News

Aerial survey: Weed Biosecurity

30 November 2023

Update: Survey completed as scheduled.

Rous County Council (Weed Biosecurity) will be conducting low-level aerial surveys throughout the Byron, Ballina and Richmond Valley local government areas for mapping biosecurity matter in all coastline/coastal areas from Byron Bay to Evans Head.

This survey will be conducted on Wednesday, 6 December 2023 from 8.00am to 4.00pm, weather permitting.

For more information contact Rous County Council on (02) 6623 3800.

Blue-green algae at Emigrant Creek Dam - High Alert

24 November 2023 (update from 23 October 2023)

Recent laboratory results indicate that the concentration of blue-green algae has increased significantly in the waters of Emigrant Creek Dam. Although the concentration of toxic species had been trending downwards recently, this increase has returned our alert status to a High Alert.

It is important that everyone continues to take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact: Avoid swimming or any direct contact with the water both upstream and downstream of Emigrant Creek Dam until further notice.
• Do not consume the water: Refrain from consuming water from Emigrant Creek or using it for any domestic or agricultural purposes until the algae levels return to a safe condition.
• Stay informed: Keep an eye on updates to stay informed about the situation and when it is safe to resume normal activities.

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that may pose health risks to humans and other animals. Exposure to contaminated water may cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and other severe health issues. Please follow advised safety measures to protect your health and well-being.

Our team is actively monitoring the situation and are working to address the issue. Regular water quality tests and assessments will continue to be conducted, and we will provide updates as the situation evolves.

Level 1 water restrictions have been delayed

23 November 2023

Rous County Council (Rous) advises the activation of Level 1 water restrictions are not expected before Christmas, as initially predicted, due to higher than anticipated rainfall in the region during November.

Drier than average conditions associated with El Nino negatively impacted the Northern Rivers’ water supply in September and October 2023. However, recent rainfall during November, coupled with the forecast of further storm events, mean that the need for water restrictions is now delayed.

“However, recent weather patterns do not change the current restriction regime,” said Andrew Logan, Group Manager Planning and Delivery, Rous County Council.

“If we experience a dry summer, as predicted by the Bureau of Meteorology, Level 1 water restrictions will continue to be activated when Rocky Creek Dam reaches 70%. “It is important for the community to know that the most recent advice is that El Nino conditions continue. So, whilst our current conditions have been more favourable, the overarching forecast has not changed and as such we are still encouraging the community to follow water saving advice.

“We understand that it can be tempting to relax water conservation efforts during periods of rainfall. However, we want to emphasise the importance of continuing to conserve water and adopting water saving tips to preserve our supply for as long as possible.”

Rous is actively monitoring rainfall data and inflows into Rocky Creek Dam which is currently at 84%. The dam levels are regularly updated and can be viewed on the Rous website. Rous will continue to advise the community of any changes or updates.

“We appreciate everyone’s water conservation efforts and encourage our community to continue to use water wisely and conserve water where possible.”

Sydney's new Purified Recycled Water Demonstration Plant and Discovery Centre

21 November 2023

Before its official opening to the public by Sydney Water, water utility staff from around Australia, including Rous County Council, were invited to attend a site tour of the new Purified Recycled Water (PRW) Demonstration Plant and Discovery Centre at Quakers Hill. PRW is one of a range of water supply options being explored by Sydney Water, Rous and other water providers to maintain a safe and secure supply that can meet the challenges of increasingly unpredictable weather and a growing population.

The new demonstration plant has been designed to showcase the technology behind advanced treatment and purification processes. These processes ensure PRW exceeds the water quality expected under strict Australian Drinking Water Guidelines and Australian Guidelines for Water Recycling. Small-scale plants also help to build community understanding and acceptance of PRW.

The site tour was organised by the Water Services of Australia Assocation (WSAA) for the benefit of other water providers who are investigating these technologies. Rous’s Recycled Water Project Manager, Jeremy Wilson, said the peak body for the water services industry in Australia is hopeful a national approach to the development and management of PRW in Australasia will help garner political and regulatory support and pave the way for its adoption and acceptance within the community.

“Six out of eight states and territories in Australia are looking at PRW, as well as New Zealand, but Sydney Water is the first utility to open a demonstration plant in New South Wales. It’s an important first step in the development of PRW in the state,” Mr. Wilson said.

Also in attendance at the tour were staff from Hunter Water, Tamworth Regional Council, MidCoast Council, Central Coast Council, SEQWater, SAWater, Water Corporation WA who already use PRW in Perth, Canberra’s Icon Water and various Victorian utilities. Two tours of about 20 people went through the centre. Workshop sessions were also held by WSAA so that the invited utilities could share experiences and co-ordinate activities, particularly community engagement.

