Following a dry period, rainfall allows water restrictions to ease in the Apollo Bay region

Following a record-breaking dry period, residents in the Apollo Bay region will be allowed to water their gardens and wash their cars as restrictions ease.

Much-needed rainfall has allowed water restrictions to ease in the Apollo Bay region, meaning locals will be allowed to wash their cars and fill up their pools.

From July 1, stage three restrictions will be downgraded to stage two restrictions in Apollo Bay, Marengo and Skenes Creek, as flows have returned to the Barham River, allowing water storage efforts to resume.

The change means residents can wash their cars, boats or other vehicles at home, fill pools or spas of up to 2000L, and water gardens using a watering system on alternate days during certain hours, or with a handheld hose fitted with a trigger nozzle.

Restrictions remain around hosing down hard surfaces, and lawns cannot be watered at any time.

Barwon Water general manager Seamus Butcher said some limitations were still required to help safeguard storage levels ahead of the peak summer demand period.

“We really appreciate the efforts of customers and community members in being efficient with water and making changes to help us safeguard supplies,” Mr Butcher said.

“The easing of restrictions reflects an encouraging increase in our water reserves, which has been helped by the community’s collective effort.

“We’ll continue to closely monitor weather forecasts and the longer-term recovery of our supplies, before determining any further changes to restrictions.”

Apollo Bay Basin with the Otway Ranges in the background. Picture: Barwon Water

Having fallen as low as 20.4 per cent earlier this month, storages have since increased to 36.2 per cent on June 23.

The Bureau of Meteorology reported the June-to-date total rainfall ranges between 100-125 mm across the Apollo Bay, Marengo and Skenes Creek regions.

The welcome news comes as the area experienced its driest 12 months (between May 2024 and April 2025) in 86 years, and its second driest year on record.

The adverse conditions required stage three water restrictions to be introduced on May 10.

Originally published as Following a dry period, rainfall allows water restrictions to ease in the Apollo Bay region