THE Victorian government has eased water restrictions prior to the election, with exemptions applied to allow watering of lawns and sports grounds.
From September 1, any household that plants warm season varieties of grass can be given a 28-day annual water exemption to allow the grasses to be established.
The exemptions to the state's water restrictions will apply only for drought-resistant grasses like couch, buffalo and kikuyu, which need about 70 per cent less water than European grasses currently used for most Melbourne lawns.
Local councils will also be allowed to water 100 per cent of ovals and other sporting grounds, up from 75 per cent.
"This is a big step forward as a result of the increased water supplies that we have through the augmentation projects that we've put in place," Premier John Brumby said today.
The easing of restrictions follows announcements in March and June that allowed footy ovals to be watered for the first time in three years, gardens to be watered up to four times a week, and regional residents in Ballarat being lifted to stage 1 restrictions from stage 3.
Mr Brumby wouldn't rule out turning on the tap for further pre-election water announcements, saying it would be dependent on the weather.
"We are being cautious so we'll see what the winter and spring inflows show but if we've got the opportunity, obviously, in the future to reduce restrictions further then of course we'd want to do that."
Victorians will head to the polls on November 27.
