BOM, NSW Government sign contract for three new weather radars

Flying blind for decades, the new Bureau of Meteorology radars look to be a certainty as an election promise as contracts have been signed. The three new radars are likely to be set up in the Parkes, Brewarrina and Hillston-Ivanhoe areas.

NSW Deputy Premier John Barilaro was in Forbes yesterday to announce the new radars that graziers have been crying out for in the Western Division for more than 10 years.

NSW Country Women's Association president Annette Turner said the radar was a real boon to farmers who have been flying blind with weather events.

Mrs Turner runs a grazing operation with her husband Barry near White Cliffs.

"It's vital. We have been living in the dark for a long time," she said.

"It's an extra important tool to help you make decisions on farm. It's another tool to go with in the future."

"For those involved in intensive cropping it will be an absolute boon."

The CWA passed a motion last year calling for the radars for western NSW and have been pursuing the issue for some time with government.

Mr Barilaro and Bureau of Meteorology NSW State Manager Ann Farrell said the Doppler stations will deliver "real-time rainfall data as well as wind observations across an expected 34 Local Government Areas in Western NSW, which is almost 30 per cent of the state".

Mr Barilaro signed the contract for the radars while meeting NSW Rural Fire Service volunteers at the Mid Lachlan Valley Team Fire Control Centre at Forbes.

“Right now, if you open the Bureau of Meteorology app and look at available radar options you’ll see a big gap across Western NSW, an area where residents, farmers, miners and firefighters have limited access to real-time wind and rain information,” Mr Barilaro said.

“These new Doppler radars will reveal wind and rain activity across almost 321,000 square kilometres, providing the real-time information Western NSW farmers and graziers need to make business decisions about when to sow, harvest or move stock.

“This $24.4 million NSW Government investment will give farmers instant access to accurate information to make quick, critical choices and adapt plans to boost productivity, minimise risk and save money.”

Minister for Primary Industries Niall Blair said Doppler radar coverage will also help emergency services better anticipate and respond to fires which are sensitive to wind conditions and flooding caused by extreme wind and rain events.

“The wind data tracked by these new radar systems will help fire behaviour analysts more confidently assess areas that bush or grass fires may burn towards and potentially impact,” Mr Blair said.

“Unfortunately we know all too well the havoc that bush fires and storms can wreak, with 33 homes lost and 24 damaged in the state’s north earlier this month and the floods that devastated Forbes and the Central West in September 2016.

“Doppler radar data will give residents and businesses vital information in the face of such natural disasters and help emergency services anticipate areas that will likely suffer impacts and ensure resources are in place to respond.”

Bureau of Meteorology NSW State Manager Ann Farrell revealed optimal locations for the Doppler radar installations would be identified in the general vicinity of the Parkes, Brewarrina and Hillston-Ivanhoe regions in the coming months.

“The process for site selection will involve detailed site inspections and tests to ensure that Doppler radar performance and coverage is optimized, and is critically important to success in delivering the required services,” Ms Farrell said.

“It is anticipated that all three radars will be installed and operational in 2022.”

NSW Farmers’ President James Jackson said the contract signing marked a significant step forward for the delivery of the three new radars.

“Our farmers make daily decisions when managing stock and crops. They are also at the front line when bushfires break out. The increased certainty from improved weather information gathered from these new radars is critical. We look forward to engaging with the BoM on the most appropriate locations of the Doppler radars,” Mr Jackson said.

“The NSW agricultural sector contributes over $14.5 billion annually to the economy, and generates over $6 billion in exports. With improved tools, such as these new radars, we can be confident of growing this output and continuing to strengthen rural and regional economies.”