Infrastructure and planning director James Magee said the $600,000 project would not only create an up-to-date weather monitoring system at Warracknabeal but update the existing station at Hopetoun.

He said Warracknabeal’s current system provided information once a day.

‘‘Presently it’s just a manual system by volunteers who measure rainfall,’’ he said.

‘‘An automated system will update every 15 minutes.’’

Mr Magee said the station was an important addition to the region.

‘‘There’s a weather station at Hopetoun, one at Longerenong and this one will be in the middle,’’ he said.

‘‘It’s going to be of enormous value to the agricultural community and the public because everyone wants access to weather data. It will certainly get used.’’

The state government has granted $500,000 for the project, with the balance picked up by Yarriambiack Shire.

Mr Magee said part of the project would include the installation of automatic weather information services at Warracknabeal and Hopetoun.

‘‘The service provides live weather information to the aviation industry,’’ he said

‘‘There are also benefits for air ambulances that use Hopetoun and Warracknabeal quite a bit.’’

New lighting will also be installed at both locations.

Mr Magee said an application had been made to the Bureau of Meteorology for the automatic weather station to become part of their system.

He said if the bureau denied council’s application there was an option to operate the automatic weather station independently to provide the information to the public.

Mr Magee said council would call for tenders for the project.

‘‘We could make information available to the public through another avenue, maybe on the council website,’’ he said.

Cr Kylie Zanker said the station would provide a range of benefits to the region.

‘‘It’s great for the aviation industry and farming community,’’ she said.

Mr Magee said council hoped to have the weather station up and running in six months time.

‘‘We’ll be keen for it to be implemented as soon as possible,’’ he said.