THE Yackandandah Creek has stopped running but North East Water says there is no need for tougher water restrictions in the town.
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This week authorities cut off a water supply to Beechworth in a bid to get the creek running again but yesterday it still wasn’t.
Long-time resident Hayden Rochow says it is the first time it has happened in more than half a century.
He says it is time to increase water restrictions.
“I’ve lived here for 55 years and it has never stopped running,” he said.
“I rang North East Water last week to tell them that it was low.
“In the past when we got to this stage they upped the water restrictions but at the moment you can still wash a car in town.”
Yesterday North East Water said despite low flows it was confident of maintaining stage 1 restrictions in the township in the short term.
“North East Water operates two diversions on Nine Mile Creek to supply Yackandandah and Beechworth with water, at both points we currently have enough water to allow for passing flows,” executive manager, operations, Fiona Smith said.
“We are aware that the impact of the ongoing dry conditions and extreme hot weather has seen Yackandandah Creek dry up over the past week.
“When our staff became aware of the low flows in Yackandandah Creek, early last week, we made the decision to stop diversions to Lake Kerferd, which acts as a raw water storage for Beechworth, to try to enhance flows in Yackandandah Creek.”
Ms Smith said this would not affect Beechworth’s water supply.
Lake Kerferd could supply Beechworth for several months.
“We are continually monitoring flows in Nine Mile and our demand levels and if in the future we do not receive significant rain or demand increases we will re-evaluate (restrictions),” Ms Smith said.
