Currently the majority of the Central Tablelands has either been declared in drought (43.5 per cent), or it is at the onset of drought (54.8 per cent).

The level of Chifley Dam is currently 53.2 per cent, its lowest level in the past 11 years.

Bathurst Council might be promoting that the dam has almost twice the capacity since the wall was raised in 2000, but Cr North said the city’s population growth of 6295 people during those 18 years had not been taken into account.

And, with council’s level one water restrictions not kicking in until the dam falls to 40 per cent, he said it was time for “voluntary restrictions” to be considered.

“As much as the Bathurst people have been brilliant with the water, we’ve got to think of the future,” Cr North said.

Bathurst has previously introduced water restrictions during dry times in 1983 and 1997, but has had none since the wall at Ben Chifley Dam was raised.

He suggested an “odds and evens” systems where residents can water on alternate days depending on their house number.

“Every second day you can water, but it’s got to be between certain hours,” Cr North said.

“A restriction could be voluntary, one where we encourage people to do that.”

Meanwhile, council has offered half price water for all Bathurst local government area residents through its standpipes on Hereford Street due to the drought.

In addition, eligible primary producers will be able to access up to 20,000 litres of free water a week from the Hereford Street standpipes under a plan now on public exhibition.

Visit council’s YourSay page at https://yoursay.bathurst.nsw.gov.au/ to leave your opinion on the proposal.