How bad is the drought in Australia? What are the things that are most affected?

Question

How bad is the drought in Australia? What are the things that are most affected?

Answer 1

Rainfall deficiencies in 2006

As of November 2006, the late-winter to mid-spring rainfalls had failed. The average rainfall in the state of South Australia was the lowest since 1900. Across Victoria and the Murray-Darling Basin the season was the second driest since 1900. New South Wales' rainfall was boosted by above normal falls along the north coast of the state, however the state average rainfall for the season is the third driest since 1900. The situation has been worsened by temperatures being the highest on record since the 1950s.[15][16]

[edit] Responses during 2006 and 2007

The current drought has changed the way Australia treats its water resources. Because of the long-term effects of the drought now showing, many state governments are attempting to "drought-proof" their states with more permanent solutions.

Australia in the past hundred years has relied solely on water from dams for agriculture and consumption.[citation needed] Now schemes like grey-water water-recycling, government rebates for home-owners to install water tanks, and tougher restrictions on industries have come into effect.

The citizens of Toowoomba voted on, and rejected, a referendum on using recycled sewerage water. However, after the referendum Toowoomba began using recycled sewerage water as no other feasible alternative was available.[citation needed] Brisbane is set to be supplied via larger dams, a pipeline and possibly also recycling. A desalination project has been initiated on the Gold Coast, Queensland, but plans for a similar project in Sydney were halted after public opposition and the discovery of underground aquifers. In November 2006 Perth completed a seawater desalination plant that will supply the city with 17% of its needs.[17]

Dairy producers have been hit particularly hard by the drought that has swept much of Australia. And 2004 was a particularly bleak year in the sector, as a drought-caused drop in production sent revenue in the industry down by 4.5%[18].

Most Australian mainland capital cities are facing a major water crisis with less than 50% of water storages remaining. For example, Melbourne has had rain up to 90% below the average for September and October 2006, compounding the problem of extremely low rainfall from the preceding winter months.[citation needed] Melbourne has been experiencing high temperatures throughout October causing the evaporation of water in dams and reservoirs, which has resulted in their levels falling by around 0.1% a day. As a result of all these factors Melbourne is now on tighter water restrictions.

Agricultural production has been affected. Australia's cotton production has dropped, with the smallest area planted in 20 years, a 66% reduction compared to five years ago (considered a "normal" year). The crop has been half its usual size for three of the past five years. Water use by the industry fell by 37% between 2000/01 and 2004/05, due mainly to drought.[19] In the order of 20 cotton communities and 10,000 people directly employed by the cotton industry are impacted by the drought. The main areas affected are in New South Wales: Menindee where the area under production has reduced by 100%, Bourke has reduced the area under production by 99%, Walgett has reduced the area under production by 95%, the Macquarie River has reduced the area under production by 74% and the Gwydir River has reduced the area under production by 60%. In Queensland the worse affected areas are Biloela which has reduced the area under production by 100%, at Dirranbandi there has been a 91% reduction, Central Highlands has reduced the area under production by 82% and Darling Downs has reduced the area under production by 78%. Bourke has only had adequate water for one cotton crop in the last five years.[20]

Stock feed is also becoming scarce and farmers are finding it difficult to feed cattle and sheep.[citation needed]

[edit] Predictions and observations for 2007-2008

Dry paddocks in the Riverina region during the 2007 drought

Dry paddocks in the Riverina region during the 2007 drought

In early 2007, senior weather forecasters predicted that the drought would ease along the east coast with a return to average rainfall from late February 2007. Forecasters believed that the El Niño effect that had been rampant during 2006 and 2007 had ended.[21] Heavy rainfall in June and July, particularly in coastal regions of New South Wales and in Victoria's Gippsland region, together with tentative forecasts of a La Niña event, brought hope that the drought may have ended.[22]

The previous Prime Minister, John Howard, announced on 19 April 2007 that unless there was substantial rain in the next six weeks no water will be allocated to irrigators in the Murray-Darling basin for the coming year. The result of this would directly affect the 50,000 farmers and the economy and the price of food would significantly rise, contributing to inflation.[23] Electricity shortages are also likely if the Snowy Mountains Scheme is forced to shut down its hydroelectric generators.[24]

In August 2007, the Darling River flowed again after nearly a year of no flows.[25] Inflows into the Murray-Darling Basin in the winter of 2007 were amongst the lowest on record though marginally better than those of the winter of 2006 which had been the driest on record.

As of April 2008, NSW was moving out of drought. Sydney's main water catchments are at 65.4 percent, 25 per cent fuller than it was at this time last year. Sydney Water stated with no more rain and unchanged demand, Sydney now has enough water in storage to last for 3.1 years. [26] [27]

Central Victoria remains drought affected. At the end of April 2008, Melbourne's water storages are at a combined 31.5%.[28]

[edit] Drought and population levels in Australia

Some members of the Australian environmental movement, notably the organisation Sustainable Population Australia, believe that as the driest inhabited continent, Australia cannot con

Answer 2

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Drought_in_...

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/...

Farming has been hit very hard.  Cattle and other livestock that graze.    Olive and fruit trees.   The coal industry as well.