Watering rules: Mackay

What Mackay Regional Council publishes about water restrictions for sports grounds, as read on 30 October 2026. The rules come from the council's Water Restriction policy (COU040), with review due 24 July 2027.

What the rules say

The policy says: "Active playing surface shall mean a grass or synthetic area for playing sports such as a tennis court, turf cricket pitch, running track, hockey pitch, bowling green, croquet green, golf green or tee, football, soccer, volleyball, netball or basketball field and any similar area."

All the time (Schedule 1, permanent measures). For "Private gardens and lawns (residential and non-residential) including sports grounds and active playing surfaces", the policy says: "No watering between 10am and 4pm. Watering permitted outside the hours of 10am and 4pm on alternate days with a: Sprinkler; Hand-held trigger or twist nozzle; Irrigation system".

The policy says properties "with an odd street number may water on Wednesday, Friday and Sunday". Even-numbered properties water on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday. The council's page adds: "Watering is prohibited on Mondays."

When restrictions are declared (Schedule 2). The policy prints this as a table whose columns run together, so the level each line belongs to below is our reading of that table:

• Level 1: hand-held trigger or twist nozzle, or "Irrigation system (gardens only, no grassed areas)", on alternate days outside 10am to 4pm. An irrigation system may water gardens only, so a grass court would be watered by hand. "Non-active playing surfaces must not be watered."
• Level 2: "Sprinklers and irrigation systems not permitted. Watering only permitted outside of these hours on alternate days with a watering can." "Non-active playing surfaces must not be watered."
• Level 3: "No watering permitted."

In force now

The council's water page says: "Council enforces permanent water conservation measures". Watering is allowed "only before 10am and after 4pm on designated days".

Exemption or permit

The policy says applicants "shall apply for each individual property or circumstance". Applications "will only be considered where reasonable grounds for such exemption have been presented and the prescribed fee has been paid." "Exemptions for watering new turf will only be issued for 10 days." An approved application comes with an Exemption Permit, and "The exemption permit must be displayed in a prominent position on the approved property".

Tank, bore and recycled water

The policy says: "Nothing in this policy prevents the use of" water from other sources, including "Reclaimed or used water", "Private bores", and "Rainwater collected in tanks (unless the tank is topped up by the MRC water supply)".

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. Mackay Regional Council, Water Restriction policy (COU040) (adopted 24 July 2024; read 30 October 2026): definitions, sections 1.1 and 1.6, Schedules 1 and 2
2. Mackay Regional Council, Water and Sewer: current measures (read 30 October 2026)
3. What are the rules for watering our lawn? (ClubHub guide): all councils