Spring in Australia may see more rain than usual in the east and a dry outlook for parts of the west, Bureau of Meteorology climatologists say.

According to the latest seasonal outlook issued by the Bureau, this spring is likely to bring above average rainfall for people living in the east of the country as well as cooler days and warmer nights.

Bureau climatologist Dr Andrew Watkins said predictions for a wetter and warmer spring came after a particularly wet and warm winter.

“Nationally, we’ve seen the wettest winter since 2016,” he said.

“Australia’s average winter temperature is also expected to be one of the ten warmest on record, particularly in the tropical north.”

Dr Watkins said the main reason behind the Bureau’s prediction for a wetter than average spring was a climate driver called the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD).

“We’ve currently got a negative IOD – a phenomenon which typically brings an increased chance of rainfall to southern and eastern Australia,” he said.

“This negative IOD is expected to persist throughout spring but is currently weaker than the last negative IOD event we saw in 2016, which brought Australia’s wettest May-October period on record.”

There was an interesting discussion on the ‘Parkes In Photos of Years Gone Past’ Facebook page this week when Margaret Marshall posted a photo of the massive old River Red Gum Tree (Eucalyptus camaldulensis) outside the Parkes Shire Council building saying she reckoned it was one of the oldest trees in Parkes.

“There was a water course with a little bridge beside it in the 1950’s, a great place to play, especially when Bogan Street was flooding. It is a wonderful big tree that I remember from my childhood,” she said.

Someone suggested the tree should be lit up at night to bring out its true beauty. Many others shared memories of their favourite trees around town.

Parkes residents have helped to shape a new natural habitat for wildlife to be developed in the coming months.

More than 500 native trees and shrubs have already been planted ahead of the new wetland project, which will reimagine the town’s former Sewage Treatment Plant ponds into a wetland system.

The Parkes Wetlands will be located adjacent to Goobang Creek and contain three ponds that were previously used for treatment and storage of treated effluent prior to the construction of Parkes’ new STP and Advanced Water Recycling Facility. Community members took part in the planting as part of National Tree Day events this year and 2019.

The wetlands are part of Council’s ongoing efforts to create and preserve natural habitats for wildlife in order to safeguard our region’s biodiversity for future generations. The wetlands will function as an ephemeral wetland system, with flows of recycled water delivered to the ponds when not required for irrigation of Parkes’ greenspaces.

The key approach for the wetlands is to incorporate a range of habitats that would occur naturally in a riverine zone in Central West NSW. The design aims to ensure that links to surrounding habitat are established, with future planting around the site geared towards creating better linkages to the high-quality riparian habitat surrounding Goobang Creek.

Wetlands are important spaces for waterbirds, especially in drier landscapes, and this project presents an opportunity to attract vulnerable, threatened and critically endangered species back to the Parkes region.

The long-term project is expected to take around three years to fully complete. Parkes Shire Council’s Environmental and Sustainability Coordinator Michael Chambers said additional funding would be sought to in-stall walking tracks, bird hides, seating and shelters, and other infrastructure to open the space for the community to utilise and enjoy. “It is hoped certain sections of the wetlands will be open to the public to visit by late 2023.”

As wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems around the world, this project will be vital for the Parkes region. According to the IPBES Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity, over 85% of wetlands have been lost globally. Inland waters and freshwater ecosystems have among the highest rates of decline, with only 13% of Australia’s wetlands remaining in 2000.

Natural wetlands in the Central West region are generally in poor condition due to high levels of vegetation clearing, poor water quality, grazing and feral animals. Therefore, the construction of artificial wetlands is essential for providing habitat in the face of accelerated biodiversity loss and a changing climate.

In addition to enhancing biodiversity, Parkes Shire Council also emphasise local species in order to preserve threatened ecological communities of the Parkes Shire.

“Much of the tube stock has been grown from locally acquired seed, so we know that the species we have planted are adapted to this site. This means they have the best chance of surviving” according to Michael.

The wetlands project has been supported by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust.

By Hannah Farrant-Jayet

After the shock, sadness, worry and disappointment of Parkes losing its COVID-free status, the community united from Monday with hundreds turning up to get tested and joining the line to get vaccinated.

The drive through testing site at the Parkes Showgrounds saw a surge from only 74 tests on Sunday to 515 on Monday and 344 on Tuesday.

Hundreds of residents turned up on the first day of the pop-up vaccination clinic at Northparkes Oval on Tuesday with 350 receiving their first jab. People started lining up three hours before the hub was to open.

By 10am the parking lot at the oval was filled with over 180 cars, while more than 120 cars snaked from the oval’s gate up Alexander Street, all the way down Wentworth Street, into Currajong Street and all around Drummond Street on both sides to keep the queue from spilling onto the highway.

On Wednesday the line up started even earlier with 25 cars by 6:20am and the line once again snaking into several streets.

Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith thanked everyone who lined up to get tested. “There’s huge queues there and not everyone could get tested today,” he said on Tuesday.

He also said Council had received wonderful feedback from the Defence Force Academy (who is running the clinic) complimenting the Parkes Community on their politeness, attitude and understanding of the situation.

 

 

 

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