A new report, Victoria’s Water Resources under a Changing Climate, provides valuable insight into the state’s climate and hydrology thanks to research from phase 2 of the Victorian Water and Climate Initiative.
Key takeaways from the research include:
- As Victoria’s climate changes, weather patterns are altering and resulting in less water flowing into rivers and less water soaking into the ground.
- Rainfall in our cool season has continued to decline, while severe rain events throughout the year have become more frequent.
- Despite high annual rainfall in some recent years, the amount of water flowing in some rivers and streams in parts of Victoria has been relatively low and this remains the focus of ongoing research.
- Under the warming climate, Victoria is projected to experience more extreme weather events – such as floods and heatwaves – which will increase threats to water quality and supplies.
- Droughts in Victoria are likely to become longer, more frequent and more intense.
The Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action has led the research, undertaken with the Bureau of Meteorology and the CSIRO. It also incorporates findings from Melbourne University and Monash University.
Page last updated: 29/09/25