the duration and effectiveness of the famine in the tay - darling basin has been classified as " unprecedented " after late summer inflows to the river system rose to a 117 - year low . the " bleak ' ' outlook for next eight months was increasing to the grim concern , the murray - darling basin area said . valley relief for australia ' s food drink will be dependent almost entirely on drought as member states hold back water for pressing water needs . " the persistence and severity of this rainfall , particularly over the past thirteen years , is unusual , ' ' system chief executive rob freeman stated as he delivered the basin ' s latest drought update .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.