Departing warning of 'perilous' water security

Rob Vertessy left the Bureau of Meteorology
 warning of "perilous" water security.
 

Australia faces a "perilous" water security future from climate change even as the Turnbull government eyes budget cuts to water programs and CSIRO halves climate investment, Rob Vertessy, the outgoing head of the Bureau of Meteorology, says.

Reservoirs in the Murray-Darling basin are now close to their lowest levels since the Millennium Drought and Tasmania is also facing "serious" issues", Dr Vertessy told Fairfax Media on Friday, his final day as the bureau's chief.

"Water shortage is a problem and climate change is going to be intensifying the drought and flood cycle," he said, noting that water demand is increasing. "Australia faces a really perilous water security challenge in the future."

Read Peter Hannam’s story of April 30 from The Sydney Morning Herald - “'Perilous': Bureau of Meteorology boss Rob Vertessy exits with climate warning."