Particle.news
Download on the App Store

BoM Restores Old Radar Display After Backlash

The bureau apologised, with staged updates planned as scrutiny grows over the website’s $86 million price within a $866 million overhaul.

Overview

  • Acting CEO Peter Stone said the site has reverted to the previous colour scheme and made rain reflectivity (dBZ) the default, with users able to switch to rain‑rate (mm/h).
  • The rollback was announced on October 31 after meetings with state and territory disaster ministers and days of complaints about usability during active storms.
  • Reports a day earlier described the BoM app radar crashing or showing out‑of‑date images as severe weather threatened south‑east Queensland.
  • Political pressure intensified, with Queensland Premier David Crisafulli and federal Environment Minister Murray Watt criticising the redesign and demanding fixes.
  • The bureau confirmed the broader website work cost about $86 million, including a $4.1 million public‑facing revamp, within the $866 million Robust IT program that involved major contracts with Accenture and Deloitte.