WATER levels in Malpas Dam could drop to below 35 per cent within a year if dry conditions continue.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
That’s the warning from Armidale Dumaresq Council, which is discussing the region’s first water-sharing plan.
The city’s main water supply is now at 63 per cent, its lowest level since 1995.
Water restrictions will kick in if dam levels drop below 50 per cent, however, Guyra based MLC Scot MacDonald urged Council to enforce water restrictions if levels fell below 90 per cent.
“I don’t think it’s acceptable to wait this long in these dry conditions before moving into water restrictions,” he said.
“To Council’s credit they are rethinking it.”
Talks began on Monday to map out a water-sharing plan for the region, with representatives including Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall, Mr MacDonald, Armidale Dumaresq Mayor Laurie Bishop, general manager Glenn Wilcox and councillor Margaret O’Connor.
Cr Bishop said Council had spoken with farmers about the issue and would reconsider when they triggered water restrictions.
The plan would show how the region dealt with drought and how water would be distributed among urban and rural landholders.
Cr O’Connor said such a plan could take the politics out of water management in dry times between urban and rural users.
“Once communities start to run low on water people get very anxious and it causes divisions between water users,” Cr O’Connor said. “We want these things to be thought through before we’re in a dire situation.”