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Gloomy weather outlook
While some areas have received reasonable rain, as this full dam at Cressy shows, others are the driest they have been for many years.
KAROLIN MACGREGOR
AFTER a record dry summer and
autumn in many parts of the Tasmania the latest long range forecast is not
good news for the state’s farmers.
The Bureau of Meteorology’s threemonth outlook is forecasting a strong
chance of unusually low rainfall from
July to September.
For much of Australia during July,
the BOM says rainfall is likely to be
within the typical range for the month.
Below average rainfall is likely
with a 60 to 70 per cent chance across
much of far southern Australia including Tasmania.
The BOM says this includes areas
that have recorded serious rainfall de昀椀ciencies since February with totals in
the lowest 10 per cent for years since
1900.
Parts of south-west Western Australia and Tasmania have an increased
chance of unusually low rainfall.
Unusually low rainfall is de昀椀ned as
the driest 20 per cent of July periods
from 1981 to 2018.
The BOM says rainfall is likely to
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Picture: KAROLIN MACGREGOR
It’s a double whammy because people want their
irrigation water and they use it and then we’ve got to
replenish it.
ANDREW KNEEBONE, Tasmanian Irrigation
be within the typical range for the season for eastern, northern and western
Australia.
Rainfall is also likely to be below
average for parts of Tasmania.
After one of the driest seasons for
many years and the low winter rainfall forecast there are also concerns
about water levels in some of the state’s
major irrigation scheme dams.
Tasmanian Irrigation chief executive
of昀椀cer Andrew Kneebone said they are
monitoring the situation closely.
“We’re always concerned but a number of our dams are on an empty and
昀椀ll cycle and we’re at the end of an
irrigation season so some of our dams
we wouldn’t expect to have large volumes in them,” he said.
“But there are ones that are more
susceptible that we are concerned
about. The southern highlands dam
for instance and Craigbourne are particularly susceptible.”
At present the Craigbourne dam is
61 per cent full while the Southern昀椀eld
dam in the southern highlands has just
12 per cent of its water, the Meander
Dam has 59 per cent and Mill Creek
dam in the Circular Head district has
29 per cent.
Mr Kneebone said they did not 昀椀ll
the southern highlands dam Southern昀椀eld last year because the cost of
sourcing extra water from Great Lake
was too high.
“It’s a concern, we’re not at panic
stations at this stage but we’ve certainly
got a watching eye on things,” he said.
“Craigbourne is completely
dependent on runoff and 昀氀ow and it
normally only 昀椀lls every three years
anyway but it’s getting down and it’s
one of those ones we’ll certainly have
to assess as to whether we can offer a
full allocation.”
While dams on some of the schemes
昀椀ll naturally from runoff, Mr Kneebone said others are pumped into from
rivers.
“It sort of depends on what water is
in the river and what is available, but
we would normally rely on 昀氀ood takes
to get the water as cheap as possible
into there,” he said.
“Like everyone else we’re at the
behest of rainfall and that’s why we
offer a 95 per cent reliable product,
not a 100 per cent reliable product.”
Earlier this year TI extended the
irrigation season on some schemes to
help farmers who were struggling with
unseasonably dry conditions.
Mr Kneebone said recent rainfall in
the state’s north and west was helping to 昀椀ll some systems including the
Meander Dam.
“We had an exceptional demand year
and probably our highest demand year
ever for water,” he said.
“It’s a double whammy because people want their irrigation water and they
use it and then we’ve got to replenish it.
We’re just hopeful that we get enough,
even if it’s lower than average rain, if
we get enough rain we’ll be ok, but it’s
always a lottery.”
As well as lower rainfall the BOM
says much of the country is forecast to
have a greater than 80 per cent chance
of above average maximum and minimum temperatures over the next three
months.
The BOM says there is also an
increased chance of unusually high
maximum temperatures for all of
Australia.
Producers face more
challenges, Page 6
Applications are now open for the Strategic Industry Partnership Program
Moon Cheese Studio
The Strategic Industry Partnership Program
(SIPP) provides targeted grants on a
co-investment basis to agricultural industry
associations and peak industry bodies.
Agricultural associations and peak industry
bodies are encouraged to apply for funding to
undertake industry development and support
projects, including the provision of leadership
and project support.
Applications will close on 16 August.
For more information on how to apply and
to view the guidelines visit
www.nre.tas.gov.au/SIPP
Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania
TASMANIAN COUNTRY Friday, July 5, 2024 3
