Drought Management & Water Saving

In the Mansfield Shire Environment Strategy 2019-2023 , we highlight Council's role in domestic, or on-site, wastewater management. A community handbook and other information is available to guide owners of onsite wastewater management systems to ensure their systems maintain good environmental and community health in unsewered areas.

Mansfield Shire Environment Strategy 2019-2023(PDF, 5MB)

Drought relief & bore locations

Council provides emergency and drought relief bores to assist the community in times of drought or bushfire.

Victoria’s Drought Relief Preparedness and Respond Framework has been developed to support agricultural enterprises on an individual, case-by-case basis.

Bore locations in Mansfield Shire:

  • Mansfield - Highett Street (next to the Mansfield Recreation Reserve)
  • Maindample - Main Street (at the Fire Station shed)
  • Tolmie - 11 Tolmie-Mahaikah Road (next to Fire Station)
  • Merton - Merton-Euroa Road (at the Merton Recreation Reserve)
  • Bonnie Doon - Davon Street (adjacent to Bonnie Doon Recreation Reserve)
  • Jamieson - Perkins Street (overhead stand-pipe opposite toilet block)
  • Jamieson - Brown Street (at the Jamieson Fire Station)

     

Water saving

Permanent water saving rules are in place. You can read the Victorian Government's state-wide rules in full. Here are some tips for complying with the rules. 

Hand-held hose

Water from a hand-held hose must not be used for any purpose (whether or not the use is subject to a permanent water saving rule) at any time unless the hose is:

  • Fitted with a trigger nozzle
  • Leak-free

Residential or commercial gardens and lawns

A residential or commercial garden or lawn cannot be watered except with:

  • A hand-held hose, bucket or watering can at any time
  • A watering system between the hours of 6pm – 10am on any day

Public gardens, lawns and playing surfaces

A public garden or lawn area or a playing surface cannot be watered except:

  • With a hand-held hose, bucket or watering can at any time
  • With a watering system fitted with a rain or soil moisture sensor between the hours of 6pm – 10am on any day
  • In accordance with an approved Water Use Plan

Fountains and water features

  • Water cannot be used in a fountain or a water feature unless the fountain or water feature recirculates the water.

Cleaning of hard surfaces

Water cannot be used to clean hard surfaces (including, driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking), except:

  • Where cleaning is required as a result of an accident, fire, health hazard, safety hazard or other emergency
  • If staining to the surface has developed, and then only once a season
  • In the course of construction or renovation
  • And then, only by means of:
    • A high pressure water cleaning device
    • If such a device is not available, a hand-held hose or a bucket.