General News
4 November, 2025
Bureau makes tweaks to website following public outcry
Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp was among those leading the criticism of the Bureau of Meteorology.
The Bureau of Meteorology has been forced into a backdown after fierce criticism of its revamped website, which left many users unable to access critical radar and rainfall information on the eve of storm season.
Following days of mounting pressure from state leaders, emergency services and the public, the Bureau has restored its previous colour scheme on the rain radar and promised to improve the new system after widespread complaints that it was “practically unusable”.
Burke Shire mayor Ernie Camp wrote directly to the Bureau calling for urgent fixes, warning that the changes put northern communities at risk just weeks out from the wet season.
“The BoM website is an essential management tool for council, the Local Disaster Management Group, our businesses – particularly those whose business-as-usual activities have the potential to be impacted by the wet – such as graziers, miners and air charter companies as well as, of course, our residents who know they have to prepare for the rainy season,” he wrote last week.
“Currently, I cannot access the radar for my local area (Mornington Island) nor my next closest radar (Mount Isa). As mayor and LDMG (Local Disaster Management Group) chair I find this untenable. As a grazier who needs timely and readily accessible information regarding weather, I am frustrated and concerned.”
Cr Camp said the lack of radar detail was already affecting local fire responses.
“I had 12 fires start from one storm front across my 94,000 hectare property and there were over 44 across the region from this same band of storms – being able to see the storm front, wind direction and know where rain was falling to establish which fires were going to be put out by rain was essential to planning fire fighting efforts,” he wrote.
“It also beggars belief that they would roll out such broad-scale changes on the cusp of summer – the time of year when severe weather and risks from weather events are significantly heightened.
“I am greatly concerned about the risk to life and livelihoods created by this badly thought-out and rolled-out action.”
Queensland Premier David Crisafulli joined the chorus of criticism, describing the changes as “not good enough”.
“This is flawed. Easy access to individual radars has been removed. The colour scheme we became accustomed to has changed, and platitudes from Canberra won’t cut it with Queenslanders,” he said.
Acting Bureau chief executive Peter Stone acknowledged the backlash, saying the organisation had responded accordingly.
“We’ve listened to your feedback and have restored the previous radar colour scheme,” he said.
“We will continue to assess options for further updates and improvements while ensuring the community can become more familiar with the website.”
He said forecasts, warnings and radar information remained available through the Bureau’s website, app and social media channels.
“The safety of Australians is our primary concern,” he said.
But in the Gulf and North West, the frustration lingers.
Cr Camp said there had been “no pre-warning” about the website overhaul, and that councils, disaster coordinators and residents had been left scrambling.
“Reliable weather access is essential to prepare, respond and recover from the impacts of wet weather,” he said.