Permanent cloud-seeding gets green light
Friday October 19, 2012 – 12:35 EDT
A plan to boost snowfall in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains has passed through State Parliament.
The Government announced last month that cloud seeding trials had proved successful and that it would seek to make the process permanent.
The Member for Monaro, John Barilaro, says the trial resulted in a 14 per-cent increase in snowfall.
He says the legislation will help safeguard the region’s ski industry
â??Itâ??s great for tourism and great for the local economy,â?? Mr Barilaro said.
â??There are other benefits of course such as the alpine environment with the extra snow depth.
â??That’ll mean when the snow melts, there’ll be additional water for our river systems, for the dams, for the environment.
â??Thereâ??s also another benefit about green energies through the hydro electric reduction that comes out of the snowy scheme.”
The State opposition has welcomed the cloud-seeding legislation.
The former Member for Monaro and Opposition spokesman for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, says the plan to increase snowfalls will boost water flows and snow cover.
â??I moved a small amendment which the government accepted to ensure that if there are different elements used as the chemicals that they would be properly tested,â?? he said.
â??Apart from that it went through very smoothly and I’m very pleased that this – initially a Labor initiative – is allowing cloud-seeding.
â??It has now turned into a permanent feature of the winter in the Snowy Mountains.”
– ABC
© ABC 2012
Friday October 19, 2012 – 12:35 EDT
A plan to boost snowfall in the New South Wales Snowy Mountains has passed through State Parliament.
The Government announced last month that cloud seeding trials had proved successful and that it would seek to make the process permanent.
The Member for Monaro, John Barilaro, says the trial resulted in a 14 per-cent increase in snowfall.
He says the legislation will help safeguard the region’s ski industry
â??Itâ??s great for tourism and great for the local economy,â?? Mr Barilaro said.
â??There are other benefits of course such as the alpine environment with the extra snow depth.
â??That’ll mean when the snow melts, there’ll be additional water for our river systems, for the dams, for the environment.
â??Thereâ??s also another benefit about green energies through the hydro electric reduction that comes out of the snowy scheme.”
The State opposition has welcomed the cloud-seeding legislation.
The former Member for Monaro and Opposition spokesman for Primary Industries, Steve Whan, says the plan to increase snowfalls will boost water flows and snow cover.
â??I moved a small amendment which the government accepted to ensure that if there are different elements used as the chemicals that they would be properly tested,â?? he said.
â??Apart from that it went through very smoothly and I’m very pleased that this – initially a Labor initiative – is allowing cloud-seeding.
â??It has now turned into a permanent feature of the winter in the Snowy Mountains.”
– ABC
© ABC 2012