Buildings and Grounds Division

Water Restrictions

Stage 3a Water Restriction

Melbourne is on Stage 3a water restriction. The water storage is at a critical level and Stage 3a water restrictions came into effect on 1 April 2007.
Details of the water restrictions are available on Yarra Valley Water web site (www.yvw.com.au)
Yarra Valley Water has confirmed that the "Exemptions" issued to various areas within the University under Stage 3 water restrictions are applicable under Stage 3a Water restrictions.

Stage 3 Water Restriction

The States’s prolonged dry weather and below average rainfall has triggered Stage 3 water restrictions in the Melbourne area as of 1 January 2007.

As you are aware, Bundoora campus has been established as a “dry landscape” over the past years in order to save water. The plants have been selected according to the climate of the region. A beautifully designed moat system is one of the key features of the campus. It was designed stormwater / flood mitigation solution and is also utilized to provide basic irrigation of the campus grounds.

At La Trobe University all the grassed area including the sports playing fields and Peribolos lawn are irrigated from the moat system. The Union beer garden is irrigated from the rain water harvesting tank located close to the Eagle bar. Other garden beds and trees are watered by mobile tanker that is filled from the moat system

La Trobe University - Water Management team is in regular consultation with Yarra Valley Water regarding water conservation. La Trobe University developed a Water Management Plan in 2004, which is approved by Yarra Valley Water. 

However it is essential that the University community is aware of the following Stage 3 water restrictions guidelines as they apply to this University:

Watering Days: Under Stage 3 water restrictions an odd street number property can water on Wednesdays and Sundays and even number properties or properties without street numbers can water on Tuesdays and Saturdays within the following guidelines.

1. Watering times (Residential or Commercial Gardens)

• Automatic dripper systems which only operate as required within the hours of midnight and 4.00 am on watering days.
• Manual dripper systems which operate only as required within the hours of 6.00 am – 8.00 am and 8.00 pm – 10.00 pm on watering days.
• Hand held hoses fitted with trigger nozzle, watering cans and buckets can be used within the hours of 6.00 am – 8.00 am and 8.00 pm – 10.00 pm on watering days.
• No watering permitted on Monday, Thursday and Friday
• Lawn areas must not be watered at any time under stage 3 restrictions.

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2. Watering times (Sports Grounds)

Note: An exempt playing surface must not be watered except by:

• Automatic dripper systems which only operate as required within the hours of midnight and 8.00 am on watering days.
• Manuel dripper systems which operate only as required within the hours of 6.00 am – 8.00 am and 8.00 pm – 10.00 pm on watering days.
• Hand held hoses fitted with trigger nozzle, watering cans and buckets can be used within the hours of 6.00 am – 10.00 am on watering days.
• No watering is permitted on Monday, Thursday and Friday.
• Any other playing surface must not be watered at anytime.
• Exemptions may be granted for some sports grounds through the provision of a Water Conservation Plan

3. Watering exempt surfaces:

• Exempt surfaces must be watered during set times for the respective stage restrictions.
• If you wish to water exempt surfaces outside of the set times for stages 2 and 3 restrictions a watering plan must be submitted.
• If you wish to apply for watering an area other than the exempt surfaces you must submit a water conservation plan.
• Any other playing surface must not be watered at any time.

4. Hard Surfaces:

• Hosing down of hard surfaces except in case of accident, fire, health hazard or special circumstances is not permitted. surfaces must be watered during set times for the respective stage restrictions.

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If you have any suggestions regarding water conservation then please forward to Buildings and Grounds Division.

Latest updates and further details on water restrictions can be obtained from http://www.yvw.com.au/