The heartwarming reason why five nurses are huddled together looking out of a hospital window
- Tamworth nurses photographed fixated on window at their hospital on weekend
- The picture is a symbol of the impact the drought has had on all rural residents
- Tamworth is at risk of running out of water by 2020 without significant rainfall
- The government has committed $1billion to water infrastructure in the area
An intriguing picture of five nurses staring out of the window of their hospital is actually an indicator of the toll the drought has had on all rural Australians.
The image, shared by Tamworth nurse Ria Larkin, shows five nurses transfixed on the window in what, at first glance, seems like an unspectacular view.
However the picture caption indicates what has really captured the nurses imagination – ‘Rain!’, it said above the picture.
An intriguing picture of five nurses staring out of the window of their hospital is actually an indicator of the toll the drought has had on all rural Australians in drought stricken areas
The image was captured as Tamworth, in north-west NSW, received 27mm of rain in only two hours on Saturday, Yahoo News reported.
‘We all got very excited!,’ Miss Larkin commented on the picture.
A number of other Facebook users were quick to add their comments to the picture with most instantly aware of its significance.
‘This photo speaks a thousand words….’ one friend replied.
‘Great pic. Love it,’ another wrote.
‘It was quite breathtaking when I looked down the corridor and saw this,’ another added.
In the past Tamworth’s average rainfall to October was 501.3mm but so far in 2019 the area has only recorded 199.4mm, just 10 more millimetres than the same time in 2018.
Just two days after Tamworth experienced weekend rainfall the Federal and New South Wales governments announced a $1billion investment in new water infrastructure for rural New South Wales.
Some of that money will go toward a $480m new Dungowan Dam near Tamworth, the Guardian reported.
‘We want to get these projects under way because this is about water supply and security,’ Prime Minister Scott Morrison said.
‘These projects don’t happen overnight but we’re working as quickly as possible to get all the necessary work done so we can start digging.’
Just two days after Tamworth experienced weekend rainfall the Federal and New South Wales governments announced a $1billion investment in new water infrastructure for rural New South Wales
Tamworth is currently on Stage 4 water restrictions, with the Chaffey Dam at just 18.9% capacity, people are banned from using treated Council water outdoors.
NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey has committed to investing $5.3million in water security projects for Tamworth specifically as the drought has made inflows extremely low.
‘Chaffey Dam supplies most of Tamworth Regional Council’s water which is why the NSW Government is investing in short and long term solutions to safeguard the Tamworth city from depleting water conditions,’ Minister Pavey said.
The inflows of water into Chafey dam are the lowest in drought declared years since records were kept in the area.
The Peel Valley region, where Tamworth is located, is under threat of running out of water by as early as June 2020 if it doesn’t experience significant rainfall.
Tamworth (pictured) is currently on Stage 4 water restrictions, with the Chaffey Dam at just 18.9% capacity, people are banned from using treated Council water outdoors