Victoria looks to the rain-soaked north and asks: what about us?
RECENT rainfall patterns are showing that, more than ever, Australia’s eastern states are divided between the haves and the have-nots. As Sydney and Brisbane drown under a deluge of rain, Victoria is crying out for a decent drop. Heavy falls over eastern NSW last week threatened fruit harvests, filled up dams and left Sydneysiders wondering what happened to summer. Melbourne’s measly rainfall of 12 millimetres this month has strengthened predictions the state will remain in the grip of drought. In NSW, for the first time in two years a majority of the state’s land is not drought-declared. Last week’s heavy rain raised Sydney’s dam levels to nearly two-thirds of capacity, with some catchments receiving falls of 200 millimetres. Sydney’s water restrictions could be relaxed if dam levels hit 70%, leading the State Opposition to question the worth of a desalination plant. Weather forecasters said the city was set for more above-average rainfall well into autumn, thanks to the La Nina weath
