Unpredictable weather patterns over the last week have once again highlighted the need for more comprehensive radar coverage in the western parts of NSW.
As it stands, there is a critical need for additional radar towers to fill the huge gap in radar services between the existing stations at Woomera (central SA), Mildura (VIC) and Moree (northern NSW).
Developing resilient agricultural industries and the communities that are supported by them is hugely dependent on risk management. Very poor forewarning of western originating weather patterns can be provided to most of NSW by the current array of stations.
The Bureau of Meteorology themselves note that Australian farmers operate in one of the riskiest environments in the world, and that the variability of Australian weather and climate is one of the most difficult risks to manage. Yes, it is a difficult risk to manage, and to a degree, much of that risk is accepted as a part of a farming business model. The reality is that there is a real opportunity to help manage and mitigate weather risks in the western parts of the state, with a moderate investment, providing a huge benefit to the area.
At the current time little is being done towards this and it seems to us to be a “no-brainer”. The importance of additional stations in strategically identified areas of the state cannot be over stated, not just for agriculture, but for other applications such as emergency management (for example flood mitigation, bushfire management) and other industries such as the tourism, aviation and mining industries. This is not a new issue. It is one that has been bounced around for years, with governments of various persuasions and levels alleging the other is responsible for funding the stations.
There appears to be a lot of support, everyone in principle agrees, but so far it has amounted to nothing except talk. Even the Orana Regional Organisation of Councils, frustrated at the lack of action at a state and federal level, has repeatedly applied for funding. They were again knocked back in 2016, after three years of unsuccessful applications. It really is high time that the Federal Government work together with NSW to enable the funding for these additional stations to occur.
At a time when we seem to be able to easily find $2000 million dollars in Sydney for stadium rebuilds - that are arguably not even necessary - we should be able to find the funding for this; a practical and highly needed investment to better the lives of western communities and their economies.
- Annette Turners is CWA of NSW state president.
