The outputs from Hydrological Services contribute towards Output 1.3 - Meteorological and Related Services and Products. Outputs typically include a comprehensive national flood warning service for coastal and inland rivers in collaboration with relevant state and local government agencies; advice to public and private sector organisations on the use of hydrometeorological information in design, construction and other applications; and publications, reports and data sets on Australias surface water resources and their utilisation and on the links between weather, climate and surface water.

OUTPUT PERFORMANCE 2004-05 

Output performance is measured against a number of quantity, quality and price targets. The results achieved for 2004-05 are provided below along with a commentary on significant variations.

Comments on output performance

Hydrological services products continued to be in high demand with further growth in the number of client accesses through the internet experienced during the year. This growth is partially attributed to the increased number of available products, offset somewhat by the very low incidence of flooding during the year. The most significant event occurred in June when record rainfalls in southeast Queensland and northern New South Wales caused severe flooding (Figure 34). The flood warning system performed well during this, and other, flood events throughout the year. Stakeholder feedback gathered through Flood Warning Consultative Committee mechanisms and other, less formal, feedback revealed a continuing high level of client satisfaction. The only formal survey attempted during the year was carried out as a supplement to the user survey undertaken by the Victorian State Emergency Service following the February floods in metropolitan Melbourne. Although this survey focused more on severe weather and flash-flooding aspects, it did reveal satisfaction with Bureau warning services during the event. Client access to hydrometeorological services and products was improved during the year through the provision of more CD- and internet-based access systems for hydrometeorological advisory services as well as water resources information.

Figure 34. Intensity Frequency Duration information for the rainfall events that occurred over south-east Queensland in June 2005. The line marked 'G' is a 1-in-100 year event, which in this case was exceeded by a significant margin.