Paul Rosser 
Let’s deal with December first. It was a dry month with only 10.5mm of rain & a YTD of 514.0mm.
The annual measure was a reasonable annual rainfall helped by good winter & follow-up Spring falls. We had four real wet days in July & November amounting to 108.0mm. Our 50k tank overflowed & self-cleaned on November 23rd, which was unheard of in our 14 years at the Village.
How does this compare with other years:
2025 10.5mm 514.0mm (4)
2024 20.0mm 354.0mm
2023 83.0mm 630.5mm (2)
2022 10.0mm 574.0mm (3)
2021 3.0mm 492.5mm
2020 14.0mm 481.5mm
2019 4.0mm 359.0mm
2018 21.5mm 353.5mm
2017 34.0mm 507.0mm
2016 59.5mm 670.0mm (1)
2015 13.0mm 396.0mm
2014 14.0mm 378.0mm
2013 13.0mm 491.0mm
2012 7.0mm 498.0mm
While our December rainfall was ligh, our YTD rainfall was the fourth best in the last fourteen years. Looking at our gardens at the moment one wonders where all this rainfall went.
Looking ahead, the next three months is very average, apart from temperatures:
- Rainfall average,
- Bushfire risk average in SA,
- All three oceans are around neutral,
- Temperature will be slightly above average for day time & night time,
- Oceans around Australia are just above average, except for the Bight & our Gulfs which are on average.
- Soil moisture is very dry in the top 150mm, where most of the roots are for food & water.
It was nice to read that Nundoo Island, opposite the Murray Mouth has been bought by the SA Government & is being reinstated to its natural self as a new addition to the Coorong National Park. Bird life on the island has already increased & native grasses are making a comeback after years of farming. Complementing this the Federal Environment Minister is talking about how they may improve the long-term health of the Coorong National Park area, in partnership with our State Government.
It is also good to see the Bowering Hill area has been made Fire-Safe for 2025/6. The Farmer at the top started the process with his harvest & bailing, reducing the height of the stubble to 100mm, DEW has done the fire trails up the top of the hill & has trimmed the Wallaby grass now it has spread its seed, the valley floor & tracks up to the top have been slashed to 100mm as has the triangle owned by the Onkaparinga City Council & the diamonds have been brush-cut to 100mm as well. This maintenance, along with the bushfire safe plantings on the western end of the Bowering Hill Conservation Park are the seven things that are in place to keep our Village safe. Jenni McGlennon is our Liaison Officer with the Department & Council. Thanks Jenni.
Up until now we have had no rain in January.
That’s it for 2025 & I wish you all a safe & happy new year.
Paul
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