The Southern Midlands Council Emergency Number is:
0419 325 405
For all council emergencies relating to roads, water, sewerage and stormwater.
The Department of Infrastructure, Energy and Resource have recently released a "Tasmanian Roadside Signs Manual". This Manual covers the requirements for the erection of roadside signs within Tasmania. To access a copy of the manual please use the following link: http://www.transport.tas.gov.au/publications/roadsigns.
Australia is currently experiencing a long, difficult drought, placing pressure on one of the country's most precious resources - water.
In Tasmania's country areas, water is at critically low levels and using water wisely is essential. While urban Hobart is blessed with good supplies, it's still vital that we save water whenever possible!
This summer, homes and businesses across much of southern Tasmania are invited by their local council to become Waterwise!
The southern Councils of Brighton, Central Highlands, Clarence City, Derwent Valley, Glamorgan Spring Bay, Glenorchy City, Hobart City, Kingborough, Sorell, Southern Midlands and Tasman, together with Hobart Water, have joined forces to launch Waterwise 2007.
Charles Wooley, the program's spokesperson, outlines why Tasmanians should save water. The campaign invites Tasmanians to use water wisely and gives practical advice on how to go about it!
Tasmanians are also invited to take part in the Summer Waterwise Competition. Entrants will be asked to show evidence of a water saving initiatives. Winners will be announced in February 2008 and will be presented with prizes. To learn more about the competition the competition section below.
Throughout the campaign, you can receive great information from your local Council on the program and find out about any additional initiatives taking place in your area. Most homes and businesses will be mailed a Waterwise brochure (link to brochure) and road signs and posters will be out and around to remind people to be Waterwise. Extra copies of brochures and posters are available from Council offices.
For more information, contact the Waterwise Coordinator at Hobart Water on 6233 6533 or email us at waterwise@hobartwater.com.au.
The 2007/08 Waterwise competition is being run this summer and is open to all residents and businesses in participating council areas. If your home or business has come up with bright ideas for saving water, tell us about it and the winning entry in each category will take home $500 cash and a trophy!
All you have to do is tell us about your successful water saving idea and send us photos or other evidence. For competition details and the entry form, click here.
Forms must be received by Hobart Water between 1 December 2007 and 29 February 2008.
For more information, contact the Waterwise Coordinator at Hobart Water on 6233 6533 or email us at waterwise@hobartwater.com.au.
Here are some compelling reasons to become waterwise!
Water supply will be one of the most critical issues our children will inevitably face in their adult lives. We owe it to them to embrace water conservation and learn ways to save water in the home and garden.
While schools are increasingly focussing on the importance of water, let's make the messages come to life at home.
To see some great ideas to help educate kids, refer below.
During fire fighting efforts in 2006, water consumption in greater Hobart was the highest it's ever been! This meant additional water had to be sourced to ensure firefighters and people protecting their own homes had enough water to fight the fires.
One of the biggest risks is water pressure, which is vital when fighting fires. Heavy water use in gardens on hot days means there's less pressure in the system where it's needed to save lives and buildings. In Hobart, water pipelines criss-cross the urban area, and water can be sourced from different parts of the city.
You don't have to be near a fire to make a difference to the system.
In rural areas, people don't need to be told how important their precious reserves of water are... they know it!
Please use water wisely throughout spring and summer so your firefighters are armed at all times with their biggest fire fighting weapon - water!
To learn more about the Tasmanian Fire Service, click here (link to Tasmanian fire service).
By using less water, we can take pressure off our drinking water catchments and only take what we need. Currently, homes and businesses across southern Tasmania which get reticulated water use more than 35,000 million litres of water each year. That's enough water to fill approximately 17,500 Olympic-sized swimming pools.
But research across Australia shows that more than 50% of household water is used in the garden. How much can we save using wise gardening practices? Every litre of water saved means there's less pressure on our natural catchments, wherever we live.
It's simple to save water in the home, business and garden. On this page, we highlight the easiest ways to do it and links for more information.
In the home
To view other links for water saving in the home, refer below.
In the garden
With more than 52% of water being used in the garden, there are numerous resources available to help you use water more wisely in the garden.
Tasmania's very own Peter Cundall from Gardening Australia has focussed on water wise gardening for a number of years. The show has produced a number of fact sheets on the topic. To see these fact sheets, http://www.abc.net/gardening/factsheets/waterwise.htm).
