Yes, I have read all about the restrictions online at the Western Advocate, but just how many people either buy the paper or subscribe to it online? Likewise, what percentage of Bathurst’s population regularly listen to a local news bulletin on the radio?

If council is truly informing the public, surely a letterbox drop to every residence in Bathurst is warranted to get the message across.

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Then, of course, there is the actual message. To say that the notice in the council column of the Western Advocate detailing the Level 3 water restriction is confusing is a complete understatement. So let's try to interpret their message.

Firstly, lawns may be watered for 30 minutes every second day between the set hours of 6-9am or 6-9pm, Gardens may be watered similarly. Presumably, that means each property has a one hour allocation every second day for use on either lawns or gardens, or both. Is this correct?

Secondly, and this is where the absurdity continues, cars may be washed with a bucket and a trigger hose on a lawn, between the same hours as above, and this can be done daily.

Therefore, if a car is parked on the front lawn, residents could wash their cars, with benefit to the lawn, with a trigger hose, for a maximum of six hours every day.

This, of course, is not the outcome council is looking for, nor should residents need to seek ways to circumvent these ridiculous restrictions.

We are very lucky to live in a tree-lined, green city like Bathurst.

Our trees and gardens are a very valuable community asset and they will only continue to thrive with consistent deep watering by members of the community.

To impose a watering regime of just 30 minutes (or is it 60 minutes if you don’t water the lawn?) every second day appears ridiculously harsh as a first step restriction.

These restrictions also do not take into account those residents who have invested in dripper irrigation systems that use water very economically. Thirty minutes of a dripper system uses far less water than 30 minutes of a fixed hose or sprinkler.

Bathurst Regional Council needs to review this decision by consulting with the community and community groups like the Bathurst Gardeners’ Club.

Perhaps a community forum is warranted.

Council also needs to better inform every resident of the rationale and the details of the restrictions.

The residents of Bathurst are aware that we are in a dry period and that water saving measures are required.

However, the giant leap taken to the Level 3 restrictions appears hard to justify.