Nation cracks under drought

THE rolling hills around this historic city of Goulburn were once renowned as some of Australia’s best grazing land. After four years of drought they are as bleached and lifeless as old bones.

Goulburn is perilously close to becoming Australia’s first major centre to see its reservoirs run out of water as a Big Dry grips much of the nation.

The crisis in Goulburn is a stark warning to Australia’s largest city, Sydney, 201 kilometres away and whose reservoirs should be filled by water running off the hills around Goulburn.

“If we’re dry up here, then there’s nothing going into their catchment because we are their catchment,” Goulburn Mayor Paul Stephenson said.

Drought-stricken farmers have become a big focus for the government. Prime Minister John Howard flew to outback New South Wales yesterday to meet hard-hit farmers, who already get millions in handouts to survive but want more.

In Sydney, leaders are considering extreme measures, including a desalination plant to turn seawater into drinking water.