We asked locals: Has enough been done to address the drought in western Victoria?

As the end of winter approaches, the Brolga asked Camperdown locals if they believed the ongoing drought crisis affecting western Victoria has been adequately addressed.

“You see farmers struggling, they have to order semi trucks of hay from Western Australia [at] $20,000 a truck,” one resident said, “it’s hard times for people.”

Another local told the Brolga his neighbours had resorted to selling off livestock.

“Halls Gap north of us got 100ml, we got 10ml and south of us, [they] might have got 10ml, so it’s just so patchy,” he said.

What caused the drought?

While western Victoria experienced consistent July rainfall, scientists and Agriculture Victoria officers warn the soil moisture in western Victoria remains “well below average” for this time of year.

This is because of significant decreases in cool season rainfall across southern Australia, due to an increase of high-pressure systems pushing rain-bearing cold fronts away from the region.

A report by Environment Victoria notes the high-pressure systems are in part a consequence of burning fossil fuels.

These fossil fuels produce carbon dioxide and methane, which build up in the Earth’s atmosphere and trap heat, increasing global temperatures and altering the way large volumes of air in the atmosphere and storm tracks move around the planet.

Watch the full video below.