for something I should be allowed to do so.

Lets just hope, that this country gets it water and electricity demands sorted asap.

Otherwise we All will end up being rationed.

You anywhere near Olinda, by any chance Badge?

No! Nowhere near - a fair bit out of the way in the S. Qute amusing - there are other parts of the 'Dandenongs' that are nowhere near as touristy or sort of known. I'd find Kallista, Saffrafras, Olinda, Monbulk etc too touristy and too high in elevation. I've PMed you.

Just found out about a fantastic solution for a lot of peoples city usage of water. Heard about it on 3AW just now, and looks good to me.


http://www.whatwaterrestrictions.com.au/home/about/


I think I'll be getting one, because there are parts of my Garden where my Washing machine Black hose outlet doesnt fit. For use on my Shower and Sink outlets.

I've found some information that exposes what a debacle this whole drought issue is. My cousin, who has been in Aus since the late 60's recently moved to Banora point in Northern NSW, apparently it's considered part of the gold coast. No restrictions there, They share the same dam/reservoir as the good people of Tweed Heads, and towns further up the Gold coast where there are blanket state restrictions at stage 4. So even though the water source is the same, my Cousin over the border, in NSW, can if he wishes, wash down his driveway, where the people using the same water in QLD, arn't allowed to expose a hose at fear of prosecution.

Now if this wasn't enough, I've also been on the phone to my BIL, who runs a station out west of Goondawindi, in south east Qland. Apparently the Irrigation systems traverse all the way from Northern Qland, right through to Victoria. Most of the water that falls north of Rockhampton flows straight into the sea after filling the local dams and reservoirs, and is wasted, even though it would take very little infrastructure improvement to utilise the Irrigation systems, and connect them to the Southern Reservoirs. I realise that one or two channels heading south isn't going to solve the issues, but the fact that they exist and are being used for private profit for landowners to raise the price of water locally, shows how stuffed up this federal system in relation to water is.

Some Q'land and NSW Farmers are now making more money out of water rights then they are out of crops and they are holding out to cash in more. There are a very few far sighted landholders, that have bought most of the water rights, and are going to become very rich on the back of this drought.

It was mentioned in the Herald Sun today.

I never saw todays issue of the Hun, I can say though that when I talk to people that have information at relevant points around the Country, the more and more I get dismayed about the situation.

If you could chat with my next door neighbour, who gave up his executive car design job at fords, to go back to the 5th gen family farm up in Boort, or indeed my Aussie BiL out west of G'windi to talk about what is really happening with the water supply in this country, you would be as peed of as I am about these issues.

I was amazed to find out that the privately run Irrigation system did infact link, albeit on a small scale, from the over supplied North of the country to the South.

If people stopped and realised they are moving from a 'normal' weather pattern to a country that has been turning into a desert for yonks, there'd be no misconception!

Rainfall in OZ , while it does happen, doesn't fall evenly or on predicable areas. The word 'Drought' is simply pollie/media talk to cover the fact this land is infact a desert with a few coastal areas that are inhabitable.

Yehp.... Just like California eh

I agree with everything you say OzzieEagle, but must add that my Aunt in California bought a beautiful apartment many years ago in a complex with massive water features including an artificial river that ran right outside her balcony, fountains etc.

All of this has had to be turned off for the last 7 years



Buzzy