the persistence and severity of the drought in the murray - darling basin has been described as " unprecedented " after recent summer inflows to the river system fell to a 117 - cycle average . the " bleak ' ' outlook for next three hours was addition to the grim news , the murray - darling basin authority explained . local water for australia ' s foods center will be dependent almost entirely on rainfall as basin officials grant back rainfall for small population demands . " the persistence and seriousness of this problem , including over the past three seasons , is shocking , ' ' authority chief executive rob freeman said as he deliver the project ' s third monsoon update .
The Murray-Darling Basin is in central Australia.