The Prom Coast region is experiencing its driest conditions in more than a decade, with the lack of rain placing pressure on water supplies, agriculture, and local communities.
The Bureau of Meteorology has classified South Gippsland as experiencing "severe rainfall deficiency," ranking the region alongside parts of western Victoria and South Australia in terms of drought severity. While recent rainfall brought relief to some areas of northern and eastern Victoria, South Gippsland remained notably dry, exacerbating already critical conditions.
Foster Post Office recorded just 3.4mm of rainfall in April, making it the town's second-driest April on record. The only drier April occurred in 1923, when the region suffered through similar conditions. This represents a stark departure from the monthly average of 94mm typically recorded in the Foster district during April.
Local water infrastructure is showing the strain of the prolonged dry spell. One South Gippsland Water treatment plant operator remarked that he had "never seen the dam at Fish Creek so low." The Battery Creek reservoir at Fish Creek is currently at 69% capacity, having received only 35mm of rain in April. Deep Creek reservoir in Foster stands at 73% full, with just 26mm of rainfall recorded.
Historical records show that even during the height of the Millennium Drought in April 2008, Battery Creek's water levels only dropped to around 56% capacity. According to South Gippsland Water's 2024 water security outlook, stage one water restrictions would be triggered if Battery Creek falls to approximately 55% during the May to July period.
While no stage one restrictions have been implemented yet, all residents in the Prom Coast and across the entire state remain subject to Permanent Water Saving Rules. These regulations require that all hand-held hoses must be fitted with trigger nozzles and be leak-free. Residential and commercial gardens can only be watered with watering systems equipped with rain or soil moisture sensors between 6 PM and 10 AM. Public gardens and playing surfaces face similar restrictions, and fountains and water features must recirculate water. Hard surface cleaning is restricted except for emergencies, safety hazards, or seasonal staining. These rules do not apply to recycled water, greywater, stormwater, or rainwater collected in storage tanks.
The Bureau of Meteorology's long-range forecast for May to July offers mixed prospects for the region. While the forecast indicates below-average rainfall is likely for parts of southern, eastern, and northern Australia, the specific outlook for the Prom Coast is a little more hopeful. Fish Creek, for example, shows a 50% chance of above-median rainfall (more than 279.2mm), a 26% chance of continuing unusually dry conditions (less than 243.3mm), and an 18% chance of very wet conditions (exceeding 350.7mm). However, meteorologists caution that little relief is expected throughout May.
The forecast also predicts warmer than average days and nights across most of Australia, with an increased likelihood of unusually high temperatures, particularly in southern regions. Cara Schultz
