Over the border, North East Water will meet this week to decide on restrictions for towns along the Murray River, including Wodonga.

A water allocation of 80 per cent or more to high security water users, including councils, resulted in stage 3 restrictions being eased in Albury last month.

NSW water commissioner David Harriss said the allocations were not due to be reviewed again until at least July or possibly September next year.

He said the only change to be made, if any, was if water storages met next year’s target for “critical human needs”.

Even then restrictions may be relaxed even further.

While reliant on rainfall and inflows to major storages, Mr Harriss expected the target to be reached within the coming weeks.

He said it was then up to individual councils to determine what restrictions were imposed.

On Friday, Albury Council water and wastewater group leader Colin Johnson said he could not give any indication on what restrictions would be adopted in the city for the remainder of the summer months.

“We’ve got no concept on that at all,” he said.

“The decision really hinges on how much is left in water storages and how much is let down the river,” he said.

Mr Johnson said this time last year Albury was facing stage 2A restrictions and moved to stage 4 last July.

The current stage 2 restrictions allow hand-held hoses to be used to water gardens and lawns on alternate days.

The restrictions require people to water before 10am and after 5pm.

Wodonga’s water restrictions were eased to stage 1 in June.

That allowed residents to water their lawns and gardens for up to four hours a day.

A North East Water board meeting in September considered a move to stage 2.

But in light of increased water allocations and recent rain, it was found to be unnecessary.

At the time, managing director Craig Heiner said the community’s strong water conservation ethic had helped the situation.

The board is due to meet again tomorrow.

Editorial — page 14