With Chaffey Dam topping 50 per cent of capacity at the start of this week, it was expected the council, at Tuesday night’s meeting, would move to relax restrictions in Tamworth in line with the trigger points in the plan, but representations by community members prompted a change of heart.

“Personally I think the town is conservative-minded enough now to go to Level 1, but we have to respond to the people and they’re telling us they’re prepared to forgo the opportunity to do that,” Cr Juanita Wilson said.

Cr Phil Betts said the drought management plan had served the council well for many years, and he was reluctant to divert from it.

But, he said, community attitudes were changing and the council needed to reflect that.

He was keen, though, to emphasise that retaining the current restrictions didn’t mean the council’s water supply wasn’t robust enough to cope with a relaxation of the rules.

The recommendation that went before the council from director of water and waste, Bruce Logan, was that council adhere to the plan in relation to returning to Level 1 restrictions in both Tamworth and Attunga.

Under the plan, once Chaffey Dam reaches 45 per cent and Dungowan Dam is at 40 per cent of capacity, Tamworth should go back to the first level. 

In the report to council, Mr Logan said adhering to the plan was recommended because it gave the community confidence in how council managed its water supplies, and “consumers should expect relief from restrictions when conditions allow relief to be provided”.

But, the council in- stead supported a new motion put forward by Cr Helen Tickle that “in light of the prediction of a possible El Nino event ... over the next six to 12 months and the community’s representation on the issue” restrictions remain where they were for Tamworth. It received unanimous support.

“The community is asking us to be cautious ... they’re asking us to stretch supplies further,” Cr Mark Rodda said.

“They don’t want to go back to buckets.”

While Tamworth residents will have to keep their sprinklers in the shed for a while longer, Attunga residents were given the nod for a drop back to Level 1 from Saturday.  

The current drought management plan is under review and council staff are in the process of collating submissions received during an extensive community consultation period earlier this year.

Councillors will attend a workshop on August 14 to discuss the findings, and a draft plan is expected to come back to a  meeting of council in September.