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https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/article/2024/may/14/queensland-officially-drought-free-for-first-time-since-2013>
"Queensland has been declared completely free of drought for the first time in
11 years.
Months of flooding rains have transformed much of the state’s dusty red-earth
interior into a network of swollen creeks and rivers awash with green shoots
and birdlife.
Diamantina and Bulloo shires, located more than 1000km west of Brisbane in
Queensland’s channel country, this month became the last two local government
areas to have their drought declarations officially revoked. They had been in
drought since 2013.
Droughts are “burnt into the psyche” of Jo Sheppard, the chief executive of the
Queensland Farmers’ Federation, experiencing many as she grew up on a cattle
station in the neighbouring Paroo shire.
“A 10-year drought is incredibly difficult to endure … it takes its toll
psychologically, it’s that uncertainty, you have no idea when a drought will
end,” Sheppard said.
The state’s drought-free status is cause for celebration, she said. “It’s a
rare occurrence and certainly welcome.”
Notwithstanding the state-wide declaration, there are still large pockets of
land untouched by significant rainfall. According to the department of
agriculture and fisheries, 35 properties across Queensland still hold
“individual droughted property” status."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
