For Mansfield, a picturesque town in the foothills of the Victorian Alps, the decision represented a huge step forward. As part of this effort, they recently installed a new solar powered weather station to deliver advanced, localized weather forecasting. The new forecast and development aims to close a crucial forecasting gap that has long left residents and farmers in the region in the lurch. Mansfield’s unusual topography, including its proximity to the Great Dividing Range, makes forecasting challenging. This led to flawed forecasts that create chaos and inconvenience for everyday schedules and can be extremely costly and damaging to agriculture’s growing seasons.
Increased demand for localized weather data made the community’s desire to set up a weather station in Mansfield an easy decision. This need was brought into sharp focus during a major storm day last August. That storm cell would subsequently be confirmed as a tornado. It highlighted the shortcomings of traditional forecasting approaches that focused primarily on information from the Eildon station alone. Aside from adding knowledge to our new smart city of the future, this unique project will give residents access to accurate, real-time local weather data for the first time.
Enhancing Local Forecasting
The newly installed weather station is equipped with high tech sensors. These sensors provide real-time measurements of important meteorological parameters such as wind direction and speed, rainfall, temperature, atmospheric pressure, humidity and UV radiation. This robust suite of measurements provides the entire community with access to eight-day forecasts. These forecasts are made possible by Victoria’s cutting-edge artificial intelligence system, developed by meteorologist and television weather presenter Jane Bunn.
Mansfield Shire Councillor Cr Rabie, one of the original members of the proposed route, welcomed the project’s expected economic benefits. He said this local, dedicated weather station was critical. Today, farmers, property developers, event organizers, sporting clubs, residents—anyone—can access real-time data customized to their needs.
“Having our own dedicated station means our farmers, event organisers, sporting clubs, and residents can access real-time data and forecasts that are truly local,” – Cr Rabie
Cr Rabie underscored how vital timely and precise weather data is for the community, especially during wildfires. He noted, “This is useful, practical information that helps people plan their work and their day.” By harnessing the transformative potential of artificial intelligence, AIABM’s new system is able to analyze data at incredible speeds compared to previous approaches.
“What we can do with machine learning and AI is speed up that process really considerably,” – Cr Rabie
Meeting Community Needs
Local farmer and Fox River Coalition Chair Tony Tehan has long pushed for improved forecasting capacity. Through his tireless advocacy, he’s been instrumental in bringing this weather station to fruition. Frustrated by relying on forecasts from Eildon—located 20 to 30 kilometers away—Tehan took actionable steps to engage both the council and the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM).
That particular emphasis on the impact of local weather for the agriculture industry, as Tehan highlighted, was crucial. He told us how the right data can help pesticide applicators make more informed decisions about when and how to apply pesticides to his crops.
“If it’s too hot or too cold the sprays do not operate efficiently,” – Tony Tehan
Commissioner Roan stressed the importance of understanding how much rainfall there is in order to handle water flowing into dams. Tehan expressed his satisfaction with the new installation, stating, “I’m particularly happy, and I’m sure other farmers in the area are very happy, to have a weather station so close to Mansfield.”
Tehan’s point about the practicality of localized weather data was picked up by local farmers’ market organizer Alli Walker. She mentioned that of all the uses for the forecasts, the most transformative use is providing them to farmers’ market stallholders.
“As a farmers’ market organiser, having access to accurate, local weather data is a game changer — it helps our stallholders plan better and supports the resilience of our regional food producers,” – Alli Walker
Collaboration with BOM
The Mansfield Shire Council is working closely with the BOM on the installation of this new service, to make sure it fits in with the local meteorological ecosystem. A spokesperson BOM insisted on their commitment to working constructively with governments of all levels. Above all, their goal is to provide clear and actionable weather guidance, especially during severe weather emergencies.
Cr Rabie reiterated that this local service allows residents to benefit from both immediate forecasts and broader national warnings. He commented on the historic gap between what was predicted by Eildon and what ended up happening on the ground in Mansfield.
“It’s pretty well known that the Eildon-based weather reports aren’t always the same as the weather we’re experiencing in Mansfield,” – Cr Rabie
With this new station in place, we can now make timely and accurate local assessments. Its true goal is to improve community preparedness for hazardous weather, allowing residents to make the most informed decisions that impact their daily lives.
