Cloud seeding trial

Summary

From 2004 to 2012, Snowy Hydro Pty Limited conducted a cloud seeding trial in the Snowy Mountains to understand whether cloud seeding can increase snowfall in this area.

During this period, the Snowy Mountains Cloud Seeding Trial Act 2004 (the Act) required the Commission to supervise authorised cloud seeding trial operations and report on the environmental impacts of those operations to the relevant Ministers.

We completed five reviews of the trial in 2005, 2007, 2009, 2010 and 2012 (see reports below).

In September 2012, the Government announced that the trial would end (see media release) and cloud seeding would become fully operational. It made legislative changes, including requirements for Snowy Hydro to carry out cloud seeding operations in accordance with an environmental management plan approved by the relevant Ministers, and review of cloud seeding operations by the Environment Protection Authority.

Key documents

• Government media release (September 2012)
• Review of Snowy Precipitation Enhancement Research Project Annual Report (July 2012)
• Mid-term review of the Snowy Mountains cloud seeding trial (October 2010)
• Progress report on the Snowy Mountains cloud seeding trial (April 2009)
• Progress report on the Snowy Mountains cloud seeding trial (June 2007)
• Review of Snowy Precipitation Enhancement Research Project Annual Report (October 2005)