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What is drought?

Drought is a prolonged dry period when the amount of available water isn't enough to meet normal use. Over time, Victoria has experienced an increase in the frequency of unusually hot days.

With decreasing rainfall over an extended period, this could all contribute to drought. Combined dry and hot periods cause soil to dry out faster, decrease runoff after rain events, and reduce stream flow further.

Drought can affect rural and metropolitan areas in different ways. It is important that the potential for drought be considered in all areas of water planning across the state. This can include everything from agriculture to how cities are designed.

Learning from the past

From 1996 to 2010, south-eastern Australia suffered through the Millennium Drought. During this time, Victoria received mostly below-average annual rainfall. Water restrictions affected everybody at this time, not just in places where the effects of drought were more visible.

By 2017, one third of Victoria’s 161 catchments had still not recovered, despite rainfall returning to pre-drought levels. About 30% less stream flow has been observed, and the underground water table has not recharged. A greater amount of rainfall may be lost to evaporation and transpiration (water used by plants) during and after the drought as well.

State-wide preparedness for such climate hazards is vital. This is why Victoria has a range of drought assistance programs. These include those to prepare as well as manage drought, including, for example, a network of about 300 emergency water supply points to support rural water users in these tough times.

A variety of other projects exist to increase community capacity and wellbeing by providing training to mitigate hazards and prepare for future drought.

Case study

Local community responses to drought are important in regional Victoria. This ensures economies continue to thrive. In 2019, the Mallee Catchment Management Authority (CMA) initiated the Drought Employment Program.

This secured a source of income and developed skills for farmers and communities. Employees of the program worked together to revegetate the region and reopen roads covered by eroded soil so that farmers could access their land.

Watch the video

Mallee CMA Drought Employment Program (3 min 4 sec)

Meet the expert

Jolyon Taylor is a Senior Water Resources Engineer at Gippsland Water. In this video, he discusses why it is important to manage and prepare for droughts, and how his love for the natural environment led to a 20-year career in the Gippsland region.

Source: DEECA

Photo essay

Further resources

Below you can find a variety of resources to further research and understand drought in Victoria and Australia.

Agriculture Victoria drought support – assistance for farmers and irrigators.

Current Water Snapshot – up-to-date status of storage levels, rainfall and more.

Drought and dry conditions in Victoria – information on the water sector’s response to dry conditions.

Permanent water saving rules – rules to promote a culture of efficient water use.

Using Water Wisely and Target 150 – Melburnians are encouraged to use no more than 150 litres a day.

Victorian Desalination Plant – making Victoria more resilient in years of drought.

Victorian Water and Climate Initiative findings (2017–2025) – research to understand our climate and water resources better.

Victorian Drought Hub – an innovation hub to enhance drought preparedness and resilience.

A history of drought in Australia – the Bureau of Meteorology take you back to 1895.

Drought knowledge centre – understand what a drought is and what causes them.

The effects of drought in the Murray-Darling Basin – drought can affect the entire interconnected system.

Explainer: What is Drought – the Bureau of Meteorology explain in detail.

How the Millennium Drought Changed Us – remembering this decade-long dry spell.

Measuring drought risk – how to assess Australian farms’ exposure to drought.

Page last updated: 17/09/25