Bureau of Meteorology ordered to fix new website after torrent of complaints
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The federal government has told the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) to fix its new $4.1 million website after a torrent of complaints by Australians, including farmers who are finding it difficult to use.
The BOM described the changes as "modern and sleek" when the new website went live last week, during wild weather in Victoria and extreme heat across Australia.
But Energy Minister Chris Bowen told ABC Radio National Breakfast the changes missed the mark.
"The bureau clearly has work to do in that it has lost community confidence in the new website," Mr Bowen said.
Environment Minister Murray Watt has discussed the issue with BOM acting chief executive Peter Stone, saying the site was "not meeting many users' expectations".
"I made clear my expectations that the BOM needed to consider this feedback and, where appropriate, adjust the website's settings as soon as possible," Mr Watt said in a statement.
"This includes urgent consideration of improvements to the website's functionality and usability."
Mr Watt said Mr Stone was considering the feedback and what adjustments could be made.
The bureau has been asked to provide a briefing to state and territory emergency services ministers this week on the new website and the steps it is taking to improve it.
"Australians deserve to have confidence in these important services," Mr Watt said.
"My office and I will continue to engage closely with the BOM and ensure public safety is its foremost priority."
Nationals leader David Littleproud is calling for a review after locals in his Queensland electorate of Maranoa struggled to find information they needed after a recent rain event.
"I am hearing from many locals that the new platform no longer allows them to enter GPS coordinates for their specific property locations, restricting searches to towns or postcodes," he said in a statement.
Mr Littleproud said farmers were unable to access localised river heights and rainfall information data.
"Others have found the website difficult to navigate and note they cannot locate the radar function without extensive exploration of the site," he said.
The bureau website receives about 1.8 million visits every day.
Those numbers can increase to 5.7 million during extreme weather.
A BOM spokesperson said the new website was the "most complex technological transformation ever undertaken by the bureau".
The spokesperson said community feedback on the new website had been "overwhelmingly positive" during a 12-month beta testing phase.
Written by Kellie Lazzaro, ABC News.
The BOM described the changes as "modern and sleek" when the new website went live last week, during wild weather in Victoria and extreme heat across Australia.
But Energy Minister Chris Bowen told ABC Radio National Breakfast the changes missed the mark.
"The bureau clearly has work to do in that it has lost community confidence in the new website," Mr Bowen said.
The Bureau of Meteorology's new website has prompted a social media storm. (ABC News: Daniel Miles)
'Not meeting expectations'
Environment Minister Murray Watt has discussed the issue with BOM acting chief executive Peter Stone, saying the site was "not meeting many users' expectations".
"I made clear my expectations that the BOM needed to consider this feedback and, where appropriate, adjust the website's settings as soon as possible," Mr Watt said in a statement.
"This includes urgent consideration of improvements to the website's functionality and usability."
Mr Watt said Mr Stone was considering the feedback and what adjustments could be made.
The bureau has been asked to provide a briefing to state and territory emergency services ministers this week on the new website and the steps it is taking to improve it.
"Australians deserve to have confidence in these important services," Mr Watt said.
"My office and I will continue to engage closely with the BOM and ensure public safety is its foremost priority."
The new BOM website has not been well received. (Supplied: Bureau of Meteorology)
Farmers not happy
Nationals leader David Littleproud is calling for a review after locals in his Queensland electorate of Maranoa struggled to find information they needed after a recent rain event.
"I am hearing from many locals that the new platform no longer allows them to enter GPS coordinates for their specific property locations, restricting searches to towns or postcodes," he said in a statement.
Mr Littleproud said farmers were unable to access localised river heights and rainfall information data.
"Others have found the website difficult to navigate and note they cannot locate the radar function without extensive exploration of the site," he said.
Almost 2 million daily users
The bureau website receives about 1.8 million visits every day.
Those numbers can increase to 5.7 million during extreme weather.
A BOM spokesperson said the new website was the "most complex technological transformation ever undertaken by the bureau".
The spokesperson said community feedback on the new website had been "overwhelmingly positive" during a 12-month beta testing phase.
Written by Kellie Lazzaro, ABC News.
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