8 November
2006 - A new $8 million weather station at Willis
Island in North Queensland will play a key role
in tracking cyclones and also help in the detection
of climate change.
Parliamentary Secretary to the
Minister for the Environment and Heritage, Greg
Hunt, and Federal Member for Herbert, Peter Lindsay,
formally commissioned the new facility at a ceremony
in Townsville today.
Mr Hunt said the new off-shore
station replaced an ageing facility which dated
back to the early 1950s.
"Willis Island Meteorological
Office is one of the Bureau of Meteorology's most
remote, yet important field offices," Mr
Hunt said.
"Located about 450 kilometres
north east of Townsville, it is one of a select
group of stations worldwide that will provide
data for monitoring large scale climatic phenomena
such as climate change.
"The new facility has recently
been confirmed as one of some 160 stations included
in the Global Climate Observing System Upper Air
Network.
"The replacement of the
Willis Island field office required the transportation
of building materials and workers over a large
expanse of ocean. Vital meteorological equipment,
including a weather watch radar and balloon launching
facilities, were also shipped in.
"The project is part of
the Federal Government's $19.8 million 2005-06
Budget announcement to rebuild 12 field offices
over six years. I want to pay particular tribute
to Mr Lindsay for his efforts in supporting the
investment in the new facility."
Mr Lindsay said Willis Island
would build on a proud history in charting vital
weather patterns for not only the local community,
but to the world.
"The island has provided
an important frontline warning capability for
tropical cyclones approaching north east Queensland
and has been particularly valuable for coastal
communities," Mr Lindsay said.
"It is terrific to see
that the new centre will play a key role in the
international climatic scene as well.
"This is a demonstration
of the quality of science being produced here
in North Queensland.
"The new weather radar
at the field office will take over from a temporary
radar that was installed on the island and provided
Bureau forecasters with vital imagery of Tropical
Cyclone Larry."
The Bureau of Meteorology deploys
three observers and one engineering technician
to Willis Island for periods of six months. Imagery
from the Bureau's network of weather radars, including
data from the Willis Island radar, is available
on the Bureau web site www.bom.gov.au.
John Deller (Mr Hunt's office)
Niki Lyons (Mr Lindsay's office)
