WINTER warmth and January and November heatwaves increased
temperatures in Wagga and across Australia last year, giving the
country its second warmest year in a century. The record-
breaking temperatures in Wagga gave the city the most anomalous
maximum in Australia at 2.33 degrees above the country's average
for the year of 22.7 degrees. The sweltering temperatures and
lack of rainfall in 2009 brought with it continued debate across
the country on the truth behind climate change. Wagga city
councillor and member of the Greens, Ray Goodlass, has no doubt
that the recent hotter months are evidence of climate change.
"Wagga's temperatures in the last year and the weather
conditions with storms is an indication of climate change," he
said. "We need people to look at the bigger picture and pay
serious attention to this."Mr Goodlass said the statistics on
increasing weather temperatures and lack of rain is a wake-up
call to people who have dismissed climate change claims in the
past. John Westman of Wagga is a clim