Senator Button asked the Minister representing the Minister for Science and Technology, upon notice, on 4 December 1980:

(1) From what manned light-stations in Queensland does the Meteorological Bureau receive daily or more frequent weather reports.

(2) What use is made of these reports in compiling weather reports, including cyclone warnings and what is the cost to the Meteorological Bureau of receiving these reports.

(3) What steps is the Bureau taking to ensure continuation of these reports after the demanning of light-stations and what will be the cost of such arrangements.

Senator Durack —The Minister for Science and Technology has provided the following answer to the honourable senator's question:

(1) The Bureau of Meteorology receives weather reports daily from the manned Queensland light-stations at Bustard Head, Cape Capricorn, Cape Cleveland, Cape Moreton, Double Island Point, Fitzroy Island, Lady Elliot Island, Low Isles, Pine Islet and Sandy Cape. Special emergency observations are made on request at Booby and Dent Islands for tropical cyclone warning purposes.

(2) (a) Weather reports from the manned Queensland coastal lights:

(i) are sometimes vital for tropical cyclone warning purposes. The Bureau's Warning Centre at Brisbane sometimes requires more frequent reports from the regularly reporting stations

(ii) are an important part of the general observing network and very valuable for meteorological analysis, forecasting and warning, in particular for coastal regions of Queensland and adjacent waters

(iii) are broadcast by coastal radio stations at Brisbane, Rockhampton and Thursday Island and by some ABC and commercial radio stations.

(b) In the 1979-80 financial year weather reports from the manned Queensland lighthouses cost the Bureau of Meteorology approximately $160,000 consisting of about $107,000 paid in allowances, and nearly $53,000 for telegrams.

(3) (a) When demanning of particular lighthouses is proposed the Bureau consults with the Department of Transport and also

(i) investigates the possibility of obtaining alternative co-operative observers in the vicinity

(ii) considers the installation of automatic weather stations where co-operative observers cannot be obtained and investigates other network arrangements which would reduce the impact of the loss of observations of sea conditions, cloud, visibility and weather phenomena which are difficult and expensive to observe with automatic stations.

(b) The Bureau of Meteorology plans to install an automatic weather station on Lady Elliot Island in the first half of 1981. Other installations at the weather reporting lighthouses on the Queensland coast, except Dent Island, will follow if no alternative manned weather reporting stations can be established by the time that they are automated.

(c) An automatic weather station capable of reporting wind speed and direction, rainfall, pressure, air temperature and humidity and reporting by telex, costs in the vicinity of $15,000 installed, with an annual recurring cost (inclusive of depreciation, communications charges and maintenance) of about $4,000.

(d) The Bureau already uses automatic weather stations successfully including ten on the Queensland coast and adjacent islands.