In business
To view other links for water saving in your business, refer below.
On holidays
Whether travelling to mainland Australia or country Tasmania, remember water is probably scarce and water restrictions may apply.
This page outlines external organisations and links for water saving in an array of areas. These sources are well used throughout Australia and are up-to-date sources of information for those wanting to learn how to conserve water.
http://www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=13
http://www.sgaonline.org.au/info_water_conservation_in_the_garden.html
http://www.savewater.com.au/index.php?sectionid=12
Archer, J, Hodges, J, & LeHunt, B 1993, The water efficient garden: a practical and innovative guide - from planning through to established gardens, Random House, Sydney
Cochrane, T & Passmore, N 2003, The garden gurus guide to waterwise gardening, Garden Gurus, Dianella, W.A.
Earth Garden Magazine, 2004, The Earth Garden Water Book, published by Earth Garden Magazine
Maddon, C., & Carmichael, A., 2007, Every Last Drop: The Water Saving Guide, published by Random House Australia.
Patrick, J 1994, Beautiful gardens with less water, Lothian, Melbourne.
Walsh, K., 2004, 3rd edition, Waterwise Gardening, published by Reed New Holland.Yates Garden Guide, published by Harper Collins
http://www.impactenviro.com.au/publications_story-books.asp
http://www.awa.asn.au/AM/Template.cfm?Section=Resources_for_Students_and_Educators
Know of any other sites?
If you know of any other water saving websites or general resources, let us know and we'll look into them. Send an email to waterwise@hobartwater.com.au!
There are several organisations that exist to help educate and assist Australians with water conservation. Take a look at the organisations below and check out their websites for some great information!
Nursery & Garden Industry Tasmania (NGIT) Water Wise program
In 2005, the Nursery & Garden Industry Tasmania Inc signed a partnership agreement with a number of local councils in greater Hobart to jointly promote water wise gardening.
Accredited water wise garden centres include:
In the Launceston area, other participating centres include Allan's Garden Centre, Beck's Garden Centre, Cloverlea Garden Centre, and Lifestyle Garden Centre.
For more information, email NGIT at ngit@bigpond.com.au.
The savewater!® Alliance works with member water businesses, government agencies and product companies to deliver water conservation programs throughout Australia. savewater!® offers a combination of web resources and practical programs to help all Australians change the way they use water.
They have a great deal of information on their site about saving water in the home, garden and business.
Visit their site at http://www.savewater.com.au/ for more information.
SGA is a not for profit association committed to achieving real, continually improving and easily understood environmental solutions for gardeners. Their main objective is to help Australians garden in a way that has a positive environmental impact.
They have identified the key areas of gardening that impact on the environment and have extensive information regarding saving water in the garden and assisting gardeners with plant selection based on climate and available plants.
They have many fact sheets available on their website and have relationships with many local nurseries throughout Tasmania. Visit their site today at http://www.sgaonline.org.au/.
GetGreen is a water conservation and energy conservation website focused on providing information on how to save water and energy in the home and office. It aims to provide tips and information as well as links to products and services that can help you save water, save energy, save our planet and save a little money in the process.
Visit them today at http://www.getgreen.com.au/.
Several rating systems in Australia exist to help consumers become more water conservation conscious and help them purchase household goods that are both efficient and water saving.
Smart Approved WaterMark is Australia's outdoor water saving labelling program for products and services that help to reduce water use around the home.
Their vision is of an Australian public that is aware of, and actively engaged in, water conservation around the home. They aim to achieve this through
Visit their website at http://www.smartwatermark.info/ for more information.
The WELS Scheme labels products for water efficiency, helping Australian households save water and money. Choosing more efficient products helps Australia save water.
WELS reports that by 2021 Australians could save more than $600 million through reduced water and energy bills by simply choosing more efficient products.
The WELS water rating label provides water efficiency information for water-using products. It allows consumers to compare products and rewards manufacturers and retailers who make and stock water efficient models.
The label shows:
A zero to six star rating that allows a quick comparative assessment of the products' water efficiency. The more stars on the label the more water efficient the product. A figure showing the water consumption flow of the product based on laboratory tests.
Visit WELS today at http://waterrating.gov.au.
Know of any other sites?
If you know of any other water saving websites or general resources, let us know. Shoot
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