The North Burnett Regional Council downgraded Gayndah’s water restrictions from the highest possible level last week.
From 11 to 19 March, residents of Gayndah were asked to limit all town water use to food preparation, personal hygiene and laundry as a result of recent flood damage to a council-owned raw water intake pump in the nearby Burnett River.
On Thursday 19 March, the NBRC changed Gayndah’s water restrictions from level five – the highest possible – to three. The change means town water users can again utilise the council supply to water their gardens, but only by handheld hose or container between the hours of 8pm and 6am.
Use of town water in sprinklers, to wash cars, driveways or buildings, or in swimming pools is still banned under the level three restrictions.
The restrictions came after heavy rainfall and rising river levels impacted the North Burnett region at the start of March. Council reported one of its raw water intake pipes in the Burnett River at Gayndah was “affected” by the flooding, with crews working to restore the function of the town’s water treatment plant over the coming days.
On 20 March, the NBRC extended the level three water restrictions on until another review on Monday, 23 March. Later that day, council gave 30 March as the next date for review, meaning Gayndah locals will have to operate under water restrictions for at least another week.
