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Your Say: New Vic water plan

Posted by: 3AW.com.au | 24 November, 2008 - 10:40 AM

UPDATE: Rob Skinner, Melbourne Water, explains to 3AW Breakfast's Ross and John why he believes dams are not the answer to the water crisis in Victoria.

The water issue in the state is generating massive debate - read some of the comments posted by readers below and add your own.

LAST WEEK: Melburnians will be asked to limit water use to 155 litres a day - or less - per person under new water savings measures announced this morning by Premier John Brumby and Water Minister Tim Holding.

With water storage levels at record lows heading into the summer months, the government has opted against setting level 4 water restrictions and instead asking for a 'voluntary' effort from Melbourne residents.

At the moment, 165 litres per day is the average daily use for a person in Melbourne. Under the plan, it is believed a four-minute shower is the maximum length a person can take.

Listen to 3AW's Neil Mitchell grill Water Minister Tim Holding (below) on how a seemingly uncontrollable plan will be monitored by the government.

Neil Mitchell grills water minister

Minister Holding says business and industry will be asked to restrict water use, but could not give an exact figure.

If you are from Melbourne, do you think you will be able to restrict your use to 155 litres? Do you even know what 155 litres of water allows for you to do in a day?

If you are from outside Melbourne, do you think the 'voluntary' measures are tough enough in such difficult times for rural Victoria?

Blog comments

There are so many insane ideas when it comes to water. Firstly, there's NO point building further dams when there's NO rainfall to fill it. Secondly, we already have enough dams. We just don't get sufficient rainfall OR the majority of it tends to fall in the bay. Australia was always predicted to be the driest continent on the planet, particularly once global warming - really kicked in. Realistically we have TWO options - we either pump it down from the north, or we use the desalinated water option. Both options are expensive. Personally I think we should have foregone the tax breaks & invested the money into water-related infrastructure. It would have created jobs and contributed to our water/food supply. We should have built a pumping station on the coast, and a desalination plant inland for country Victoria. Both forms of infrastructure would have created ongoing employment. The problem always was that governments left it far too late before deciding to do something constructive about the problem. The 155 litre program is just wank (only delaying the inevitable)! We HAVE to produce more water one way or the other, regardless of whether it's desalinated or piped down from up north. With rising temperatures & limited rainfall, food production had to move up north, where there is unlimited water and land. Australia is not the only country to suffer from extreme drought conditions. Our river systems are basically streams compared to the US, and yet the US has massive problems with rising drought, limited water supplies and extensive water restrictions.

Lenny Sunday 8 March, 2009 - 6:32 PM
This government has been instrumental in causing the shortage of water by poor management and no infrastructure. They have WASTED millions of dollars and now they need to double water prices to quickly build expensive water factories.
My land tax has tripled. Stuff this useless government I pay more than enough in taxes and get ZIP. I will use as much water as I want.

Bozo Friday 6 March, 2009 - 7:39 PM
Also the construction and building industries use ALOT of drinking water for mixing cement and mortars, the washing down of walls and tools, its industry using all the water

Vaughan Saturday 31 January, 2009 - 1:10 PM
if they want to build infrastructure that is not dependent on rainfall then why the hell are they building a pipeline to steal water from the country to nsend to the city. North victoria has less rainfall than southern victoria

Mark Thursday 22 January, 2009 - 1:08 PM
Are the water people doing anything about cleaning out the dan storeage areas whilst the dams are so low.

James Hennessy Thursday 22 January, 2009 - 12:27 PM
We use 115 Litres per day TOTAL for 2 people, and we really dont TRY to save water, except with the toilet - if its yellow, let it mellow.
Also we do not water our garden - never EVER. Some plants die, others are fine. Pull out the dead ones, plant more of those that survive.
Not sure how everyone else can use so much??
Garden watering should be banned permanently (even tank water should be ONLY used in the house, eg to flush toilets, wash clothes). A water resource is precious - even tank water.. none of it should be wasted.

Steven C Thursday 11 December, 2008 - 3:39 PM