On the face of it there might seem to be a case for holding the current water rules in place when it comes to the level of restrictions governing the use of our water in Tamworth.
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But that would be to set aside a plan put into place seven years ago which aims to ensure that a structured and transparent approach is taken for ongoing management of our water and the impacts of drought on our water supplies.
To ditch the plan, midstream so to speak, might cause more problems than it is worth.
At least some will argue that, but Tamworth councillors will address that very same conundrum on Tuesday night when they meet.
Before them is a recommendation from their water staff that right now TRC should stick to what the plan provides for and introduce more lenient water rules now.
There is merit in this. Not only does it serve to keep the community confident of the underlying structure of the management of our water supplies, and you would think cognisant of the restrictions and what they mean having lived under them for seven years, but it saves any amount of confusion and some economic or financial cost in the short term.
To dump the mandated, orderly, formal and official plan is probably not needed. Especially when we have a community now that is – or at least by all measures of consumption and sustainable use and attitude, aware and economical with the water that comes out of the two main supply dams – Chaffey and Dungowan.
The council has spent much time and money on collecting evidence for a review into those very same policies that will underpin a new management plan.
It is just months away.
If we can rely on our water users to be self-regulating and self-disciplined – as many of them have argued both on social media and in formal submissions to the council about where we go from here with our water management – then there should be no great open slather or flood of precious water running down drains because people overstep the marks.
The council will look at the dilemma it has and perhaps consider changing from level 2 to level 1 restrictions – or not. They’ve been the target of some vicious and furious chatter from the social media masses, some of it uneducated, uniformed and completely without context.
Hopefully, they will tread a fine line between strategy, sustainability and reason rather than perhaps tread water.
