By Jeremy Sollars
Adherence to the Southern Downs Regional Council’s town water use target of a maximum of 200 litres per person per day was mixed across local towns and villages in June.
A report to be presented to councillors at next week’s July general meeting in Stanthorpe on Wednesday shows that while consumption in Stanthorpe and Killarney for the month of June was down compared to June 2017, it was still well over the 200 litre per day target, with Stanthorpe residents using around 275 litres and around 320 in Killarney.
Warwick’s performance fared a little better, with about 250 litres a day being used, compared to well over 300 litres a day in June last year.
The other two communities to exceed the 200 litre per day target for June 2018 were Leyburn, at just over 300 litres, and Pratten on just under 250 litres.
The lowest daily consumption per person per day for June 2018 was at Allora and Yangan, where residents on average used around 180 litres per day.
Wallangarra and Dalveen came in just under the 200 litre mark for June 2018, while residents at Karara used about 125 litres of their non-potable water a day.
But if the council gets its way Karara won’t have a reticulated water supply for much longer anyway, with councillors deciding at their June meeting to scrap the system, which up until now has delivered non-drinking water to the village’s homes from Canal Creek.
Mayor Tracy Dobie will meet with Karara residents next Tuesday 24 July at 2.30pm at the Karara Hall after locals demanded the decision be overturned, saying they use the water for both internal and external purposes, noting it is not suitable for drinking.
The Southern Downs Regional Council currently has medium-level water restrictions in place for urban users – to find out more visit www.sdrc.qld.gov.au and click on the ‘Living Here’ tab.
