Big turnouts in all three towns saw 70 people attend at Inverell, 56 at Tenterfield, and 92 people packed the Armidale venue to learn more about climate science, and the climate changes expected to occur here. 

The show was staged by Northern Tablelands Local Land Services (LLS) and featured expert climate scientists, Dr Leanne Webb and Dr Marie Ekstrom from the CSIRO Climate Projections Team as well as Felicity Gamble from the Bureau of Meteorology. 

They reported average temperatures were already rising on the Northern Tablelands, and the indications are that it will continue to get hotter with the rate of increase depending on the rate of green house gasses emissions. 

Less clear was the impact on average rainfall (although modelling predominately suggests a decrease in winter and spring rainfall), but the intensity of extreme rainfall events is expected to increase.

It is these extreme events are what the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA) consider will leave our economy exposed. In his latest release called The Economics of Climate Change, CEDA Chief Executive Professor Stephen Martin warned of the consequences of increasing extreme weather events, such as cyclone Yasi, Black Saturday and the Queensland floods, and their socioeconomic impact on Australia’s production capacity.

“While most Australians are happy to help others in need during or following these events, if there are options to reduce impacts before they happen then we should be looking at them now.”

“Australian businesses and governments need to ensure they keep in step with international developments and have the options available to move to less carbon intensive industries and energy sources if we are to remain globally competitive.

“We appear to be one of the only countries trying to wind back its legislative approach to greenhouse gas emissions. Perhaps it’s time for a policy rethink on an emissions trading scheme.”

LLS planning officer, Wendy Miller, said a series of climate change adaptation workshops is now being organised for July and will feature Dr Allyson Williams from the International Centre for Applied Climate Science.

“These workshops will be aimed at helping landholders identify the risks associated with projected changes in climate, and indentify how they can adapt to cope with a hotter climate and the continuation of erratic rainfall conditions.” Ms Miller said.

“They will focus on helping landholders to identify practical strategies that can be implemented on farm to better prepare for a changing climate.”

A workshop will be held from 5pm-8pm in Inverell on Thursday July 24.

Other local workshops will be held at Bonshaw from 2pm-5pm on Monday July 21 and at Glen Innes from 2pm-5pm on Wednesday July 23.

Those who wish to attend should contact Vicky Wong on 6728 8036 email vicky.wong@lls.nsw.gov.au or Wendy Miller on 6728 8039 email  wendy.miller@lls.nsw.gov.au.