Tweed Shire Council warns Level 3 water restrictions could be in place by February as drought drains Clarrie Hall Dam

The Tweed is set to face even tougher water restrictions as the level of Clarrie Hall Dam continues to plummet.

THE Tweed could face even tougher water restrictions by February as the level of Clarrie Hall Dam continues to plummet during one of the worst droughts the shire has ever seen.

Tweed Shire Council has pleaded with residents to reduce their water consumption and abide by current Level 2 water restrictions, and Level 4 restrictions in the village of Tyalgum.

The council’s manager of water and wastewater Anthony Burnham said the community had responded well to sudden Level 2 restrictions put in place late last year.

However, consumption has jumped after Christmas.

The Tyalgum Weir pictured late last year highlights the dire situation which many rural areas of the Tweed are facing. The weir is virtually empty. Picture: Scott Powick

“On our current trajectory, we will be introducing Level 3 water restrictions in early February and then the severest Level 4 restrictions by the end of February,” Mr Burnham said.

“This timeline strongly demonstrates the very serious situation the Tweed faces and should prompt everyone to heed our call to action and save water now.

“We need to get back on track quickly as we cannot afford higher levels of water use as we only have one small dam supplying the entire community.

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“Currently Clarrie Hall Dam is at 70.8 per cent capacity and falling nearly two per cent a week.”

Mr Burnham said Tweed residents they can expect a “polite notice in their letterbox” if they breach water restrictions and further breaches will see them fined $220 on each occasion.

He said data from the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) has confirmed 2019 was the driest year on record at Bray Park.

Only 716.7mm of rain was recorded, less than half the average of 1571mm.

When the Tweed was last placed on Level 4 water restrictions in 2002, the annual rainfall was higher at 767.5mm for the year.

Tougher water restrictions could be put in place by February. Picture: Scott Powick

Since records began there have only been five other years when the recorded rainfall at Bray Park dipped below 1000mm:

In 2002 annual rainfall was 767.5mm, in 1986 it was 846.0mm in 1915 it was 863mm, in 1902 it was 742.6mm and in 1885 it was 754.0mm.

The bureau also has confirmed that soil moisture levels are very low and patchy rain which falls on the Tweed will likely be soaked up.

Meanwhile, the BOM has only forecast a 35-40 per cent chance of the shire receiving average rainfall or above between February and March.

“These statistics and forecasts are evidence that the Tweed is in the grips of a prolonged and serious drought,” Mr Burnham said.

“While we did receive 59mm in the catchment on Christmas Eve which allowed us to stop releasing water from the dam for three days, we are again releasing water every day to meet demand and the dam level is continuing to fall.”

In early December, the council voted to skip straight past Level 1 restrictions to Level 2.

Find out more about water restrictions by visiting the council’s website.