The construction of the Doppler radar earmarked for Hillston/Ivanhoe has been delayed three months due to covid-19 shipping delays.
In 2019 the NSW Government announced it would deliver three Doppler radars for western NSW, which would provide local communities and farmers vital weather data as part of its $24.5 million election promise.
The state government originally announced all three radars would be installed and operational in 2022 but brought forward the date for Hillston/Ivanhoe to April 2021 as Brewarrina was completed on time and conditions were ideal.
Related reading: First sod turned on Brewarrina Doppler radar
Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall said the government was on track to deliver its commitment.
"Given favourable conditions, the NSW Government sought to fast-track construction of its Hillston-Ivanhoe Radar to provide our farmers with critical weather data even sooner," Mr Marshall said.
"While it won't be operational by the hopeful date of April 2021, due to COVID-related international shipping delays, the Hillston-Ivanhoe Radar is still ahead of its intended schedule - which is great news for farmers. Excitingly, the installation of the radome will take place in the coming weeks."
He said this Doppler, like the Brewarrina radar already was, would benefit farmers, emergency services and local communities in the region.
"It will provide coverage for important agricultural areas from Leeton, Hay, and Narrandera to the south, to Ivanhoe in the north-west, and Condobolin, Ungarie, and West Wyalong to the east," he said.
The three new radars in western NSW are being built by the Bureau of Meteorology and funded by the NSW Government.
