Australia Drought: Impact beginning to extend beyond country's farming community

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03:06

As some countries battle the typhoon, Australia is suffering from a severe drought. At least one town is running out of water - with no significant relief in sight. We want to warn you, some of the images may be disturbing. Greg Navarro has more.

"We've had a little bit of rain on the last few weeks which has put some moisture into the ground."

When a home garden becomes a big part of your lifestyle.

"This was a delight. People used to come here and see the fish in the ponds - those ponds were full, vegetation growing everywhere."

A drought can have a devastating impact. Not just on the vegetation.

"This plant which was huge has just basically died out."

But in Rodney Swansborough's case - on your way of life.

RODNEY SWANSBOROUGH MURRURUNDI RESIDENT "When you live in that sort of environment which you are not used to doing, that is very confronting."

Rodney and the rest of the less than 900 people who live in the rural New South Wales town of Murrurundi are facing critical water restrictions. That means no watering gardens.

JAMES DAVIS TOWN WATER SUPERVISOR, MURRURUNDI "Can't wash your car, can't hose down the concrete or a veranda or anything like."

Even showers need to be kept to just 3 minutes. That's because Murrurundi.

"We'd be under water here, full level is 8.4 meters. So we' be nearly up to our shoulders in water."

It is running out of water. The usually full dam has just 3 months left before it runs dry.

JAMES DAVIS TOWN WATER SUPERVISOR, MURRURUNDI "Murrurundi isn't the only town that is running out of water, other towns are in crisis as well so it doesn't just affect farmers, it affects every other livelihood as well."

The worst drought in more than half a century now extends into 3 states. It's turned once fertile land into dustbowls, and pushed animals into areas where they normally wouldn't venture in search of water. Farmers are struggling to keep livestock alive.

"It just breaks my heart that people can't offload them. They are just dying in the paddock."

Many farmers are now forced to feed their animals that are no longer able to graze on the dried up land.

KEVIN TONGUE FARMER "It's been a huge financial effect on everyone. Not just buying hay and things like that, but you know, we've got no winter crop."

GREG NAVARRO MURRURUNDI "The drought also appears to be bringing out the best in people. The owner of this trailer, who didn't want to appear on camera, has just driven here from Sydney and has another 40 minutes to go. A 5 hour, one way trip to deliver this hay to farmers in need. The costs coming out of his own pocket."

Others are traveling hundreds of kilometers to donate supplies to drought-stricken communities.

Murrurundi may have found a temporary solution to its water crisis. But it won't last.

RODNEY SWANSBOROUGH MURRURUNDI RESIDENT "That's a pretty serious thing to think that your water supply is subject to drying up pretty soon."

And with the usually hot, dry summer just months away, the outlook for many communities here is grim. Greg Navarro, CGTN, Murrurundi.