Water restrictions in Kalgoorlie-Boulder have been lifted

2/4/98

The water restrictions introduced in Kalgoorlie-Boulder on January 21 have been lifted.

The restrictions banned the use of sprinklers, except for twice a week between 6pm and 9am, and replaced the permanent day-time sprinkler ban for the Perth integrated water supply system.

The day-time limitation, which includes all areas supplied through the Goldfields pipeline, bans the use of sprinklers daily from 9am through to 6pm.

Water Resources Minister Dr Kim Hames said the permanent day-time ban, which research had consistently shown was widely supported by the community, would now be the only restriction in Kalgoorlie-Boulder.

The twice weekly restrictions were introduced when water storage plunged to about 30 per cent .

Storage in Kalgoorlie-Boulder has now reached 85 per cent of capacity.

"During the past two months, the Water Corporation has said on several occasions that when storage reached 70 per cent the position would be reviewed," Dr Hames said.

"This goal as been reached, so the sprinkler restrictions are no longer necessary and the city can now return to the permanent day-time ban.

"The corporation is confident consumption will average no more than 27 million litres a day in April and that storage will reach 100 per cent by the start of May.

"That assessment was sufficient for the restrictions to be lifted immediately."

Dr Hames paid tribute to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder community for their co-operation in reducing consumption during a testing time.

"I am aware the restrictions were required during a prolonged, hot, dry spell with no relief from summer thunderstorms," he said.

"Despite this, all sections of the community responded to the call to reduce water consumption, none more so than householders whose efforts were excellent.

"I would like to pass on my thanks, together with those of the Water Corporation, for an outstanding result."

Dr Hames said he was pleased with early progress on the project to increase the capacity of the Goldfields pipeline into Kalgoorlie-Boulder to 41 million litres a day before next summer.

The drive to lift the capacity by 14 per cent from 36 million litres a day is at the heart of an $8.2 million works program on the water supply in the next nine months.

Work is likely to begin shortly east of Merredin on a 4.5km section of the pipeline identified as a flow bottleneck. This section is to be replaced with larger diameter pipe.

Plans are also well advanced for the refurbishment of the 49km section from the Bullabulling pump station into Kalgoorlie-Boulder with tenders called for various elements of the work.

Dr Hames said the work was the first step in long-term improvements which would be implemented over several years following the completion in July of a comprehensive planning study of the Goldfields pipeline and a detailed study of several supply options available to the Water Corporation.

"Water consumption in the Goldfields and many other parts of Western Australia, including Perth, increased sharply this summer," he said.

"It is hoped this major increase was a one-off because of the prolonged, extremely hot weather.

"However, the Water Corporation has taken note of the increase as it related to the Goldfields and immediate action was taken to increase the capacity into the city."

Media contact: Caroline Lacy (08) 9424 7450

Water Corporation: Phil Kneebone (08) 9420 2420