Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements 2004–2005
Environment and Heritage Portfolio
Explanation of Additional Estimates 2004–2005
Commonwealth of Australia 2005
ISSN 1448 – 9058 (Online)
Tables in this section
Part C - Agency Additional Estimates Statements (continued)
Bureau of Meteorology (continued)
Section 2 - Revisions to Outcomes and Outputs
Since the 2004-05 Budget, the Bureau has revised its internal programme structure and realigned its output structure resulting in a minor redistribution of output funding.
OUTCOME 1:
Australia benefits from meteorological and related science and services
- Output cost attribution
- Explanation of variations
- Revised performance information and level of achievement for 2004-05
OUTPUT COST ATTRIBUTION
Direct costs incurred by the Bureau (salaries, suppliers etc) are coded directly to appropriate cost centres within the Financial Management System. These individual cost centres are subsequently attributed to Outputs based upon established, and regularly reviewed, matching of the activities of the individual cost centre to the relevant Outputs.
Indirect costs, that is overheads and activities that cut across all Outputs, are attributed to Outputs on the basis of pro-rata allocation against the most appropriate cost driver that can be consistently and logically applied.
EXPLANATION OF VARIATIONS
National Tidal Centre
The Bureau of Meteorology will receive an increase in departmental outputs appropriations of $0.462m in 2004-05 to fund the operation of the public good component of the National Tidal Centre.
The Government will provide funding of $3.480m over four years commencing in 2004-05, and $0.570m per annum ongoing, to fund the operations of the National Tidal Centre within the Bureau of Meteorology. The National Tidal Centre provides information regarding tidal and sea level observation and predictions.
The Bureau of Meteorology will also receive a departmental equity injection through Appropriation Bill (No.4) 2004-05 of $0.300m representing funds for replacement of assets for the National Tidal Centre.
This funding will be fully offset through contributions from portfolios and agencies which benefit from the National Tidal Centre’s services.
Comcover supplementation
The Bureau of Meteorology’s departmental outputs appropriations has been reduced by $0.282m representing clawback of supplementation for Comcover premiums provided at the 2004-05 Budget.
Australian-United States Free Trade Agreement
An increase of $0.128m in 2004-05. The Government will be providing supplementation in 2004-05 to implement revised Commonwealth Procurement Guidelines issued by the Minister for Finance and Administration on 1 December 2004. The new Guidelines took effect from 1 January 2005 and incorporate new rules and procedures required by the Government Procurement chapter of the Australia-United States Free Trade Agreement.
Adjustments to Revenue from Independent Sources
Revenue from independent sources has increased by $2.405m as follows:
National Tidal Centre
The 2004-05 Budget revenue estimate has increased by $1.030m as a result of the National Tidal Centre undertaking contracts for the provision of cost recoverable services to Government Agencies ($0.330m) and external clients ($0.700m) from 1 July 2004.
Supercomputer access agreement
The 2004-05 Budget revenue estimate has increased by $1.375m to recognise an agreement to provide CSIRO access to the Bureau of Meteorology’s new Supercomputer facility over the next four financial years.
REVISED PERFORMANCE INFORMATION AND LEVEL OF ACHIEVEMENT FOR 2004-05
The performance information that the Bureau of Meteorology will use to assess the level of its achievement against the additional funding is shown below.
| Output group 1.1 Meteorological and related data | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Quality
|
95% of scheduled regular surface, space-based and upper air (radiosonde and upper wind) observations received on time and within prescribed error limits. Field equipment outages not greater than 24 hours for essential equipment, 7 working days for operationally backed-up infrastructure, and 22 days for other field equipment. 90% of users surveyed are satisfied with the functional capacity and availability of mission critical communications system components. 90% of users surveyed are satisfied with the functional capacity and availability of mission critical computing system components. |
|
|
Quantity
|
Numbers of fully operational observing stations – 50 upper-air, 900 synoptic (including automatic weather), 7,500 rainfall, 12 drifting buoys, 100 voluntary observing ships, 745 river height, 60 weather watch radars, 15 satellite ground, 17 solar & terrestrial radiation; 5 total ozone; 2 ozone profile and 1 Baseline. 98 inter-office communications links operational, 910 automated data collection links operational and 12 international communications circuits operational. |
|
|
Price – Budget
|
$118.707m | |
|
Price – Revised
|
$118.881m (Installation, operation and maintenance of operational observational data networks $85.305m; Operation and maintenance of telecommunications and information technology infrastructure $33.576m) |
|
| Output group 1.2 Meteorological and related research | ||
|
Quality
|
Bureau of Meteorology Research Centre (BMRC) scientists invited to serve on 65 external advisory committees etc. At least 15 invitations received to present papers at external conferences and workshops. The Annual Report and all workshop and contract project reports produced in good time. 5 system changes, developed by the BMRC, accepted for implementation by operational units (the National Meteorological and Oceanographic Operations Centre and the National Climate Centre). |
|
|
Quantity
|
6 viable research groups focussed on priority research issues. 110 research publications including refereed journals, articles, book chapters, conference papers and miscellaneous reports, and missions. 75 external collaborative projects undertaken. |
