Bulletin - Vol 9 No. 1 January/February 2006

Weather station safety fears at Maatsuyker Island

by Tim Martain, The Mercury, 6 January 2006

Weather observations are done four times a day, both visually and with the instruments.  The observations are necessary for fishing conditions, flying and search and rescue. Photo: Gill & Keith Chapman

A Bruny Island weather observer is concerned for the safety of mariners and pilots in Tasmania's southwest.

Andy Gregory said without vital cloud cover and sea swell observations provided by the Maatsuyker Island observation post, fishermen and aviators may be in danger or lose money. 

The two Maatsuyker weather observers were evacuated by helicopter on 28 December after one suffered medical problems that required hospitalisation. Since then, the island's weather station has been unmanned with information coming from an automated system that measures wind, temperature, dew point and rainfall. 

Mr Gregory said observers were vital and leaving Maatsuyker vacant was irresponsible. "This time of year is a peak of activity around Maatsuyker," he said. "Lots of boats go around Port Davey this time of year, fishing boats work the area, abalone divers need to know how big the swell is, general aviation need to know about visual data, cloud cover, cloud height." 

Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse Photo: Jeff Jennings

The lighthouse and weather observation station on Maatsuyker Island is the responsibility of the Parks and Wildlife Service and acting general manager Stuart Lennox said it would most likely remain unstaffed until early next month. Caretakers usually worked stints of three to six months on the island and the next shift starts in early February. "We're assessing our options and trying to find the most logical and effective way to proceed," Mr Lennox said. 

Weather bureau acting regional director Neil Adams said the lack of observational information would not be dangerous or affect operators of boats and aircraft. "The automatic weather station is still running, we have a wave-rider buoy on the West Coast to provide swell information and Cape Bruny provides sea state and swell information," Dr Adams said. 

Source: http://www.themercury.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,17742871%255E3462,00.html

See also Maatsuyker Island Lighthouse unmanned letter in this edition of the Bulletin.