Level 1 water restrictions will be introduced in the Douglas Shire on Friday 11 September.

Under Level 1 water restrictions, no watering of residential or commercial gardens is permitted at any time on Mondays.

Watering is only permitted between the hours of 6am – 9am and 6pm – 9pm on alternate days with a:

• Sprinkler;
• Hand-held trigger or twist nozzle;
• Irrigation system; or
• Watering can or bucket.

“Alternate days” shall mean designated days of water use.

• Properties with an odd street number may water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday;
• Properties with an even street number may water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday;
• Properties without a Council-prescribed street number may water on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday;
• No watering is permitted on Monday

On the spot fines (Penalty Infringement Notices) of $341 for Residential Customers and $1707 for Non-Residential Customers apply for non-compliance of restrictions.

Mayor Julia Leu said water levels in Rex Creek and other supply creeks have dropped significantly in recent weeks and consumption has not fallen.

“Port Douglas alone is using in excess of 10 million litres a day, more than the entire reservoir can hold, which means that it is only at night and on the Monday that we can get storages back up,” Mayor Leu said.

“This will be increasingly difficult as the creek levels fall.”

“General Manager Operations Paul Hoye said people need to understand that the water has to be extracted, treated and then moved another 15km to the Port Douglas storage. 

“The simple fact is that Port Douglas is using water quicker than we can get it to them and we know the vast majority isn’t being used for showers and toilets, it gets sprinkled on lawns and often down drains,” Mr Hoye said.

“Council officers will be actively patrolling to ensure businesses and residents are complying with the Level 1 restrictions and if necessary officers will restrict the supply to larger users who are not acting in the best interests of the Douglas community,” Mr Hoye said.

“Council thanks everyone in the community for their efforts in conserving water.”