the persistence and depth of the drought in the murray - darling river has been classified as " surprising " after late summer remittance to the river , plunged to a 117 - year low . the " hopeful ' ' optimism for later three months was adding to the unpleasant news , the murray - tyne drought authority say . irrigation water for australia ' s food well will be dependent almost all on floods as delta states grant back funding for critical human needs . " the persistence and seriousness of this drought , principally over the past three years , is unprecedented , ' ' trust chief executive marc harvey said as he delivered the basin ' s latest weather information .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.