|
|
Price – Budget
|
$9.107m | |
|
Price – Revised
|
$10.997m (Resources committed to Weather Research $6.154m; Climate Research $2.608m; Ocean Research $1.005m; Hydrology Research $1.230m) |
|
| Output group 1.3 Meteorological and related services and products | ||
|
Quality
|
90% of users surveyed indicate that public weather forecasts and warnings are partly or completely accurate. 90% of users surveyed indicate that public weather forecasts and warnings are becoming more accurate or are maintaining current levels of accuracy. 90% of users surveyed indicate that they are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with weather forecast, warning and information services. 90% of users surveyed indicate that weather forecasts, warnings and information services are received in time for them to make their decisions. 96% of regular observation entries into the national climate data base successfully completed within preset quality control standards. 85% of users surveyed are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with climate data services. 85% of users surveyed are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with consultative meteorological services. 85% of users surveyed are ‘satisfied’ or ‘very satisfied’ with hydrological data, information, advisory and flood warning services. 0.1% downtime for Internet access services. 90% of commercial contracts are completed on time. 90% of existing clients renew commercial contracts. 95% of numerical guidance products are delivered before the scheduled deadlines for dissemination. 90% of users surveyed are satisfied with the value of forecast guidance product components. Accuracy of centralised analysis and forecast guidance products as measured by statistical evaluation procedures: S1 skill score of 30 points less than persistence in 24-hour predictions over the Australian region; annual average root mean square [rms] error in the 24-hour statistical guidance for maximum temperature of 3 degrees (2.5 degrees for minimum temperature) averaged over all States; anomaly correlations for 72,120 and 168-hour sea level pressure predictions for 20 to 60o S from the global prediction system of 75%, 55% and 40% respectively; and annual average rms error of 0.7m in the 24-hour sea state predictions averaged over all available Australian instrumental wave observations. |
|
|
Quantity
|
15,000 to 20,000 public weather warnings issued. 400,000 to 450,000 public weather forecast and information bulletins issued. 430,000 climate data, information, monitoring, prediction and advisory services provided. 600,000 hydrological data, information, advisory and flood warning services issued. 7,500 consultative services provided. 5 to 7 million accesses by telephone/facsimile and 1.5 to 2.0 billion accesses by the Internet for automated weather service delivery systems. 1.4 million telephone, facsimile and Internet accesses to automated climate service delivery systems. 400,000 Internet accesses to automated hydrological service delivery systems. 7 Regional Forecasting Centres, 28 Australian Integrated Forecast System (AIFS) equipped offices, 2,400 numerical guidance products issued by the National Meteorological and Oceanographic Operations Centre (NMOC) with 10 systems providing distinctive guidance products. 5% growth in revenues of the Special Services Unit (SSU) and reduce overheads by at least 10% over the previous year. |
|
|
Price – Budget
|
$74.896m | |
|
Price – Revised
|
$75.570m (Analysis and Prediction Products $5.994m Disaster Mitigation Activities $4.965m Public Weather Services $13.630m Marine Weather Services $1.397m Aviation Weather Services $14.886m Defence Weather Services $3.324m Cost Recovery Services $3.912m Climate Data $9.245m Climate Monitoring Service $2.918m Flood Warning Service $4.699m Hydrometeorological Advice $1.691m Oceanographic Services $1.589m Commercial Services $7.320m) |
|
| Output group 1.4 International meteorological activities | ||
|
Quality
|
Australian influence is exercised through occupancy of important senior positions in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO). The value achieved from scientific exchange visits and cooperative projects undertaken with other countries is maintained. The flow of accurate observational data to Australia is increased through provision of technical assistance and meteorological training to the National Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) of developing countries. 100% of the formal obligations of roles for the Melbourne World Meteorological Centre (WMC) and the Melbourne and Darwin Regional Specialised Meteorological Centres (RSMCs), as designated by the WMO, are fulfilled. A high level of demand for Australian officers to participate in WMO activities is maintained. A high level of satisfaction of regional developing NMHSs with Australian technical cooperation is maintained. | |
|
Quantity
|
Australia is represented in all WMO constituent bodies (viz. Congress, Executive Council, Regional Association V, all Technical Commissions). Three or more major international meteorological meetings are hosted in Australia. Active bilateral cooperative programmes are maintained with the eight countries (China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Republic of Korea, Russian Federation, Vietnam) with which a Memorandum of Understanding or treaty has been signed. All AusAID projects offering capacity building by the Bureau especially its Training Centre in Melbourne to help develop meteorology in developing countries are supported. WMC Melbourne, RSMCs Melbourne and Darwin and the Joint Technical Commission for Oceanography and Marine Meteorology (JCOMM) Specialised Oceanographic Centre, Melbourne, are maintained. | |
|
Price – Budget
|
$2.574m | |
|
Price – Revised
|
$2.549m | |
Budget statements
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