By Russell Bennett
Fruit growers Peter, Steve and Mark Chapman, and Phillip Sezonenko can’t understand why they haven’t been able to use their local weather station. 56257
CONFUSION has rained over a Wandin East weather station.
Fruit farmers in the local area have been unable to access vital weather information from the Parker Road station since the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) built it nearly three years ago.
The DPI said the weather station was set up in 2008 to provide research information to examine water use on yarra valley crops.
A spokesman said the information had only been available to farmers involved in the project.
He said the information is now available to everyone.
“The station’s readings can currently be accessed online,” he said.
However, berry farmer Steve Chapman and family members Mark and Peter, who didn’t participate in the project, said they had been trying to obtain the readings since they found out about the weather station.
“We can’t really rely on just the local weather forecasts when it comes to growing,” Peter said.
“We really need specific information so we know exactly when is the best time to harvest.
“We know of Bureau of Meteorology weather stations in Mount Dandenong and Coldstream and can access the results but even they’re not local enough.
“We’re in the middle of the two of them but we know the weather isn’t.”
Steve said had tried to get the information but DPI staff had been unable to supply it.
Mark said in cases of extreme weather events, which can happen on short notice, farmers have to know in advance so they can prepare.
“For critical events like frost, we have to know the local forecast.
“Coldstream is substantially lower than here at about 100 metres, Mt Dandenong is 600 metres and we’re about 280.
“Clearly the DPI saw the need for a weather station here but they just have to better communicate with the farmers to let us know the readings.”
Liberal candidate for Monbulk Matt Mills blasted the DPI.
“Three years of state money going into what is essentially a monument to weather keeping is just ridiculous.
“I just can’t understand how farmers in one of the largest horticulture districts in the Southern Hemisphere can’t get access to such important information.”
