The Bureau of Meteorology's decision to discontinue its free real-time flood forecasting tool, Enviromon, has sparked concern among Queensland councils and emergency services. This move, which will replace Enviromon with a US-developed software called OneRain, is seen as a cost-shifting exercise with potentially deadly consequences. For nearly 30 years, Enviromon has been a vital tool for local governments, emergency services, and water managers, providing critical data for flood forecasting and emergency alert systems. However, the BoM's decision to end support and maintenance for external users by July and replace it with OneRain, which cannot be sublicensed, has raised alarms.
Brisbane City Council, which serves an area of over 1.3 million people, is particularly worried about the 10-minute lag in data updates that OneRain will introduce. This delay is deemed unacceptable in the context of flash flooding, a regular threat in the region. The council is now exploring the option of procuring its own software, which could cost up to $500,000, not including ongoing subscriptions. Tracy Davis, the council's environment chair, has described the change as 'reckless and dangerous', emphasizing the potential loss of vital real-time flood data and the risk to lives.
The Gold Coast City Council estimates the cost of replacing Enviromon at around $600,000 over five years and has called on the federal government to cover these costs, as the BoM is a Commonwealth responsibility. Alison Smith, the CEO of the Local Government Association of Queensland, has also urged the BoM to provide an equivalent replacement service, highlighting the need for emergency information to remain accessible and free, especially as weather events become more frequent and severe.
In New South Wales, the State Emergency Service is responsible for flood warnings, and they are working with the BoM to transition to alternative arrangements. However, the SES spokesperson noted that Enviromon is currently used by their organization. The BoM justifies the change by citing cybersecurity, stability, and resilience standards, but critics argue that the decision is more about cost and control.
The controversy over Enviromon's replacement comes at a time when the BoM is already facing criticism for its new $86 million website, which has failed to meet user expectations. This double blow has raised concerns about the BoM's internal processes and the potential for further technological shortcomings.
