Urgent warning after 'hazardous' detail spotted at edge of Aussie dam: 'Be aware'
A striking image has given Australian boaters a sobering reminder of how quickly conditions on the water can change, especially as parts of the country face a dry spell.
The photo, posted online by NSW Maritime last week, shows a cardinal mark — a floating navigation aid that shows which side of it is safe to travel on — stranded on dry land, metres away from the current waterline at Blowering Dam, near Tumut in southern NSW.
"This pic... shows how low the water levels are at the moment, leaving our cardinal mark on dry land. If you're heading out, be aware of the changed conditions, keep a proper lookout for exposed rocks and other hazards at all times," NSW Maritime said online.
While inland dams often fluctuate, the speed and scale of this drop is eye-opening. According to the Bureau of Meteorology, the region around Blowering Dam has received below-average rainfall for this time of year, contributing to the receding shoreline and exposing previously submerged hazards.
Around the country's west, south, and southeast, it's a similar story with below average rainfall in some parts breaking records.
When water levels fall quickly, the risks for boaters increase. Submerged hazards like rocks, sandbanks and tree stumps can become exposed or lurk just beneath the surface, catching even experienced skippers off guard. Navigation markers may no longer be positioned in safe or meaningful locations, creating confusion or a false sense of security.
Changing conditions like these can be extremely dangerous and require attention.
Boaters are being urged to check water levels before heading out, and to slow down and keep a proper lookout at all times.
Failing to adjust to the conditions can lead to damaged vessels, personal injury or worse. The photo serves as a visual warning not just for those heading to Blowering, but for inland waterways across Australia, especially as parts of the country remain in rainfall deficits amid lingering drought conditions.
Australia's southern agricultural regions—especially parts of South Australia, Victoria, and Tasmania—are facing some of their driest conditions on record.
Regions across South Australia, including the Eyre, Yorke and Fleurieu Peninsulas, have received just a fraction of their average rainfall, with some areas recording less than 20 per cent of normal levels.
Waterways have dried up completely in parts, prompting emergency water carting to sustain ecosystems. Southwestern Victoria, including around Warrnambool, and areas of western Tasmania are also in the grip of serious rainfall deficits, with Victoria recording one of its lowest 24-month rainfall totals on record.
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The Bureau of Meteorology has also flagged widespread below-average rainfall across southwestern Western Australia and Victoria, South Australia, and Tasmania, with April figures falling into the lowest 10 per cent historically. These prolonged dry conditions are depleting soil moisture, damaging crops, and causing concern for livestock feed availability.
NSW has been relatively less affected in the short term, though parts of the far west and northwest inland have also recorded patchy and below-average falls in recent months.
You can check the latest dam levels and drought updates via the Bureau of Meteorology, and always refer to NSW Maritime for real-time alerts.
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