5 October
2006 - Farmers, fishermen and other local residents
of the south-coast of Western Australia are set
to benefit from improved weather forecasting.
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Greg
Hunt, announced the Bureau of Meteorology will
provide separate forecasts for two new districts
in the region.
Mr Hunt said the districts would
be created by the splitting of the Southern Coastal
District in Western Australia.
"The new districts will
be South Coastal, which will centre on Albany,
and Southeast Coastal, which will centre on Esperance,"
Mr Hunt said.
"The changes have been
created by dividing the former district along
a north-south line meeting the coast at Bremer
Bay. These new districts were developed in consultation
with local councils and will come into operation
from 16 October.
"The former Southern Coastal
District extended more than 800 km from west to
east. The weather in that region is often complex
and difficult to describe clearly as it moves
across such a large area. The smaller districts
will allow a better description of the forecast
weather and aid community understanding of the
forecasts.
"I want to congratulate
the Federal Member for Kalgoorlie, Barry Haase,
who highlighted this issue with me and helped
to bring about positive changes for local weather
forecasting."
Mr Haase said he took the matter
to Mr Hunt after being contacted by local residents.
"I highlighted to Mr Hunt
the value to the community of more effective weather
services possible through splitting of the old
Southern Coastal Forecast District.
"This is a good outcome
for the many of us who rely on quality weather
forecasts."
Maps showing the new district
boundaries can be accessed via the Bureau's web
site www.bom.gov.au.
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office)
Sam Dalton (Mr Haase's office)
