Canungra risks running dry despite residents being well below water targets. Locals who currently use 180L of water per person per day are set to be told by the Queensland Water Commission that Canungra Creek has about six weeks of supply left before it dries up.
Concerned residents yesterday told The Bulletin they were furious that a long-term water supply option had not been found for the small township which is home to 800 people.
If it does not rain soon, a drought response plan will be put into action with trucks bringing in supplies for the town's residents or bore water will be taken to the Canungra water treatment plant.
"This is a very rare happening," said the Scenic Rim Regional Council Mayor John Brent. "They are extreme circumstances and talking with long-term residents, this is really a twice in a lifetime occurrence."
The QWC has warned that more severe water restrictions could follow, including a ban on external use. It has asked that residents voluntarily cut their water supply further, despite residents' consumption currently being 20L per day below the enforced restrictions.
A Canungra resident of 12 years, Yvonne Staples, whose property backs on to the creek, said she believed it would stop flowing one to two weeks before the supply was lost. She said the creek was barely flowing now because there was too much debris left in it after flooding in previous years.
Ms Staples said water had been trucked in to the town in the past when supplies were low but it had been years since she had seen the creek so bad. "It doesn't look healthy today," said Ms Staples. "We're suddenly missing a lot of birds and a lot of habitat.
Manager of the Outpost Cafe Teresa Wood said it would be hard for businesses to use less water and said a new residential development would place further strain on the town's supply. "What are they going to do?" she asked. "The Hinze Dam overfills, I can't understand why there aren't pipes connecting it."
Source: Gold Coast Bulletin
