The water will be turned back on at three of Dubbo's sporting fields after calculating the "astronomical" cost if they were left to die.
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Pioneer Park, South Dubbo Oval and Jubilee Oval stopped being watered when level three restrictions started on October 1. Sprinklers at Kennard Park in Wellington and Tom Culkin Oval in Geurie were also switched off.
But Dubbo Regional Council calculated it would conservatively cost upwards of $3 million and take six months to repair the three ovals if they were left to die. It includes more than $2 million for turf.
Because of the cost, council has decided it will continue to water its sporting fields and parks, despite the restrictions.
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Pioneer Park, South Dubbo Oval and Jubilee Oval will receive 50 per cent of their normal water.
Dubbo Regional councillor David Grant said it was great to see the facilities would be watered.
"If it got to the point that we needed more water for these [sporting] facilities, I would have recommended council give up some of their water allocation to actually water these facilities," Cr Grant said.
"Junior sport is a big part of Dubbo and Wellington, and communities in the area, and I think we need to be encouraging these sports without jeopardising the facilities that they're using."
Councillor John Ryan said there had been a lot of backlash against the watering of public spaces.
"There's been a lot of criticism on social media about playing fields being watered but it's totally different to anything owned by a private residence because they're for the entire community," Cr Ryan said.
"Even if you don't use it, just to drive past gives you a feeling of hope."
Councillor Jayne Diffey said council's goal was to water the fields only enough to ensure "they're not dying" and they're not going to cost a lot of money to repair.
Deputy mayor Stephen Lawrence said the community shouldn't think of it as council walking away from water restrictions.
"Unless we do this the financial damage will really be quite astronomical," he said.
Pioneer Park, South Dubbo Oval and Jubilee Oval are all maintained with town water. Pioneer Park will be watered one night a week, while the other two will be watered on Sunday and Monday night.