Media Release

INDEPENDENT Federal Member for Kennedy Bob Katter says Mt Isa is expected to have its own weather radar by the end of next year.

“This is welcomed news after funding for the radar was promised in the 2009/10 federal budget.

“Since this announcement, at the urging of Paul Woodhouse, Noeline Ikin and many others, we have been pushing to get this project off the ground before we get another big blow.”

“Only yesterday, Minister Burke’s office advised that our long-awaited radar had been ordered and a preferred location identified, with negotiations underway for a sub-lease with a pastoral leaseholder.

Mr Katter continued, “the importance of radar for the predictions and warnings of cyclonic events and their potential wind and flooding repercussions was made apparent by widespread and sustained flooding in FNQ in early 2009”.

“We are advised that the Mt Isa radar would be completed late in 2011 after site acquisition, architectural plans, planning approvals, site works and equipment installation.

“This will fill a much needed gap – but we can’t rest just yet - there are three other priority radar stations needed to track weather events across the Gulf, mid-west, tablelands and coast.”