Emergency Water Restrictions for Oura Water Supply Scheme

Published on 15 January 2025

Goldenfields Water County Council advises customers that emergency water restrictions have been introduced effective immediately. This will apply to our customers that are located on the Oura Water Supply Scheme.

The severe weather has resulted in a loss of power to our Oura Water Treatment plant. While our colleagues at Essential Energy are working to resolve this, Goldenfields Water needs to take this measure to assist with the maintenance of supply.

Goldenfields Water would like to assure all customers that there are sufficient supplies of water available to meet community, rural and emergency needs in support of the current operations however restrictions are required to preserve reserves until repairs to the electricity supply can be effected at the Oura plant.

These restrictions apply to the townships and surrounding areas of:

•           Junee

•           Temora (residents may also experience some discoloured water)

•           Marrar

•           Ungarie

•           Ariah Park

•           Ardlethan

•           Barellan

•           Barmedman

Please note, these restrictions do not apply to customers in West Wyalong. This is due to this location having sufficient reserves currently. 

All the above towns and surrounding areas are under emergency water supply restrictions until further notice.  At this stage Goldenfields Water cannot provide guidance on the time frame that restrictions will be required. We hope to be able to do so by Thursday morning (16 January 2025).

Goldenfields Water staff request that all customers please adhere to the restrictions being imposed to ensure that supply is maintained for critical needs during this time.

The following restrictions apply to all customers (residential, rural, and commercial) within the Oura Water Supply Scheme:

Domestic Use

• No irrigation is permitted at any time until further notice

• No use of sprinklers, soakers, handheld hoses or watering cans

• Filling of swimming pools and spas is prohibited

• Washing Motor Vehicles is prohibited, except mirrors and windscreens

• Minimise shower use to less than 4 minutes

Commercial use

• Crop spraying is prohibited

• Irrigation of any kind is prohibited

• Water Cartage from Standpipes is prohibited; however, standpipe locations are available in other schemes are available. 

• Washing Vehicles is prohibited; however, windscreens and mirrors are approved.

• Process and Manufacturing to restrict operations to less than 5L/s

Under the Local Government Act 1993, the maximum penalty that may be applied for a breach of imposed water restrictions is $2,200 for corporations and $220 for individuals.

Notice is hereby given under Regulation 137 of the Local Government (General) Regulation 2005, which permits the use of water to be restricted if there is a shortage of supply.

Goldenfields Water wishes to apologies for any inconvenience and thank everyone for their patience during this period of restriction.