ALTHOUGH Cloncurry has managed to avoid drastic action in the face of severe water shortages, it’s a prospect that is becoming increasingly real to Longreach residents.
Central western Queensland’s regional centre of nearly 5000 residents, Longreach is currently on level three water restrictions, meaning householders can only water their gardens for two hours a day with a handheld hose.
Without significant rain the town is only a few weeks off moving to level four, under which residents will only be able to water with a bucket or watering can, and only use evaporative air conditioners when residents are in their homes.
Graham Moffatt has lived on the Thomson River at Camoola Park 60km north of Longreach for most of his life and says that while he’s seen water levels in the river lower, current levels are getting to the critical stage.
In 2002, river water levels were the lowest in 100 years.
“Normally you would get a trickle by Christmas – it’s unusual to go for so long without storm rain,” Graham said.
“The river has a big catch and hard country – it usually gets a run from somewhere.”
He added that Longreach had grown so much in recent years, contributing to a lot more water being drawn out.
On the plus side, he felt that the new infrastructure installed 6 to 8 years ago was assisting in maintaining supply.
“Realistically, it won’t be enough if there’s no rain though.”
Longreach mayor Joe Owens said the town’s Disaster Management Plan didn’t contain any provisions for evacuation, but council would consider carting water in for essential purposes if it got to that stage.
He said this wasn’t being contemplated at present and he had been told by longtime residents that they’d seen the river quite a bit lower in the past.
The council voted overwhelmingly at the end of January to stop blending bore water with the town’s river water supply until they were able to get to the bottom of salt problems affecting air conditioners and garden equipment, but lowering river levels are bringing calls to reinstate the supply.
The Longreach Pastoral College has also had to cease pumping water from the Thomson River for its irrigated fodder paddocks.
Its operation under a different regime to the local council water management plan is something council needs to address, according to Cr Owens.
“They draw water from the same supply, so I think that’s a discussion we need to have with the Department of Natural Resources and the College,” he said.
Sally Cripps
Journalist
Journalist
