05 Aug Gulf communities battling dangerous weather blackspot

North West Queensland communities need to be given a fighting chance during severe weather events with the help of a doppler weather radar in the Gulf, Katter’s Australian Party (KAP) Leader and Member for Traeger Robbie Katter said.

Mr Katter recently met with the Croydon Shire Council, where they voiced their concerns about the urgent need to establish a radar to cover a major weather data blackspot across the Croydon area, Carpentaria Shire, Mornington Island, Kowanyama, and Pormpurraaw Aboriginal Shire Councils.

“Real-time weather information is critical to this region as it is historically in a cyclone track due to its proximity to the Gulf,” Mr Katter said.

With no doppler weather radar in the Gulf region, councils, communities, mining, and agriculture are left to rely on anecdotal information rather than official data, placing them at a severe disadvantage to track weather events, which could pose a threat to lives, infrastructure, business, and freight.

“We saw the devastating effects of a radar blackspot in the 2019 floods in North West Queensland – half a million head of livestock lost and more than $5 billion worth of damage,” the Member for Traeger said.

“Graziers were unprepared for the onslaught as they were relying on data based on conditions hundreds of kilometres away.”

Mr Katter said this radar will enable tracking of cyclones and severe weather events, ensuring that multiple communities and industries are prepared and face reduced risk. It will fill the coverage blackspot, which has left flood affected communities forgotten during crucial forecasting periods.

“There continues to be a great deal of inequity when it comes to the way the need for disaster mitigation and assistance for North Queensland is determined by the bureaucrats down south.

“The KAP and I will remain resolute in advocating for North Queensland, ensuring that no one is left to guess the dangers of impending weather.” Mr Katter said.

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Photo: Robbie Katter MP with Croydon Mayor Tony Pickering.