Tonight’s policy committee meeting will consider a report from city engineer Doug Patterson recommending the initiative be continued.

It was back in June 2007 that council introduced the voluntary odds ‘n’ evens restrictions to support the community’s efforts to reduce water consumption.

The program encouraged the community to only water their gardens on alternate days if required.

High profile garden writer Mary Moody headed council’s campaign to promote the initiative.

“Currently Ben Chifley Dam is at better than 97 per cent and it is unlikely, given the pattern of water usage over a number of years, that the dam level will drop to below 50 per cent over the coming summer,” Mr Patterson’s report states.

“However, water saved this year is water that does not have to be collected before the following summer and an almost full dam implies that the Bathurst community has more water than it can save, than if the dam level was considerably lower.