Drought in Australia Documentation January 2007
Ground cover is sparse on land outside of Ivanhoe in the far west of New South Wales, Australia.
As the frequency and intensity of severe weather around the globe intensifies, even some of the staunchest opponents to climate change are starting to shift their ideological positions. In Australia drought affected farmers and graziers are beginning to experience some of the worst conditions witnessed in the past 100 years. For those living along and relying on the Murray-Darling River system, arguably Australia’s largest and most important network of rivers, lakes and catchment areas, the times have rarely looked as dire. This once majestic river system occupies and supports 14% of Australia ( twice the size of France)where in places it has been reduced to a mere trickle.
Through a complex network of weirs and dams built over the past century both the Murray and Darling River systems have had their flows heavily regulated to accommodate both graziers and semi-arid zone irrigators. But bureaucratic bungling between both State and Federal Governments and water management agencies, coupled with unforeseen climatic conditions have rendered important waterways and lake systems dry. For the first time in recorded history the Murray River faces the real threat of running dry with its primary dam, the Hume, at unprecedented lows of 4% capacity.
For graziers who can fortunately rely on sub-artesian waters for their stock there remains little consolation as the necessity to hand feed relies on the production of grains by farmers who many of which have had water allocations reduced to zero amidst tightening water restrictions put in place by government agencies. Graziers already facing economic hardships are being forced to re-evaluate stock numbers and in a growing number of cases are having to de-stock their properties prompting large livestock sales throughout the country.
January 2007
Ivanhoe, New South Wales, Australia
© Dean Sewell/ Oculi/ Agence VU
for Greenpeace