SPRING RAINS ON MOWER’S PARADE

CONSTANT rainfall this spring has proved “very frustrating” for Penguin’s Mowing owner Jason Yap who has had to regularly postpone jobs and often works 12-hour days, seven days a week to catch up.

Hobart has recorded 95.8mm of rainfall from the beginning of October to Monday morning, in stark contrast to the long term average for October of 61.8mm.

Bureau of Meteorology Hobart meteorologist Glen Perrin said Hobart residents were right in thinking the rainfall was “well above average”, and for Mr Yap it was the worst spring rainfall he has experienced in four years of operating in Hobart.

“There is constant rain every week which makes it very difficult to get our mowing jobs done, I end up having to cancel and postpone jobs but then our waiting list stacks up,” Mr Yap said.

“Sometimes it is up to 14 days long and it makes things difficult for me, because I end up having to work 7am starts and 7pm finishes.”

With a family to provide for it is crucial Mr Yap can continue working, but the constant spring rain has made bookkeeping difficult.

“You don’t lose money but you also don’t have an accurate amount for your weekly estimates,” he said.

BOM data showed in the seven days to Monday Hobart recorded 47mm of rainfall; in the seven days to October 18 there was 23mm; in the seven days to October 11 there was 5mm and in the seven days to October 4 there was 21mm .

“We have had a reasonable rainfall around eastern parts of the state this month. A lot of that is due to low pressure systems.

“We have had several of these events that have produced the larger amounts of rainfall across the state,” Mr Perrin said.

Mr Yap said flexibility was key during spring and he was constantly checking for sunshine so he could duck out and fit in extra mowing jobs.

“This (Monday) morning is a great example. I am supposed to be out working but it is raining again.

“Depending on the job description for the day some things can still be done though,” he said.