Victoria set for tough water restrictions

7NEWS can reveal Melbourne will rely on desalinated water for the first time in three years to keep the taps running. It is hoped it will stave off tough water restrictions like those imposed in the southwest of the state.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:04):
Victoria's Indian summer has put tourist hotspot a Polo Bay
on water watch.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
The last twelve months in Apollo Bay have been the
driest in eighty six years.

Speaker 1 (00:13):
Stage three restrictions came into force over the weekend.

Speaker 2 (00:17):
You can't water your lawns or host down hard services,
so you can water your garden on alternative days, and
you can spot clean your car to make sure it
remains safe.

Speaker 3 (00:25):
I hope that we can get lots of rain winter
so we can start We don't have to stop using.

Speaker 1 (00:31):
Everything back in the city. The Water Minister has made
the decision to activate the state's desalination plant, with a
water top up scheduled for July, the first in three years.

Speaker 4 (00:42):
The simple and really difficult reality is right now is
we haven't had rain. We haven't had enough rain to
replenish the dams, to fill the tanks, to put water
through the channels. That's why Ministers spenses are working very
hard on what further support can be provided.

Speaker 1 (00:57):
But the top up won't help a Polo Ba and
its surrounds, and it could be too little, too late
for Victorian farmers struggling to stay afloat.

Speaker 5 (01:06):
Water shortages are having a massive impact on those people
have livestocks, and some of them are making some incredibly
tough decisions.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
The drought has put all livestock under threat and grocery
prices under pressure.

Speaker 6 (01:18):
This time last year, the basin here in Apollo Bay
was lapping the edges at ninety six percent capacity, and today,
as you can see, it's a lot lower, sitting at
twenty five percent.

Speaker 1 (01:30):
Local businesses also feeling the pinch.

Speaker 4 (01:33):
We're using less now. I ain't never wash like I
did before.

Speaker 6 (01:38):
I would say we.

Speaker 2 (01:39):
Are possibly potentially in a bit of travel

Speaker 1 (01:41):
Tyros Hours seven News