Councillors voted against a mayoral minute proposing to relax water restrictions to level 2A at last week's Bathurst Regional Council meeting.

Level 2A was a new level of restriction developed by council staff, following a request from councillors recently, and they determined it would be the safest way to give more freedom to residents.

But the majority of councillors were reluctant to adopt the measures staff identified, feeling there were other matters that needed to be determined first.

These were outlined by the director of Engineering Services, Darren Sturgiss, in his report and included the stormwater harvesting project and the Winburndale pipeline, which have stalled.

"Until council's short term water security projects are resolved, concerns are raised by fully releasing water restrictions," he said.

"Council also needs to be mindful of the importance of water security to the Bathurst community and the need to add additional secure water supply yield to allow for continued economic growth of Bathurst.

"Should water restrictions be fully released, this would also potentially indicate to the NSW State Government that no additional assistance from them was required to improve the town water supply secure yield."

Councillor Graeme Hanger, who was mayor when restrictions were introduced, remains concerned about what the future could hold.

"I don't think we need to do this," he said.

"... The water is not being wasted. I can't see a need to reduce the restrictions the way they are at the moment.

"I believe there are farmers out there who aren't able to get into their paddocks, the paddocks so wet, gardeners who've told me they're happy with the way the water restrictions are at the moment, and I suggest council is somewhat remiss. We don't know what the future holds."

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Cr Jess Jennings echoed his comments, and also expressed concern about causing confusion among residents by switching between levels.

"In the grander scheme of things, this council should be sending a message to the community that we need to be on the trend line that continues to minimise water use as best as possible, not just on a season by season basis, but on a climatic scale," he said.

"So, on that basis, we have to get tighter with the way we use water all the time, not just this season, but for the seasons to come. So, I'm not that comfortable with it, and also it does send a confusing message when you're flicking the water restriction levels up and down for relatively small effect."

Councillors also questioned Mr Sturgiss on how much the dam level could drop if the restrictions proposed were implemented.

He predicted that the restrictions would be able to stay in place until at least autumn, if there was little inflow to the dam.

Chifley Dam is know to fall quick, having dropped from 89 per cent to 41 per cent in the 2002-03 summer when there were no restrictions.

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