November 5th, 2025

Organisations are already putting out their summer warnings, although with recent rains and the dropping of water restrictions for some regions, it can be hard to keep up. The Local will keep readers updated over the summer period – we continue to print and upload over Christmas and the New Year.

Hepburn Shire Council
Hepburn Shire Council Mayor Cr Don Henderson said that heat doesn’t always feel like an emergency, but it should be treated as one.
“Heat can affect anyone, but the elderly, young children, people with pre-existing health conditions, and those living alone are especially vulnerable. For that reason, it is important to know the risks, signs of heat illness and what to do.
“To help people stay safe during extreme heat, the council has partnered with the Grampians Public Health Unit, Central Highlands Rural Health and 14 other agencies to pilot the Heatwave H.E.L.P. project in our region.
“This project focuses on bringing communities together so that they can help support each other during extreme heat, particularly heatwaves. It also serves as a timely reminder about the risk of leaving children and pets in hot cars.”
H = home and environment. You might need to make changes during extreme heat to stay cool, and if you can’t make changes, your vulnerability to heat is increased.
E = environment, including people living alone, working outdoors, or where people are isolated because they don’t have access to internet and alerts.
A = age and underlying conditions. If your body must work a little harder to function, then during extreme heat, your body will have to work harder again.
T = taking certain medications. We know that many common medications can prevent your body from cooling down naturally, so ask your doctor or pharmacist if that applies to you.
There are ways to stay safe during heatwaves: stay hydrated and keep cool; avoid the heat by staying indoors; keep in touch with others, especially older family members, neighbours, or anyone who may be isolated; and emergency apps which can often predict heat in advance so you can make preparations, and often means other risks, like fire, are more likely.
Link: www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au

Central Highlands Water
CHW will introduce Stage 1 water restrictions from Wednesday, November 5 across the Forest Hill region including the townships of Allendale, Broomfield, Kingston, Newlyn, Newlyn North, Smeaton, and Springmount.
Continued dry conditions in the Forest Hill region have resulted in persistently low soil moisture levels and reduced natural groundwater recharge, placing additional pressure on local water resources.
The Forest Hill system is currently operating under an initial 50 per cent groundwater allocation announced in September for the 2025-26 season. These groundwater allocations are set and regulated by Goulburn-Murray Water in accordance with their Regional Groundwater Management Plan.
CHW managing director Jeff Haydon said the initial restrictions were being introduced at this time of year to help raise awareness and encourage the community to stay focused on using water efficiently during one of the driest periods on record.
“We’re closely monitoring our water supplies and how the community is using water. Our aim is to ease restrictions if the conditions improve, however, if the dry weather and soil moisture levels continue, we may need to consider higher levels of restrictions,” Mr Haydon said.
Unlike surface water storages, groundwater aquifers respond slowly to rainfall, making recovery from extended dry periods gradual. As such, ongoing community support and water-wise behaviours remain essential.
“The extended dry conditions have placed real pressure on our groundwater storages and aquifers. We thank residents, visitors and the community for their ongoing efforts in limiting their water use,” Mr Haydon said.
“Reducing household water use can make a meaningful difference. By making simple changes inside and outside the home, like taking shorter showers, fixing leaks, washing with full loads, and not watering gardens in the heat of the day, customers can lower water and energy bills, and help the environment – every drop counts,” he said.
CHW: Water saving efforts and community support
Community members are encouraged to download and use the Snap Send Solve app to quickly and easily report water leaks within the community.
The app allows residents to take a photo, add a brief description, and pinpoint the location of the leak, usually in less than a minute.
CHW says it understands that many in the community may be facing cost-of-living pressures. Support for vulnerable customers is available through targeted plumbing assistance programs, which help improve water efficiency and reduce household costs.
There is also a customer support program for anyone experiencing difficulty paying their bill.

Agriculture Victoria
Agriculture Victoria’s Rachael Campbell said with the long dry period, many farm dams were yet to fill. Support is available to assist with stock water planning and other farm management decisions.
All farmers in Victoria can register for a free one-to-one consultation with a farm management specialist. This advisory service offers a session of up to three hours (face-to-face or online) and a follow-up call, to talk through and help develop a plan for managing drought conditions. Advice can include stock feed planning, water planning and a range of other on-farm decisions.
There are also online tools to assist in farm water management. Knowing your farm water requirements allows you to plan and make informed changes as required.
Agriculture Victoria has information and tools available to help assess stock water supply and calculate how long water will last.
Reducing water losses across the farm can achieve significant water savings. For example, in the short term, repair any reticulation leaks and in the longer term, reduce evaporation from farm dams by planting windbreaks and minimising seepage.
Dairy farmers can also explore how to reduce water use in the dairy whilst maintaining milk quality by measuring water use in everyday activities such as vat and machine washing, pit activities and yard cleaning.
Improvements can then be identified that could achieve significant water savings by adopting different technologies or work practices.
Link: www.agriculture.vic.gov.au/drought or call 136 186.

Next edition: Summer outlook from the CFA.

Words: Donna Kelly