Stephen Conroy (Victoria, Australian Labor Party, Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

The Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) and (2) Headcount including maintenance and leave relief staff.

(3) At this stage there are no plans for significant changes to the staffing levels in the field offices listed in questions 1 and 2. Changes may result from the introduction of the Next Generation Forecast and Warning System in 2013 but this has yet to be determined.

(4) Decisions on the staffing levels within Bureau offices depend on service requirements and changes in technology. They can also depend on the availability of staff to work in some locations. Staff numbers and locations are constantly under review to optimise the service.

(5) (a)

(b)

(6) and (7) The table below outlines the SES numbers in 2006 and 2011. The increase in SES numbers is due to the addition of new functions under the Water for the Future program, the National Plan for Environmental Information and the transfer to the Bureau of the Ionospheric Prediction Service. Victorian totals include the Chief and Deputy Chief of the Centre for Australian Weather and Climate Research, a joint arrangement with CSIRO.

(8) Hervey Range radar was installed as part of the ongoing radar upgrade program and replaced Mt Stuart radar. The Bureau's radars provide rainfall estimation, and not forecasts, by detecting the reflection of radar signals from water droplets. Every radar has unique characteristics and limitations which are determined by the location and type of the radar. Due to the complexity of the terrain near Townsville the radar was positioned in an elevated location to enable the better detection of severe weather such as thunderstorms, tropical cyclones and potential flooding over a larger geographical area. This means that some low-level rainfall may go undetected. Recent maintenance and calibration checks have ensured that the radar is now operating to specifications.

(9) The Bureau has received some comments on the radar's ability to detect low-level showers. In response, the Bureau has recently adjusted the radar settings to capture rainfall closer to the ground and has conducted further calibration and maintenance checks on the radar.