AGRICULTURE —
DOPPLER RADAR
377. Hon RICK MAZZA to the Minister for Agriculture and Food:
I refer to the state government's
investment of $23 million in Doppler radar technology to provide much needed
radar coverage with more precise weather information for farm businesses and
rural communities across the Agricultural Region.
(1) Has the entire $23 million been
spent?
(2) If no to (1), what is the
balance and how will the remaining funds be spent?
(3) Are future
Doppler radar expansions planned for locations other than Newdegate, South
Doodlakine and Watheroo?
Hon
ALANNAH MacTIERNAN replied:
I thank the member for the question.
(1)–(3) There
is a potential underspend over that $23 million, of which $100 000 will be
reallocated in line with standard budget processes. The good news is that there
is another $5 million funding for the upgrade of three coastal weather radars
that are owned by the Bureau of Meteorology. These are at Geraldton, Albany and
Esperance.
If the member is a BOM follower like
me, he might have noticed that there has been some difficulty in getting on to the Albany one for some time as the
upgrade is undertaken. I also make the comment that an increasing number
of states are becoming concerned that they have to pick up the cost of
providing what is very much a federal government responsibility.