Officially launched last Wednesday at the Wirraminna Environmental Education Centre, the weather data collected will change the way students, local farmers and also the fire brigade will access instant weather information.

Burrumbuttock Public School Principal and Wirraminna Education Co-ordinator, Mr Owen Dunlop said “It will allow students to use real live data for their class room studies; they are very excited when they see the instant change, like a storm approaching or the rain being recorded every millimetre as it enters the rain gauge”.

Douglas Watson, a year 5 student at Burrumbuttock Public said “The environment changes very quickly and the weather changes how we live. This weather station makes us appreciate the weather so much more”.

Representatives from North Albury Rotary who donated $1000 towards the project and Laing O’Rourke who contributed the remaining $5000 through its Environment, People, Industry and Community grants program were present at the opening.

Ms Susan Crawford, Laing O’Rourke’s Community Relations Manager told the Eastern Riverina Chronicle “The money we provide allows funding to reach communities to kick-off great ideas; and this is just one of them. The students are so enthusiastic and show a wonderful ownership for this project. It’s not just the students who will benefit, but the wider community”.

Currently the weather data is only available through the Burrumbuttock Public school website but eventually will be able to be viewed via the Wirraminna website.