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Rain cuts Perth Show crowd but good for dams
30 Sep 2003
Perth's Royal Show Day got off to a soggy start on September 29, with Swanbourne recording 30 mm before 9am. Occasional heavy showers kept showgoers rushing for cover. By midday 26,000 people had arrived, compared with 43,000 last year, but a late influx closed the gap. At 3pm, the total was 36,000 compared with 57,000 in 2002; the estimated daily total was 50,000, which was 20,000 fewer than last year.
However, while the rain kept showgoers away, it may help avert severe water restrictions this summer. Perth and South-West dams are nearly 37 per cent full, holding 247 gigalitres or 57GL more than on the same day in 2002. Perth's dams need to hold 345GL by the start of summer to avoid tough restrictions. Swanbourne's 30 mm until 9am was the highest rainfall in Perth yesterday, while the highest fall outside the metropolitan area was 16 mm at Balladonia. Other country areas which had good falls included Albany (33 mm from 9am-3pm yesterday), Jacup (23 mm), Mt Barker (22 mm) and Ongerup (35 mm).
The West Australian, 30/9/03.
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