Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability

Drought is an intrinsic part of the Australian landscape. Drought is a prolonged, abnormally dry period when there is not enough water for users' normal needs.

Australia has one of the most variable rainfall climates in the world, and severe drought affects some part of Australia about once every 18 years. However, intervals between severe droughts have varied from four to 38 years.

A new National Drought Policy was ratified by state and commonwealth governments in 1992. The three principles of the Policy are to:

encourage primary producers and other sections of rural Australia to adopt self-reliant approaches to managing climatic variability;
maintain and protect Australia's agricultural and environmental resource base during periods of extreme climatic stress; and
ensure early recovery of agricultural and rural industries, consistent with long term sustainable levels.

Federal involvement in drought relief is determined on the basis of exceptional circumstances. State Government relief commences after an area has been drought declared for a period of six months. The current drought now affects 94 percent of the State (July 2006), and debate has focused on how to 'drought-proof' the nation.

Drought relief for country towns

DEUS works in partnership with local water utilities in regional NSW to manage town water supplies during drought.

In New South Wales, local water utilities are responsible for water supply to country towns and villages.

Local water utilities have the responsibility to manage their water supplies and where necessary, impose restrictions to maintain essential demand and avoid the need for cartage of water.

When country town and village supplies are threatened by drought or blue-green algae outbreaks, the New South Wales Government will help local water utilities maintain a basic supply to their consumers. The Department of Energy, Utilities and Sustainability (DEUS) will provide technical assistance and aid to local water utilities in applying for financial assistance from the Government.

Types of assistance available

Technical or financial assistance may be provided to assist in the preparation of drought management plans, manage depleted supplies, to implement emergency capital works or to cart water, depending on the particular situation.

Emergency capital works may be recommended as the best solution to the local water utility’s water supply problem; these might include emergency bore supplies, temporary or permanent connection to another source or water supply scheme, or the development of new water sources.

DEUS can provide technical assistance in relation to drought management planning.

Drought in Sydney

Greater Sydney, along with the rest of south-east Australia, is currently in one of the worst droughts on record.

Fortunately, the capacity of Sydney' water supply system is greater than many cities around the world, and despite the drought it still has around 41% (as at end July 2006) water available in its dams.

Historical approach to managing drought in Sydney

In the past, NSW governments have had to rely almost solely on rainfall for Sydney's water supply, which has meant the construction of many dams to provide a very large storage capacity.

Relying on rainfall dependent options leaves greater Sydney vulnerable to water shortages during prolonged severe drought, as well as to the potential impacts of climate change.

The NSW Government’s Water for Life website outlines what has been done to manage the current drought:

New recycling and water saving initiatives have been implemented
Transfers from the Shoalhaven commenced at around 60% storage levels
Level 1 to 3 mandatory water restrictions were applied at approximately 60%, 50% and 40% storage levels
Construction of deep storage access works at Warragamba and Nepean Dams due to be completed August 2006
Significant investigations and preparatory works undertaken to ensure that groundwater and desalination are ready to be deployed if necessary

Since water restrictions and more water saving initiatives have been in place, Sydneysiders have reduced their annual water consumption by 17%.

NSW Government's new approach to managing drought in Sydney

The key to the new approach to managing drought has been the emergence of non-rainfall dependent options such as groundwater and desalination. The strength of these options is that they can be constructed with short lead times, and be operating at full capacity to augment supply, if deep drought conditions emerge.

Being able to utilise these options means that better use can be made of the storage system, Level 4 or 5 water restrictions can be avoided and costly pre-emptive investment is not required.

Drought in NSW

Drought relief for country towns

Types of assistance available

Drought in Sydney

Historical approach to managing drought in Sydney

NSW Government's new approach to managing drought in Sydney