“There is significant value for all of us to learn from Sydney Water’s experience. While at Rous we are considering developing a pilot plant, we’re also considering other ways of demonstrating PRW technologies and helping build community understanding and acceptance. We may be able to leverage Sydney’s work and it may not be necessary for every utility to produce a pilot plant. 

“The PRW Plant is designed as a walk-through that starts with the history of Sydney’s water supply. It explains the drivers behind the need for diversified sources including population growth and a changing climate and identifies wastewater as an existing resource that can be used. Following this are the physical demonstrations and technologies that achieve purification, including ultrafiltration, reverse osmosis, ultra-violet advanced oxidation and chlorination. The demonstration ends by gauging an individual’s sentiment around the use of PRW for drinking water.”

Water produced at this Plant will not contribute to Sydney's drinking water supply. The PRW Demonstration Plant and Discovery Centre will open to stakeholders in small groups. For more information, go here.

View the video (1:24).

Blue-green algae at Emigrant Creek Dam - Low Alert

23 October 2023 (update from 16 August 2023)

Recent laboratory results indicate that the concentration of blue-green algae is steadily decreasing within the waters of Emigrant Creek Dam, remaining within the Low Alert Detection limit for three consecutive weeks.

Although this trend is promising, toxic species of blue-green algae are still detectable within Emigrant Creek and the public are still advised to exercise caution.

It is important that everyone continues to take the following precautions:

• Avoid contact: Avoid swimming or any direct contact with the water both upstream and downstream of Emigrant Creek Dam until further notice.
• Do not consume the water: Refrain from consuming water from Emigrant Creek or using it for any domestic or agricultural purposes until the algae levels return to a safe condition.
• Stay informed: Keep an eye on updates to stay informed about the situation and when it is safe to resume normal activities.

Blue-green algae can produce toxins that may pose health risks to humans and other animals. Exposure to contaminated water may cause skin irritation, gastrointestinal discomfort, and other severe health issues. Please follow advised safety measures to protect your health and well-being.

Our team is actively monitoring the situation and are working to address the issue. Regular water quality tests and assessments will continue to be conducted, and we will provide updates as the situation evolves.

Activation of Level 1 water restrictions brought forward to help preserve region’s supply

19 October 2023

Rous County Council (Rous) advises Level 1 water restrictions will now be activated when Rocky Creek Dam reaches 70 per cent instead of 60 per cent (as stated in the Regional Water Supply Drought Management Plan) to help preserve the region’s water supply.

This amendment was agreed upon at the ordinary Council meeting on 18 October 2023.

Water levels at Rous's primary water source, Rocky Creek Dam, have steadily dropped due to low inflows and an overall increase in water use in the region. The dam is currently at 82 per cent capacity.

Rous proposed to bring the activation of water restrictions forward in response to the Bureau of Meteorology declaring an El Nino and the pressure this weather event is expected to place on the region’s water sources, according to Phillip Rudd, General Manager, Rous County Council.

“The climate model outlooks indicate that the El Nino is likely to continue until at least the end of the southern hemisphere summer 2023–24,” Phillip Rudd said.

“In partnership with our constituent councils, we have decided to activate water restrictions sooner than originally planned to help sustain our region’s water supply for longer and delay the onset of more severe restrictions.

“We anticipate Level 1 water restrictions will be activated before Christmas. This is based on current consumption rates, the weather forecast and our modelling data that determines the predicted depletion rate of our supply.

“With a dry summer coming up very soon, it is important that as a community we are all mindful of our water use so we can save our supply for as long as possible.”

Level 1 water restrictions will apply to the council areas of Ballina, Byron (excluding Mullumbimby), Lismore (excluding Nimbin), and Richmond Valley.

“Level 1 water restrictions focus on residential outdoor water use,” said Andrew Logan, Group Manager Planning and Delivery, Rous County Council.

“The restrictions include not watering established lawns, and only watering established gardens with hand-held hoses for one hour every second day, between 4.00pm and 9.00am, on odd or even days to match the house numbering system.

“A water saving tip we strongly encourage is to fit all hand-held hoses with on/off trigger nozzles.

“We ask everyone in our community to do their part and follow the water restriction guidelines so that, together, we can delay harsher limitations for as long as possible.

“Rous has been working with our constituent council partners to refine the water restrictions and exemptions and develop a water efficiency management plan for businesses to use.”

To prepare for the water restrictions and for more water savings tips, Rous encourages everyone to visit their Water savings and restrictions webpage.

Rous is working to ensure the Northern Rivers has a secure and resilient water supply to meet the community’s needs through its Future Water Project 2060. A new Project Update is available that provides an overview of the work that is underway on each of the key projects. The information provided outlines both short-term actions and the longer-term investigations taking place to secure water to 2060 and beyond.