Météo France Weather Radar Project in Moorea: An Alternative Location Being Considered… and the Building Permit Application Put on Hold
’Ia ora na i te nuna’a nō Mo’orea,
Following repeated warnings and the actions undertaken by our federation to defend our island, the authorities and Météo France have agreed to take our concerns into consideration. The project has been put on hold in order to study relocating it to a more suitable area, further away from residential areas.
A Decisive Step Forward in Protecting Our Island
From the outset, Tahei ‘Autī ia Mo’orea has emphasized that no development or infrastructure project should be imposed on local residents as a fait accompli, nor should it come at the expense of our health, our landscapes, or our quality of life.
This suspension demonstrates that our concerns have been taken into consideration and shows that when the people of Moorea come together to protect their fenua, their voice is heard.
Understanding the Project: What Type of Antenna Is It?
To ensure that the entire population is fully and transparently informed, it is important to clarify the nature of this equipment:
A radar enclosed within a radome: The white spherical structure (the radome) houses a large rotating parabolic antenna.
How it works: This is not a mobile telecommunications antenna (such as 4G/5G), but a remote-sensing device. It emits radio waves to detect the density and movement of clouds and precipitation.
Why Does Météo France Want to Install This Radar?
Météo France has put forward several technical and safety-related reasons:
- Anticipating extreme weather events: Improving forecasts of torrential rainfall and providing warnings in the event of a risk of flash floods or flooding.
- Monitoring storms and cyclones: Accurately measuring the intensity of storm cells and tropical depressions as they approach our islands.
- Aviation and maritime safety: Supporting the guidance and safety of aircraft and vessels in the area.
Why Was the Initial Location a Concern?
While the usefulness of modern weather forecasting tools is not being questioned, the initially selected location raised significant concerns:
Health concerns and the precautionary principle: Exposure to pulsed electromagnetic waves in the immediate vicinity of residential areas raised serious concerns among local residents. For our federation, the health of our families and the precautionary principle must come first.
Landscape and environmental impact: A large 30-metre-high metal tower topped with a dome, located within our coastal landscapes, would have altered the preserved natural setting of Moorea.
And Now? Tahei ‘Autī ia Mo’orea’s Next Steps
The Tahei ‘Autī ia Mo’orea federation will continue to closely monitor developments in this matter in order to:
- Ensure that the proposed alternative site is located well away from residential areas and places where people live and spend their daily lives.
- Demand comprehensive and fully transparent environmental and health impact assessments.
- Ensure that the population remains informed at every stage of the process.