MELBOURNE households will be able to water gardens at any time and wash cars at home when water restrictions are eased next month.
The restrictions will be eased from level 3a to level 2 from September 1 following heavy rain and water storage levels rising to almost 40 per cent, their highest level in almost three years.
The easing of restrictions follow announcements in March and June that allowed sports ovals to be watered for the first time in three years, gardens to be watered up to four times per week, and residents in regional Ballarat eased to stage 1 restrictions from stage 3.
Victoria's crippling drought has seen the construction of controversial infrastructure including the $750 million north-south pipeline, between the Goulburn River and the Sugarloaf Reservoir on Melbourne's northeast fringe, and the $3.5 billion Wonthaggi desalination plant in the state's southeast due for completion next year.
Opposition Leader Ted Baillieu said despite recent high rainfall, Victorians' water bills would increase to pay off the water projects.
"Victorians will be paying for the desal plant and for the water for years to come," he said.
