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The south-east region of Australia is particularly vulnerable to
bushfires – along with southern California and southern France
it is identified as one of the three most fire-prone areas in the
world. Over the past three decades, Australia has been affected
by between 20 and 25 major bushfires, and every year many
small-scale bushfires occur across Australia. The risk to property
and human life continues to grow as forest areas on urban fringes
become more densely populated.
2
One of the primary objectives of the Bureau’s fire weather
service is to provide fire-management authorities, civil defence
organizations, police, and other emergency services with:
• Detailed routine forecasts during the fire season
• Special forecasts for hazard reduction burns
• Advice regarding the installation and operation of special
meteorological stations operated by fire authorities
• Climatological advice and information to assist with assess-
ment of risk, development of fire prevention strategy, and
other aspects of fire management.
The Bureau is also a key player in the Bushfire Cooperative
Research Centre (CRC), which is focusing on the provision of
research to enhance the management of bushfire risk in an
economically and ecologically sustainable way. The Bushfire CRC
is a partnership between state fire and land management agencies,
eight universities, and federal government agencies, Emergency
Management Australia and the Commonwealth Scientific and
Industrial Research Organisation.
Climate change
Australia is experiencing climate change. Since the mid-twenti-
eth century, temperatures have, on average, risen by around 0.7
degrees Celsius, with increased frequency of heatwaves and a
decreasing number of frosts and cold days.
Rainfall patterns have also changed – the north-west region
has seen an increase in rainfall over the last 50 years, while much
of eastern Australia and the far south-west of the country have
experienced a decline.
The significant vulnerability of Australia to the drying trend
already observed in the southern and eastern part of the continent
since 1950 has adversely affected water resources, agricultural
productivity and unique ecosystems across substantial areas. The
cause of this climate change is not fully understood, and the like-
lihood of its continuance yet to be firmly established. Given the
of rainfall deficiencies. Most of the meteorological services it
provides, are government funded.
Water management
Given Australia’s low and variable rainfall, there is environmen-
tal concern about the sustainable management of surface water,
its use, quality and even its existence in some places.
Over the last two decades, water management and the need
for water reform have gained the increasing attention of govern-
ments and policy makers. The Australian Government has
identified water management as “the key national conservation
challenge of our age.”
1
Water restrictions have become part of
the normal way of life in Australian cities, as have droughts in
rural areas.
The Bureau of Meteorology is one of many agencies involved
in supporting the National Water Initiative but it has an impor-
tant role beyond this. Policy makers need to understand the actual
long-term patterns of rain and water supply and be informed
about the potential effects of climate change.
The Bureau is among the scientific agencies and research
groups that have formed a coalition in support of advanced water
management, with the goal of taking a coordinated whole-of-
government approach to the preparation of high quality, targeted
and timely water research and advice to meet the needs of govern-
ment and the National Water Initiative through the National
Water Commission.
Bushfire management
Bushfires are a natural and devastating part of the Australian
summer landscape, with communities across the country regu-
larly struggling with loss of life, loss of property and the huge
financial costs of bushfires, from infrastructure damage, reduced
agricultural and forest production, livestock losses, and the direct
costs of fire-fighting. Bushfires also impact upon biodiversity,
clean air and water, and Australia’s cultural heritage.
The value of fire weather services
Fire weather services ranging from warnings to special forecasts for
hazard reduction burns are important inputs into the decision making
processes of fire-management authorities. They enable effective decision
making at various stages of fire management. Two examples illustrate
the value of these services:
• Over the Christmas/New Year 2006 period, severe fire weather
conditions developed quickly. As a result of early warnings of the
impending conditions, the Rural Fire Service issued pre-emptive fire
bans across the state. Although there was one major fire on New
Year’s day, the Fire Service credits the Bureau’s early advice for
preventing many more catastrophic fires.
• The Rural Fire Service was preparing the costly exercise of mobilising
heavy equipment in a high threat area. Despite their natural instincts
that conditions would persist, the Bureau provided direct advice to
the Fire Service that rain was imminent. The Fire Service acted on
this advice and were able to save significant costs by avoiding
redeploying equipment.
The framework for water policy development and implementation in
Australia and the contributions made by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology
Council of Australian Governments
Prime Minister, State Premiers, Territory Chief Ministers
Natural resource ministerial council
Federal, State and Territory ministers
(The Bereau of Meteorology is an observer)
National Water
Commission
Agreed water policies
• Water pricing
• Water allocations
• Water accounting
• Urban water
Natural resource managment standing committee
CEOs of Federal and State water agencies including the Bureau
Catchment
management
boards
Public land
managers
Private land
managers
Water
corporations
Industrial
consumers
Domestic
consumers
Agricultural
consumers