• Decrease font size
  • Default font size
  • Increase font size
Turf
Water Restrictions

Stage 1:
•    Manual watering systems can only be used between 6am–8am and 8pm–10pm on alternate days.
•    Automatic watering systems can only be used between Midnight–4am on alternate days.
•    Hand-held hoses fitted with a trigger nozzle can be used at any time to water gardens and lawns.

Stage 2:
•    Watering systems can only be used to water gardens on alternate days during specific times:
        - Manual watering systems between 6am – 8am and 8pm – 10pm
        - Automatic watering systems between midnight - 4am
•    Gardens can be watered at any time using a hose fitted with a hand-held trigger nozzle.
•    Watering of lawns is banned for residents, businesses, local councils and sports grounds. There
     are specified playing  surfaces that can be watered, eg cricket wicket and golf green.
 
Stage 3:
•   Garden areas (other than lawn) may be watered
     - Manual dripper system or hand-held hose fitted with a trigger mechanism between 6am - 8am and 8pm - 10pm;
     - Automated dripper system between midnight and 4am; on specified days only.
•   Watering of lawns is banned for residents, businesses, local councils and sports grounds.  There are specified playing surfaces that can be watered (e.g.: cricket pitch, tennis court, golf & bowling green, running track) can be watered by manual dripper systems and hand-held hoses between 6am - 10am and 8pm - midnight, or on automated watering system which operates between midnight and 8am on a needs basis, on specified days.
•   Note: No other sprinkler system is allowed.

Stage 4 – daylight saving Greater Geelong Area
Apply from Saturday, November 1, 2008 to Sunday, April 5, 2009.
•   Residential customers can use one hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle to water garden beds and trees between 7pm and 8pm twice weekly
•   Only one hose  may be used at each property.

Odd and even system
Occupants of homes with odd street numbers may only water their gardens on Sunday and Wednesday.
Occupants of homes with even street numbers or no street number may only water their gardens on Saturday and Tuesday.

Stage 4:
•   All outside watering is BANNED. No watering at any time, by any means.

Exemptions for newly laid drought-tolerant turf may be watered initially for two weeks using a hand-held hose fitted with a trigger nozzle and based on a watering regime recommended by an approved supplier.    You will need to submit a ‘Water Conservation Plan Application’ form submitting your water conservation plan for new turf and lodge it with Barwon Water for approval.

There will be no watering of new turf from December 25, 2008 and January 26, 2009.

With the impact of water restrictions this will change our attitude towards future conservation of water.  There is a strong push to encourage future planting of turf using summer grasses which are drought tolerant.  Below are the most common warm season grasses used in oval construction.

 
 
Kikuyu
 A popular variety due to its tough and durable nature in mid-wear areas. It thrives in the sun with poor growth in shady areas, requires little water and best kept to a 50mm height, cut back short in spring to thin out. This grass goes into dormancy for 8-10 weeks during winter. This grass is commonly used for domestic lawns, parks, nature strips and sports fields with a mid-green color.
 
Santa Ana
 Santa Anna couch is a hardy grass with fine leaf surface which thrives best in sun and heat. It looks best when mown short at 10-20mm.  Excellent for high wear areas. Goes into dormancy for 8-10 weeks during winter however retains its blue-green color well compared to the rest of the couch family during winter. This turf is also salt–tolerant and when maintained can look like a bowling green.This grass is commonly used in high utilization sports fields, golf fairways and tees, cricket wickets and high quality home lawns.
 
Conquest
 Conquest is a fine/medium textured couch that has low thatch and is quick to recover from high wear. It’s bright green colour with dense root system is why it is used in family yards and areas subject to high wear. Conquest can handle a range of mowing heights and is drought tolerant.
 
Tall Fescue
 Tall Fescues are med-dark green and have a deep extensive root system which require less water, however, not as drought tolerant as couch grass. Tall Fescues do not withstand low mowing and look best at 40-60mm mowing height cutting only 1/3 leaf at a time. This grass stays green all year round in both full sun and partial shaded areas.