NARRABRI township last night transitioned from Level Four to Level Three water restrictions, following strong community co-operation and an improvement in reservoir levels.
The Namoi Reservoir yesterday reached 82.12 per cent capacity, supported by ongoing water-saving efforts from residents and the safe re-introduction of water from the Tibbereena Street bore to supplement water supplies.
Council is continuing to monitor and test water from the reservoir to ensure it meets the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and is safe for consumption.
General manager Eloise Chaplain said the decision to move to Level 3 restrictions is a positive step forward that reflects community action and careful operational management.
“With the change in consumption behaviour and the safe blending of water from the Tibbereena bore, we’ve been able to restore the reservoir to a healthy level,” Ms Chaplain said.
“This allows us to ease restrictions slightly while continuing to protect our water supply.
“It’s important to remember that Level 3 restrictions are still enforceable, and our compliance team will be monitoring water use to make sure we maintain this progress,” she said.
Narrabri Shire mayor, Darrell Tiemens, acknowledged what an important role the Narrabri township community has played in making the change possible.
“We’re incredibly grateful to our community for taking Level 4 restrictions seriously and helping us reduce water use,” Cr Tiemens said.
“We hope that they continue to follow the restrictions under Level 3 but enjoy the greater flexibility that this level of restrictions offers.”
Under Level 3 Water Restrictions, residents can water gardens and lawns only between 7pm and 7am, wash vehicles using a bucket, and top up existing swimming pools.
Commercial premises and Council facilities are also subject to similar timing restrictions, with limited hours for irrigation of public spaces and sporting fields.
The Narrabri Splash Park will remain open under reduced operating hours – 12pm to 6pm on weekends, public holidays, and school holidays, and 3pm to 6pm on weekdays during school term.
“Council will continue to closely monitor water levels and quality, and we’ll keep the community informed about any changes or next steps,” Ms Chaplain said.
For full details on Level 3 restrictions, visit Narrabri Water Restrictions.
Meanwhile, NSW Nationals say the NSW government has failed to ensure PFAS-affected communities have access to clean water before summer, despite ample warnings from councils and water advocates.
Narrabri Shire Council was forced to escalate water restrictions from level two to level four within a week, and back to Level 3 this week, following a sharp and ongoing drop in the town’s primary water storage levels.
Since July, only one of Narrabri’s three bores has been actively supplying the town’s water network due to the detection of PFAS at levels exceeding the Australian Drinking Water Guidelines.
The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water responded with an emergency grant of $50,000 to enable the council to install a larger pump at their only active bore.
However, Shadow Minister for Water, Steph Cooke, said the grant will do nothing to ensure the community’s long-term water security ahead of what the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting will be a hot and dry summer for inland New South Wales.
“Instead of equipping this community with the resources and infrastructure they had been calling for since last year, the NSW Labor Government has waited for Narrabri council to enact a Level 4 water restriction before offering any degree of financial support, and it’s a miserly amount at best,” Ms Cooke said.
“We must also see expedited plans for a new water treatment plant. The NSW Labor Government’s ongoing patch-up approach since taking office has failed to address the critical need for new water infrastructure. Timely investment is even more imperative now that the estimated costs of water and sewage projects have continued to skyrocket.
“The Minister may claim water security is her top priority, but her record of delays, inaction, and complete lack of accountability speaks for itself.
“Communities continue to suffer the consequences of a government stuck in endless planning phases, and thinks words of support replace the need for decisive action.”
