CANDOWIE reservoir the main water supply for Phillip Island, Archies Creek and The Gurdies has dropped to 49% of capacity after the second warmest year on record.
Releasing its official record of Australia’s climate, water and notable weather events for 2024 the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed it was warmer than average throughout the year for most of Australia.
Climatology specialist Nadine D’Argent said spring was the warmest on record, winter the second warmest and last summer the third warmest on record.
“It was much drier than usual in Victoria,” said Ms D’Argent.
“Australia’s climate is influenced by global patterns in the oceans and atmosphere.
“Sea surface temperatures in the Australian region as well as globally were the warmest on record in 2024.”
According to Westernport Water the level of Candowie Reservoir can drop quickly when there is little inflow and a spike in demand from hot weather.
Westernport Water’s water supplies are normally fed by rain but can be supplemented by water from the Melbourne water supply system and desalinated water.
Tourist locations that do not have a town water supply such as Venus Bay and Sandy Point report low water tank levels after a busy January with a large number of visitors.
Venus Bay Community Centre Manager Alyson Skinner said it is a feature of summer.
“People are having to buy top-up water.”
“It is too early to tell if people are buying more water than usual,” said Ms Skinner.
“If it keeps going like this people will notice it in their gardens.
“Some trees have died including banksias.”
A water trailer provided by South Gippsland Water while an art cube was located in Venus Bay in January was welcomed by the Venus Bay Community Centre.
President of the Sandy Point Community Centre Danny Milton said Sandy Point jumps to a population of 3,500 over January requiring quite a few water tanks to be replenished.
“Water is being used wisely but Sandy Point is managing at the moment,” said Mr Milton.
Victoria had 529 mm of rainfall in 2024 which is 20% below average and in the lowest 10% of all years since 1900 for most of the state.
The annual average temperature for Victoria was 1.08 °C warmer than the long-term average making 2024, Victoria’s equal fifth-warmest year on record.
Wonthaggi recorded very low rainfall for the year down to 77% of average rainfall.
The hottest day of the year was just before Christmas on December 16 when the mercury soared to 39.1 degrees in Wonthaggi, 38.9 in Pound Creek and 39.2 at Yanakie.
The coldest day for the year was on Monday July 8 when the temperature plummeted to minus 1.3 degrees in Yanakie and 0.3 degrees in Wonthaggi.
Wilsons Promontory lighthouse recorded its strongest ever wind gust of154km/h on Wednesday August 28.
Agriculture Victoria is continuing to monitor seasonal, economic and social conditions across Bass Coast and South Gippsland.
Farmers have been urged to access resources and information related to managing dry seasonal conditions including preparing for a drought.
The Victorian Government uses a drought preparedness and response framework to guide decisions about when, where and how to assist farmers and communities affected by prolonged dry conditions.
A range of drought preparedness and drought management tools and resources are available at agriculture.vic.gov.au/dryseasons
Follow the rules to save our water
PERMANENT Water Saving Rules are a series of common-sense rules that all customers supplied water by Westernport Water are obliged to follow day to day to ensure water is not wasted.
These rules are set out in legislative instruments known as Permanent Water Saving Plans and are in place on a permanent and ongoing basis, even when water restrictions are not required.
Permanent Water Saving Rules aim to promote efficient and sensible use of water without significantly restricting customer choice and flexibility.
Permanent Water Saving Rules:
Handheld hoses: A handheld hose must be fitted with a trigger nozzle and be leak-free. It can be used to wash your car and water your gardens and lawns at any time.
Residential or commercial gardens and lawns: A residential or commercial garden or lawn can be watered with a handheld hose at any time, or by means of a watering system between the hours of 6pm and 10am on any day.
Fountains and water features: Water cannot be used in a fountain or water feature unless the fountain or water feature recirculates the water.
Cleaning hard surfaces: Water cannot be used to clean hard surfaces (including driveways, paths, concrete, tiles, timber decking) except where cleaning is required as a result of a hazard or accident, or in the course of construction/renovation. Hard surfaces can be washed if staining to the surface has developed, but only once per season.
Pools and spas: Before filling new pools or spas with a capacity of 2000 litres or more, customers must fill out a Water Conservation Plan Application and have it approved by Westernport Water.
