Paul Rosser 
What a strange month it was. Up to the 23rd I was all ready to say ‘the driest November in the last twelve years’, then not one dump but two, ending up with 84.0mm for the month. It only rained on four days (1.5mm, 18.0mm, 32.5mm & 23.0mm). November is a traditionally a windy month but not all that wet, even mentioned as such in the Kaurna calendar. It boosted the YTD to 547.5mm after me thinking we’ll be lucky to crack 500mm.
Well, how did the month compare with the last thirteen Novembers:
Year November Year to Date
2023 84.0mm (2) 547.5mm (3)
2022 108.0mm (1) 564.0mm(2)
2021 40.5mm 489.5mm
2020 11.5mm 467.5mm
2019 25.5mm 355.0mm
2018 49.5mm 332.0mm
2017 9.0mm 473.0mm
2016 12.5mm 610.5mm(1)
2015 14.0mm 407.0mm
2014 19.0mm 364.0mm
2013 9.0mm 478.0mm
2012 15.0mm 491.0mm
2011 20.0mm NA
If this is drought, then bring it on!
From a fire prevention point of view, we have achieved a lot this year after two years of being told the Department of Environment & Water had its budget slashed & no slashing or maintenance would be done.
This year we were confronted with a similar story & we approached Leon Bignell & told him we were expecting a ‘Fair/Safe’ approach to fire prevention on Bowering Hill. The grass was above head high in parts & was classified as ‘Fail/Unsafe’. He approached the Minister, Susan Close & put our argument for action. She sent three of her Divisional Managers down to negotiate with us & they were shown the depth of the problem & then talked to us for two hours. Every point put to us, we replied that ‘it was unacceptable’ & we expected our plan to be accepted in full’.
We argued that ‘the Department cannot go on planting sprees & not maintain the area in a ‘Fail/Safe condition. We ended the negotiation with the December slashing fixed in place & our other demands for a September weed & seed control slash, diamonds & creek banks to be brush-cut subject to them finding the money in their budgets.
It was confirmed some weeks ago that all of our demands would be met for this year. Our last request for this to be done annually, without the unpleasant three months of negotiations, is being followed up by our assertive Local Member, Leon Bignell with Minister Close. Fingers crossed for 2024.
We can feel much safer now that this has been done. Complementing this the Farmer has taken the head off his crop, cut his firebreaks & will have his stubble baled by Xmas if it dries out. Lastly Burke Road, the dirt track at the top of Bowering Hill has been closed to traffic, removing the hoons 4 X4 playground thereby reducing the chance of fire ignition from hot exhausts. There is nothing else that can be done to our north, other than preparing our own patch against fire. That’s our responsibility as a Village.
Summer is now with us. What can we expect:
* Below average rainfall, but not as bad as first thought now that the Indian Ocean Dipol is returning to neutral in Mid December,
*The Indian Ocean is warming up again & this may help the rain situation – a ‘dump’ may be a chance again,
*Warm days & nights, with some over 40 degrees,
*Water in reservoirs was at 69% before our last 55.0mm rain event. A lot sunk in but some improvement has occurred.
Don’t put your hose away just yet, your garden will require regular watering this summer.
In closing, it took 67 years for global warming to rise one degree in terms of averages above the pre industrial era. Currently we are around 1.5 degrees above BUT this year we have had two consecutive days of two degrees above average (ERAS Modelling). The main cause – fossil fuels, especially coal. Worth thinking about.
The next report will be in 2024, so have a safe & happy Xmas & a fulfilling New Year.
All the best
Paul
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