Whitfield hit with stage 4 water ban

- source: Wangaratta Chronicle - 17 April 2009

WHITFIELD residents were hit with stage four water restrictions on Wednesday.

North East Water executive manager of business services, John Morris, said the bans were triggered by a lack of water flow in Musk Gully Creek.

"Although the town’s water storage (Whitfield Reservoir) is full, without any inflow from the creek, stage four restrictions are necessary," Mr Morris said.

"We are hoping for good rain over winter and we will monitor and judge the situation in Whitfield accordingly."

For Adam Pizzini, chef at Rinaldo’s of King Valley Restaurant in Whitfield, the harsh bans will prematurely end his garden produce.

Mr Pizzini has been maintaining his garden and bringing freshly picked vegetables to diners for years, but his zucchinis, radiccios and capsicums will dry out as a result of the harsh restrictions, which prevent watering at any time.

He makes a flavorsome zucchini chutney out of his home-grown produce, but will again be forced to buy the vegetables to meet customer demand.

"Last time these sort of restrictions were enforced we just let the garden go and bought in fresh vegetables for the restaurant, so it looks like we’ll have to do this again if we don’t get substantial rain," Mr Pizzini said.

"The garden is looking a bit drab as it is, and I’m hoping my father-in-law will be able to spruce it up when he moves to the area."

Elsewhere, Springhurst also went on to stage two water restrictions on Wednesday. For information on water restrictions go to www.nerwa.vic.gov.au.