Watering rules: Gladstone

What Gladstone Regional Council publishes about water restrictions for sports grounds, as read on 30 October 2026. The rules come from the council's Drought Management Plan of October 2009, the newest found on its website. The council's bulk water comes from the Gladstone Area Water Board.

What the rules say

The plan's restrictions table has a row "COUNCIL PARKS AND GARDENS AND SPORTS GROUNDS". It reads: "No restrictions" at Level 1, then "As approved by Council" at Levels 2, 3 and 4.

For commercial premises, the plan asks for cuts in water use at each level "unless an approved WEMP indicates reduction is not feasible". A WEMP is a water efficiency management plan. At Level 4 it adds: "Council might restrict externals usage of certain facilities such as sport clubs."

The plan's definition of a lawn "does not include active playing surfaces". The plan does not say what an active playing surface is, so whether a croquet court is one is not stated.

Whether a club-run court is treated as a council sports ground or as a commercial premises is not stated.

When levels start

The Gladstone Area Water Board's page links levels to how much supply is left: "Four years (48 months) – level one restrictions", "Three years (36 months) – level two restrictions", and "Two years (24 months) – level three restrictions".

In force now

The council's water page says: "There are currently no water restrictions for the Gladstone Region".

Exemption or permit

The plan says: "Exemptions to restrictions at each Level may be granted in writing by Gladstone Regional Council if it considers that reasonable grounds for such exemptions have been presented to it in writing." It also says "The approval notice must be available at all times on the site where the exemption is applicable."

Tank, bore and recycled water

The plan defines "alternative supply" as "water sourced from other than the reticulated supply system such as bores, treated effluent or rainwater tanks". Whether the sports ground row covers water from an alternative supply is not stated.

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. Gladstone Regional Council, Drought Management Plan (October 2009; read 30 October 2026): section 8.4, definitions, Appendix A
2. Gladstone Regional Council, Water: current status (read 30 October 2026)
3. Gladstone Area Water Board, Drought and flood management (read 30 October 2026)
4. What are the rules for watering our lawn? (ClubHub guide): all councils