Watering rules: Fraser Coast

What Fraser Coast Regional Council publishes about water restrictions for sports grounds, as read on 30 October 2026. The rules come from the council's Drought Resilience Policy (CP091), last approved 13 December 2023.

What the rules say

Level 1 (permanent measures). Level 1 has no line for sporting facilities. Its line for gardens and lawns says: "A handheld hose with an efficient trigger nozzle, a bucket or a watering can be used at any time." It adds: "Sprinklers, irrigation systems and soaker hoses can be used between 4pm and before 9am the next day (must be fitted with a manual or automatic timer)." Whether this line covers a croquet court is not stated.

Level 2. For "Sporting facilities" the council's page says:

• "Permitted with a handheld hose between 4pm and before 9am the next day."
• "Irrigation is permitted between 4pm and before 9am the next day on sensitive playing surfaces."
• "Irrigation is permitted Sunday, Tuesday, Thursdays after 4pm and before 9am the next day on non-sensitive playing surfaces."

"Sensitive playing surfaces" is not defined in the documents read, so whether a croquet court counts as one is not stated.

Levels 3 and 4. Level 3 still allows "maintenance of water sensitive sporting venues". Level 4 allows only "other essential activities as approved by Council".

In force now

The council's page says: "Level 1 permanent water conservation measures are now in effect". It adds: "These measures remain in place even when dams are full."

Exemption or permit

The council has an exemption application form. The form itself is written for businesses, so a club can ask the council which grounds apply to it. The policy says an application has to include one of these grounds: "core business activities are water related (for businesses only)"; "water is required for health and safety"; "water is required for biosecurity reasons"; or "health or physical ability". The applicant must also have "installed or implemented all reasonable water saving initiatives", and "there are no feasible alternatives to the required water use (including waterless alternatives)". The policy says "The exemption approval expires when there is a change in the declared Drought Resilience Level."

Tank, bore and recycled water

The council's page says its restrictions do not apply to "reclaimed or recycled water", "private bores", or "collected rainwater stored in a rainwater tank, dam, swimming pool or other outside receptacle (that is not topped up with Potable Water)".

Where a point above is marked not stated, the documents listed below were checked on 30 October 2026 and say nothing on it. The council can say how the rules apply to the club's courts.

If this is wrong for your club, or your club holds a permit or water plan, please tell us at hello@croquetqld.org and we will check and fix it.

Where this comes from

1. Fraser Coast Regional Council, Water Restrictions: levels, current status, what is not covered (read 30 October 2026)
2. Fraser Coast Regional Council, Drought Resilience Council Policy (CP091) (last approved 13 December 2023; read 30 October 2026)
3. Fraser Coast Regional Council, Water restriction exemption application form (read 30 October 2026)
4. What are the rules for watering our lawn? (ClubHub guide): all councils