Water Restrictions – Hotline

Phone 1300 789 906

From December 1 2009, all of the Scenic Rim Region was placed on Medium Level Water Restrictions for residential and non-residential properties. Gardens: Residents can water gardens with a bucket; any hose fitted with twist nozzle or trigger nozzle is permitted for use. Vehicles: Residents can wash their cars, boat or caravan at any time with a bucket or using a hose with a trigger or twist nozzle or high pressure cleaning unit on the same specified days. Odd street numbers: Saturday and Tuesday 4pm-4.30pm. Even/unnumbered street numbers: Sunday and Wednesday 4pm-4.30pm. Medium Level Restrictions apply to the use of town water. They do not apply to the use of alternative water sources such as rainwater, bores and grey water. No watering at all on Mondays between 10am and 4pm.

Prepare before going bushwalking

Emergency Management Queensland is reminding bushwalkers and campers to be prepared before going bush. Wear good quality walking shoes and suitable clothing. Be sun safe with sunscreen, hat and sunglasses. Take plenty of water with you. It’s best to be with at least one other person. Inexperienced bushwalkers should seek local advice and information before setting out. On longer walks take enough supplies to be prepared for emergencies: a first aid kit, thermal blanket/s, a change of clothing, mobile phone or EPIRB, and appropriate sleeping equipment. Check weather forecasts and if weather is particularly adverse, consider rescheduling your trip. If an emergency arises phone 000.

Snake awareness for pets

Pet owners are warned to watch out for snakes this summer season with hot weather leading to an increase in snake bites. The Australian Veterinary Association says that snakes tend to be at their most active towards the end of the day, with snake bites usually occurring in the late afternoon and early evening. Snakes also tend to be attracted to rodents and rubbish to hide under. People need to be vigilant and ensure their properties are cleared of places for snakes to hide. The main thing is keeping yards clear, particularly under water tanks.

If you do come across a snake leave it alone and if it needs to be relocated, get help from a snake handler. If you find that your pets have symptoms of snake bite, get immediate veterinary attention. Dog owners should avoid snake prone areas, particularly if walking dogs off the leash at the end of the day. Signs of snake bite in pets include seizures, vomiting, bleeding around the bite, weakness in the limbs and inability to move. Soon after this the animal will often collapse with severely laboured breathing. Rapid treatment with the appropriate antivenom can be an effective treatment. If you spot any of these symptoms in your pet, quickly call the nearest vet so they can be prepared for your arrival at the veterinary hospital with the right treatment.

New Emergency Alert system launched

The Queensland Government has launched a public awareness campaign to inform Queenslanders of a new national Emergency Alert telephone based weather warning system. Emergency Alert can send text messages to mobile phones and automated voice messages to land lines warning people of severe and imminent emergencies, such as bushfires and cyclones. Emergency Alert has the capacity to send 18,000 text messages and 1000 voice messages per minute to areas at risk of serious life threatening events. While it is an important tool for sending the community urgent messages, it will not replace existing warming systems and it does not reduce the need for people to be prepared with their own emergency plan in place. For more information visit: www.emergencyalert.gov.au