29 May 2026
Southern Downs Regional Council has endorsed more conservative water use targets for Stanthorpe to help reduce demand sooner and extend available water supply for longer.
Stanthorpe remains at the drought preparation level with permanent water use targets of 200L per person per day with the next level of 150L per person per day triggered once Storm King Dam reaches 65%.
Southern Downs Mayor Melissa Hamilton thanked the community for already being water wise and tracking strongly towards the newly introduced Low Level Water Restriction target.
“The Stanthorpe community knows the value of water, and I would like to thank them for already being careful with their water use,” Mayor Hamilton said.
“Average residential water use across Stanthorpe is sitting around 165 litres per person per day, which is lower than current permanent water use targets.”
Mayor Hamilton said the decision reflected Council’s commitment to planning ahead and taking practical early action to help extend Stanthorpe’s water supply and make every drop count.
“This is about being proactive and responding early while we still have the opportunity to make a positive difference together as a community,” Mayor Hamilton said.
“Households and businesses are already doing a fantastic job conserving water, and this is really about continuing those good habits and remaining mindful of water use across the community.”
Mayor Hamilton said Council remained focused on working hand in hand with the community while continuing to advocate strongly for long-term water security outcomes for the Southern Downs region.
“Water security is a long-term issue that requires ongoing collaboration across all levels of government,” she said.
“We thank the Premier for his commitment to provide water security for Stanthorpe and we remain ready to work collaboratively with the Queensland Government to deliver long-term water supply resilience for our region.
“Council is also continuing with practical initiatives including increasing our storage capacity, smart water metering, leak detection programs, water efficiency education and helping residents better understand and manage their water use.”
Council will continue monitoring Storm King Dam levels closely and provide regular updates to the community.
Current water use targets, FAQs, dam levels and water-saving information are available at:
https://www.sdrc.qld.gov.au/living-here/environment-water-waste
Last edited date 29 May 2026