While elections might occupy most debate this week, there’s been a steady stream of discussion about water, the use of the bucket brigade in Tamworth and the calls from consumers to change the rules.
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To say there’s also been a stream of drivel and dribble is not exaggerated.
A lot of hot air has emanated over the criticism directed at Tamworth Regional Council over the fact it’s reduced outside watering to the use of buckets or cans for only two hours a day.
That water use came into effect in late November when Chaffey Dam dropped to 35 per cent.
Many bemoan the fact. Others have legitimately complained that it’s caused injury or hardship.
Still others, amazingly, have called for the use of hoses to be reinstated for residents to use.
It’s obvious that many people are ignorant or arrogant to the extreme when it comes to accepting the water regulations in place.
Talk to a few residents, or read the some chatter on social media, and you get throwaway lines about scores of people cheating on our water.
As the council has said – don’t just spray it, say it to them.
Unless we’re fair dinkum about water sustainability then the cheats will prosper – and the supply of water will be wasted when we should be conserving it for drinking and essential services, not watering gardens or lawns, however painful that is.
To some extent, we have been lucky with the periodic showers that have done what nature does so well.
But while the council cautions consumption, consumers do have another avenue of consultation.
On May 6, as part of their review of the current drought management plan that governs when we can use hoses and at what dam levels certain bans are invoked, the public gets a chance to have a say in how the new policy is drawn up and how it is drafted.
You can voice your opinion.
Those who espouse limited use, or more use, have their chance to air their views.
In the meantime, those who reckon they’ve suffered and got bad backs from lugging a bloody bucket, go get a doctor’s certificate and apply for an exemption. About 500 people already have.
In the meantime, don’t water your garden by subterfuge or hidden hosing, just apply for an exemption.
Or just stop it.
We won’t go blind, but it could break us.
