JULY’S promise of a reprieve from the drought failed to eventuate with Keith Thomas in Warburton recording an average rainfall for August of only 75mm – far short of the average 135.7mm.
“For the first eight months of the year we have received 745.5mm, which compares badly with our average of 830mm,” Mr Thomas said.
“Melbourne’s storage dams continue to languish and hold only 684,799m.ltr., or 38.6 per cent of capacity.
“At this time last year the dams held 46.8 per cent and in both 2004 and 2005, they held 54.4 per cent.
In Healesville, Alma Mitchell recorded 53.7mm with rain falling on 20 days and, again below the 2006 figure of 57.6mm.