In a significant boost for farmers ahead of what many hope will be the wettest summer in years, construction of the new multi-million dollar Brewarrina Doppler weather radar has been completed only four months after the first sod was turned.
The new Doppler is one of three set to be delivered by the NSW Government in record time through its $24.5 million investment, with the expanded radar coverage a game-changer for farmers across western NSW.
Deputy Premier John Barilaro, who joined Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Adam Marshall in July to launch construction, said the three new radars were a key election commitment that would plug a void in weather advice in the State’s west.
“This is momentous for the farmers, emergency services crews and communities of Western NSW who have been waiting decades for this day,” Mr Barilaro said.
“The Brewarrina radar will provide access to real-time weather information, and can detect rain drops and intensity, hail, bushfire plumes, and wind velocity which will empower farmers to make more informed decisions, increasing productivity and reducing the risk profile.
“The fact that construction was completed on-time by the NSW Government is an extraordinary feat given the impacts resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic, including the arrival of critical parts and specialist staff from interstate and overseas.”
Minister for Agriculture and Western NSW Adam Marshall today called on the Federal Government to prioritise its commissioning of the radar so that farmers could be best informed of potential weather events in the coming weeks.
“Construction of the Brewarrina radar is complete, as promised when this $24.5 million election commitment was made last year, and we are now waiting on the Commonwealth to deliver its end of the bargain,” Mr Marshall said.
“I have written to the Federal Government imploring them to urgently finish their testing. We are at the start of the most important harvest in many years, and farmers need this critical information right now and they shouldn’t have to wait any longer.
“Once the data from the Brewarrina Doppler is available to farmers, it will have a real impact for when they decide to plant, to harvest or when to cover their storage.
“The agricultural industry has always been an early adopter of technology that gives primary producers an edge and so by plugging the gap in radar coverage, the State Government ensures they have access to more accurate and up-to-date information.
“Our attention now turns to the Parkes and Hillston-Ivanhoe radars, which I’m determined to have online as soon as possible to ensure we have the best available weather forecast available for farmers.”
