By Michael Newhouse
THE growing suburbs of Caroline Springs, Deer Park and Cairnlea are using more water per household than a year ago, with figures showing that Melbourne’s West has the worst record for reducing water usage.
The new suburbs, whose populations have boomed over the past couple of years, increased their average per household water consumption between July and September by more than 20 per cent compared to the same time last year – the largest increase in the metropolitan area.
Figures from the Department of Sustainability and Environment show the inner city suburb of Fitzroy recorded the second highest increase (19.9 per cent), followed by Delahey, Keilor North, Sydenham and Hillside, who recorded an increase of 19.1 per cent.
The West was the worst area for cutting water usage, with suburbs such as Sunshine, Albion, Footscray, Yarraville and Moonee Ponds also recording hefty increases.
Suburbs in Melbourne’s leafy east, such as Camberwell East, Kooyong and Balwyn were some of Melbourne’s best water savers, cutting back their water usage by more than 16 per cent.
