NSW: Drought continues despite Easter rainfall, says Macdonald

AAP General News (Australia)
04-21-2003
NSW: Drought continues despite Easter rainfall, says Macdonald

The NSW government says the drought isn't over yet, despite the wet weather over Easter.

NSW Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries, IAN MACDONALD, says steady rain on the
coast over the long weekend could give the false impression that the drought's broken.

But he says most parts of the state have had little or no rain this weekend.

Mr MACDONALD says 99.5 per cent of the state remains gripped by drought and it's worsening
in many areas.

He says most of the state's west has received no rain.

And sheep numbers in the Western Division have dropped from an average of eight or
nine million to just two million.

Mr MCDONALD'S encouraging people to donate to the Community Disaster Relief Fund through
any Commonwealth Bank branch.

AAP RTV ka/gjr

KEYWORD: DROUGHT NSW (SYDNEY)

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