Lucky Rain

A number of interstate passengers this weekend have commented on Sydney’s continual showers, whilst lamenting their own lack of water. Living in Sydney these past few months, when our weather returned to normal with regular rain, it’s easy to forget the worst drought on record still grips much of eastern Australia.

Driving through north east Victoria last weekend the drought was cruelly evident with country as brown and parched as I’ve seen. A Victorian passenger told of fruit orchards being bulldozed, cattle herds being slaughtered and farmers walking off their land.

Last night I rang a friend attending the East Coast Blues festival at Byron Bay. Sure enough, it was raining there, as it does every Easter festival at Byron. Yet over the border in south east Queensland the worsening drought sees Level 5 water restrictions being introduced tomorrow.

One passenger revealed the mid north coast around Taree had received some ten inches of rainfall in recent months. He was in agriculture investment funds and claimed to be doing good business around the state. And significantly, he said many Queenslanders were now investing in NSW properties after giving up on local agriculture investment in Queensland.

A farmer from western NSW reported recent good rainfall out his way. There was now enough soil moisture for farmers to begin planting winter crops. Good luck to them. After experiencing water price rises of 700% through the drought, they deserve a break.

In the future indulgent city dwellers can also be expected to pay a higher price for water. With Water Resorces Minister Malcolm Turnbull stating cities could have as much water as we’re prepared to pay for, the days of cheap water and 20 minute showers are numbered. Fair enough too.

Comments

[Krupo]

It's funny you write about this topic - I'm reading Guns, Germs and Steel and just finished the chapter on Australia and how the Aborigines were never able to set up a massive civilization basically because of the crazy Australian climate.

[Francis Xavier Holden]

In the future indulgent city dwellers can also be expected to pay a higher price for water. With Water Resorces Minister Malcolm Turnbull stating cities could have as much water as we’re prepared to pay for, the days of cheap water and 20 minute showers are numbered. Fair enough too

er Adrian

Urban dwellers, all capitals plus regional cities, comprise about 80% of Australian population and use less than 10% of the water. Urban dwellors in general pay about 10 times more for their water than those irrigators that do pay for water. The majority of farmers do not pay anything for water but simply grab it where and when they can in dams and from bores.

Having a shorter or longer shower or not washing the car or watering the pot plants, means sweet fuck all in terms of water issues - it's just feelgood window dressing.

[adrian]

FX, the forum debate linked to accepted that the urban/irrigators cost differential is heavily in favour of city dwellers. At least no one challenged the host's assertion that this was not the case. However maybe I missed a distinction, dunno. From memory, covered in Part 2.

It's worth noting that city/farmers are not competing for the same water. It's just a solidarity thing with struggling farmers for city dwellers to conserve their own precious water. And given current urban water levels, city dwellers have good reason to reduce usage.

[BeeF]

I was travelling through the near North of Brisbane (Caboolture / Woodford way) last weekend and there is no drought around there that I could see. The countryside was as green as anybody could want and there seemed to be plenty of good feed for cattle. Brisbane and surrounds does not have a bad drought problem, we just have a 'lack of water storage' problem. There has been no money spent on infrastructure and the population has increased dramatically. What can you expect in these circimstances.