Nurseries welcome new watering rules

NURSERIES and garden centres are looking forward to growing their profits after it was announced south-east Queensland’s water restrictions will be eased from December 1.

But fears have been raised that the restrictions should remain in place ahead of the region’s expected population boom.

The changes will allow residents to be able to water their lawns and gardens with a hand-held hose or water-efficient irrigation or sprinkler system between 4pm and 10am any day except Monday.

Cars will also be able to be washed with hoses before 10am and after 4pm any day except Monday.

Currently, residents can only use hoses on their gardens between 4pm and 4.30pm on Saturday and Tuesday if they have odd-numbered addresses and on Wednesday and Sunday if they have even-numbered addresses.

Restrictions continue on using town water to top up swimming pools.

Pine Mountain Nurseries owner John Craigie said he hoped the water restrictions would help his business, as people who had neglected their garden during the past few years would hopefully resume their interest in plants.

“A lot of nurseries in this area have gone bust because of the water restrictions,” Mr Craigie said.

“This will be a big help for many nurseries and gardeners who probably lost their passion for gardening during the past few years.”

Local councillor Trevor Nardi said he personally disagreed with the Queensland Government’s decision to ease restrictions.

“The population of Ipswich will double in the next few decades and we need to be water conscious now so there’s enough to go around then,” Cr Nardi said.

“I encourage locals to be very conscious of water use.”

Beris Sanders from the Ipswich Horticulture Society said the restrictions would help elderly citizens who struggled to carry buckets of water resume their gardening hobbies.

The Queensland Water Commission said the water restrictions would be in place until dam levels dropped below 40 per cent capacity.

Dam levels are currently above 70 per cent.