Rain no dam use to Coast

Hinze full but we still face water rationing

THE Hinze Dam is full but the Gold Coast could face water rationing within a year so supplies can be preserved for drought-hit parts of southeast Queensland.

Gold Coast City Council water committee chairman Paul Taylor gave the warning even as the dam was overflowing yesterday due to heavy rain from Cyclone Debbie in March and another top-up last month.

Hinze Dam was at 100.1 per cent capacity yesterday but on the Sunshine Coast Baroon Pocket Dam was at just 55.3 per cent.

The State Government linked 12 Southeast Queensland dams following the Millenium Drought from 2001 to 2009, allowing water to be moved across the Seqwater network.

The combined dams are 73.3 per cent full and water-saving measures will kick in when the level dips below 70 per cent.

Cr Taylor said short term drought conditions had emerged in parts of the southeast over the past 12 to 18 months.

“Just to let you know, if this trend continues over the next 12 months it’s likely a range of measures and considerations will be required by this committee to respond to the community’s concerns, government initiatives and being part of the bulk water supply network,” Cr Taylor said. “Just to let you know it might come to that.” GOLD COAST Council rate: SUNSHINE COAST (UNITY WATER) Tier 1 (under 822L a day):

Tier 2 (more than 822L a day): BRISBANE (URBAN UTILITIES) Tier 1: Tier 2: IPSWICH AND SCENIC RIM (URBAN UTILITIES) Tier 1: Tier 2: LOCKYER VALLEY (URBAN UTILITIES) Tier 1: Tier 2:

If Sunshine Coasters do benefit from Gold Coast water they will do it at a bargain price.

Gold Coast Water charges $1.09 per kilolitre whereas Sunshine Coast water supplier Unity Water charges $0.667 for those who use under 822L a day and $1.333 for those who use more than 822L a day.

Gold Coasters use about 194L of water per person daily, or 776 for a family of four which would place most households in the lower water category.

Residents in both cities are charged the state’s bulk water cost of $2.817 per kilolitre.

A Seqwater spokesman said it hoped to avoid severe water restrictions.