News: Public forum set for weather radar outcry
The Bureay of Meteorology (BoM) has scheduled a public forum for 5 August to discuss the Tennant Creek weather radar switch off.
Posted: Tuesday, 14 July 2015
A public forum with the
Bureau and residents of the Barkly will be held at the Barkly Regional Council
Chambers on Wednesday, 5 August at 5pm.
This meeting has been called following a recent uproar over news that the
Tennant Creek weather radar has been decommissioned. Safety concerns have already been raised by remote maintenance workers and cattlemen because the new satellite will only take pictures of clouds, not rain, and was not due to come online until next month.
The Tennant Creek weather radar was first decommissioned by the then Gillard government in December
2012 but reinstated three months later following a similar public outcry.
Cattle producers, aviators and local residents of the Barkly were outraged at
the lack of consultation and the removal of what they called a vital service.
At the time they claimed it would plunge the 320,000 square km region of
Australia in effective darkness, and joined with local industry to offer to buy
the Tennant Creek weather radar from the Bureau.
In a recent statement, BoM said community safety will not be compromised by the
decommissioning of the radar and has agreed to meet with residents to allay
fears.
The Bureau said it will continue to provide high quality information to support
medical evacuations and emergency services, including the continued provision
of tailored advice where requested. It is also making increased use of
satellites and investing in other technologies that provide coverage right
across the Barkly, and all of Australia.
While the Federal Government is adamant that it is the right time to close the radar and that it will not be switched back on, the Bureau has agreed to meet with residents at the public forum.