33 per cent level set ”to ease bans”

By Geelong Story Updates
Stage four restrictions would remain in place until at least December, Barwon Water said yesterday.
The authority revealed the wait when announcing it would remove restrictions on Airey’s Inlet, the Colac district, Apollo Bay and Gellibrand next week.
Barwon Water said stage four would remain in place in Geelong, Bellarine Peninsula and the Surf Coast while storages recovered.
“Geelong and district storages are below the level they were at this time last year and storages would need to be at least onethird full at the end of November before stage four restrictions could be eased,” the authority said.
Airey’s Inlet, Colac, Apollo Bay and Gellibrand would escape restrictions from July 28 after recent rain lifted storages in each area.
Airey’s Inlet’s Painkalac reservoir is full, Colac’s storages are almost 96 per cent of capacity and Apollo Bay’s Marengo Basin is at 90.4 per cent.
Barwon Water chairman Stephen Vaughan thanked residents for “their support” of restrictions.