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Mayor John Mitchell hails the winding back of water restrictions
Friday, 27 August 2010
11:15 AM
Media Releases
City of Greater Geelong Mayor John Mitchell said the relaxation of Stage 3 water restrictions back to Stage 2 was a great marker for the Geelong region’s progress through what has been a ‘very difficult time of prolonged dry conditions’.
He said he expected private gardens and lawns right across the municipality to soon begin showing the benefits of increased watering regimes.
“Council’s own Parks, Recreation areas and Sportsgrounds will also be showing the benefits within the next couple of months,” the Mayor said.
He said Council had invested ‘enormous’ amounts of time, effort and funding over the past few years in maintaining vital sportsgrounds, playing arenas and parks.
The Mayor paid tribute to innovative projects such as the Council’s Grass Conversion program.
“As part of this program Council worked with local sporting clubs and associations to convert the playing surfaces of vital sportsgrounds and playing ovals from unsuitable cool climate grasses to hardier grasses capable of withstanding prolonged dry conditions,” Cr Mitchell said.
He said the Grass Conversion program had been an unqualified success, with the knowledge and experience gained likely to provide major benefits in the event of the any recurrence of prolonged dry conditions in coming years.
At the same time the Mayor warned against any complacence in the conservation of vital water resources. “Hopefully the end of the drought is approaching, but there are no guarantees,” he said.
“Water is one of our most importance resources, and we have to find new ways of conserving this resource for our community and for future generations.”
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