Water inflows into Rocky Creek dam and the current water depletion rate is similar now to where it was this time in 2019.

Currently at 82%, because of El Niño, water restrictions will be introduced at 70%.

“At current depletion rates if we don't get a significant rainfall event between now and Christmas then we are anticipating that those level one water restrictions are likely to come into play around Christmas,” says Tania Burls, water future program manager at Rous.

“Level one is the softest level of restrictions. And part of why Rous Council has decided with its councillors that this is the way to go is because we are really conscious that if we all do our little bit sooner rather than later then it will hopefully mean that we won't have to increase restrictions."

"So at Level 1, it is really around things like only watering outside in the garden between 4 in the afternoon to 9 in the morning, only doing hand-held hose watering, not sprinkler watering for one hour. Working on odds and even numbers for properties, and restricting car washing."

"Relatively small limitations at this point but ones that for a community the numbers of people can actually make a real difference and give us that soft landing into the drought that we are obviously entering into. We will give people as much warning as we can.” 

In terms of ongoing water security Burls says “We are having really robust discussions with the community and I think we absolutely need to.”

Talking to the Lismore App, Bells acknowledged that the Northern Rivers has become “a highly desirable place to live” and that as the population grows, “the pressure on the supply scheme increases.” It is “imperative”, she says “to start looking at what the options are. We need to ensure that we are shoring up a supply that is well and truly into the future, that is going to meet that ongoing and increasing demand.”

Coupled with climate variability and uncertainty, Burls says Rous is “currently doing the science on it, due diligence, so decisions can be made on very sound technical analysis.”

The Future Water Project 2060 has set out a three-stage approach. 

In stages one and two, the focus is on enhancing existing groundwater schemes at Alstonville and Woodburn.

A new supply at Alstonville will include water from the recently investigated sub-aquifer, the Clarence Moreton Basin, as well as surface water from Marom Creek.

“We've got the desalination purifying recycled water, surface water and groundwater. We have already got some existing bores as part of the supply scheme. And, we have done some work to tap into the Clarence-Morton basin, which is what we classify as a sub-aquifer. So there's aquifers that are at different depths and the sub-aquifer is one source."

"I think what we will find as a region is that we are going to need to augment more than one source supply in order to give us the security of water provision that we are seeking in order to support the growing population," Burls said.

"So really what the team at Rous are doing is that they are partnering with experts to do the analysis on all of the options to really ensure that the best science, the most up-to-date information, the most rigorous review of all the relative schemes are being factored into the mix to get the best information that we can. Then it is up to the council to make decisions that are factoring the technical element and also the environmental, social and cultural considerations.” 

Burls, admits that the proposed Dunoon dam is “still in the very early stages around the process that needs to happen.”

Rous will be “undertaking a biodiversity and cultural heritage assessment. In terms of viability, it is what we refer to as a quadruple bottom line around whether or not it is perceived as viable in the community because the technical viability or the science saying yes, this could or could not be done in theory is only one element. We have got the environmental and cultural considerations as well.”

Burls says she is not involved in the policy of subsidised water tanks, but “I certainly know a lot of people who have benefited from those rainwater tank subsidies. But it is important to be aware that when we talk about dry times and drought the challenge is that of course the drier it gets the less the tanks get filled up.

"Data from the 2019 drought showed that what actually happened was there was so much water cartage happening to rural properties that ordinarily wouldn't show up on the roof supply network because they are not even tapped into our supply. But in this case, because their tanks had run dry the water carters were filling up from roof supply to then go and fill up these tanks on properties. So in fact, the water cartage rates went up exponentially in 2019."

"I personally live off rainwater tanks, I am a huge supporter of them but I am also very aware from being out on a property how restrictive they are when it doesn't rain.”

In terms of the future Burls admits, “I will be really honest, there is no perfect answer here. Every one of these options has got its challenges and there are going to have to be some difficult decisions that are going to have to be made in the near to medium future about the direction we are going.”