A much anticipated report into cloud seeding has found Hydro Tasmania’s operation had no measurable impact on rainfall leading up to one of the state’s worst flooding since 1929.
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But the Tasmanian Farmers & Graziers Association CEO Peter Skillern says questions remain as to why a known storm front and East Coast Low was not considered a warning sign.
Hydro conducted cloud seeding on Sunday, June 5 to target the Upper Derwent area.
A preliminary report on the cloud seeding flight was provided to the Tasmanian Government in July, which was followed by analysis and a final report delivered to the government on Friday.
Its key findings were that the cloud seeding operation took account of current flood warnings and the Bureau of Meteorology forecasts.
There were no flood warnings found to be in place in the Upper Derwent or Great Lake catchments at the time of the flight.
They said cloud seeding was undertaken to enhance rainfall into hydro storages in the Upper Derwent catchment, including Lake Echo, with regard to storage recovery during the energy crisis.
Had the seeding flight been successful, Hydro said it was possible there would also have been an effect in the Great Lake catchment, Arthurs Lake and Woods Lake.
Hydro Tasmania CEO Steve Davy said Hydro would be reviewing the cloud seeding program to make improvements.
“Including in relation to seeding when there is a risk of floods, so that future decisions about cloud seeding are more in line with community expectations,” Mr Davy said.
“Hydro Tasmania’s cloud seeding program remains on hold and will not resume until a full internal review of the program has been completed and any appropriate improvements have been implemented.”
Energy Minister Matthew Groom said this approach was consistent with the Government’s expectations.
Mr Skillern hit out at the report, and noted a storm front and East Coast Low was reported 3-4 days before the floods to have caused significant damage down the East Coast of Australia.
"We would take their report on face value, but frankly it raises more questions than it answers,” he said.
“The question still remains as to why there was a need or why they felt there was a need to undertake cloud seeding given those circumstances.”
