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Gippsland Fires: Focus On Sarah Track

Resources are still being deployed on back burning around townships in the area

By Gippsland Fire Information - 13th February 2003 - Back to News

Tune in to the following radio stations for updates on the situation:
ABC Gippsland on 100.7FM, 106.7FM or 720AM
3HCR on 97.3FM
3TR on 99.9FM
3REGFM on 90.7 or 105.5FM
Cooma 2XL on 92.1FM
ABC Bega on 810AM
Radio NSW on 100.9FM

The Bogong Complex (south) Fires

Dargo Incident Control Fires

The Sarah Track will be a centre of attention today, with backburning to continue in a number of areas. One aim is to burn down to the Wongungara River today, while time will also be spent backburning near Mt Birregun, along the Mathieson track and south of the Dargo High Plains Road.

Back burning is also being carried out at selected locations in Dargo itself.

Swifts Creek Incident Control Fires

Resources are still being deployed on back burning around townships in the area.

Delusion Spur is a priority for today and tomorrow, while spot-overs at Groves Gap and in the Wentworth River catchment also on the agenda.

Spot-overs in the Brookville area are also being monitored, while attention is being paid to potential trouble spots there and at Swifts Creek and Ensay North.

Orbost Incident Control Fires

Bulldozers are at work today in an effort to contain the Mount Ellery fire, which has burnt about 10 hectares in remote, rugged country 15kms south east of Goongerah.

Back burning continuing in the Tubbut and Deddick areas. At the same time, firefighters are tracking the burnt areas from South Tubbut to Mt Bowen.

The focus is on keeping the fire within the Snowy River National Park and to the north of the Yalmy Road.

Direct attack on the Snowy River Park fires will also be attempted today.

At the same time, blacking out continues to progress well around Amboyn and Deddick.

The Weather

Today’s forecast is for N/NW winds to 25kph, followed by southerlies in the afternoon.

The next two days should see less cloud and lower humidity, with light winds predominantly from the south to southeast.

There’s concern about the weather predicted for the coming weekend. The bureau expects it to be very warm to hot with winds tending N/NE. Isolated thunderstorms and lightning are possible late in the day on both Saturday and Sunday. Fire danger is likely to be very high to extreme.

Where to from here?

Community meetings are listed in the Contingency Plans section below.

If you would like to know where your nearest community noticeboard is, please contact 1800 668 066.

You can also contact our fire information line for help and advice on damage to livestock or fencing, and assistance to begin your post-fire recovery.

Co-ordinating the effort

To support the efforts of the fire fighting crews and the management of the DSE/DPI, CFA and Parks Victoria there are Municipal Emergency Coordination Centres (MECC) running at Bairnsdale and Sale.

The centres have been established to co-ordinate all the agencies and services that assist the effort and to provide direct services to the communities affected by the fires.

Agencies involved include: Red Cross, Department of Human Services, Shire of East Gippsland, Shire of Wellington, Medical Services, Rural Ambulance, CFA, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Telstra, Regional Health Services, Department of Education, Police, St Johns Ambulance, SES, Salvation Army, Bus Proprietors Association. As conditions change, other agencies are also brought on board to assist.

The level of planning and co-ordination provided through the MECC has ensured that any issues that have been raised by people affected by the fires have been dealt with quickly and effectively.

To access these services or for other assistance, please call 1800 668 066.

How will it affect you?

School closures

The following schools resumed today:

Swifts Creek Secondary College, Omeo, Bruthen, Clifton Creek and Goongerah Primary Schools.

Students from Buchan Primary School will resume on Wednesday February 12.

The following schools will not resume until at least Monday February 17:

Swifts Creek, Tubbut and Dargo Primary Schools.

The Alpine School will not have its first intake until at least Sunday February 16.

Subject to daily review, the majority of school buses have resumed their normal runs. The only students at this stage remaining without bussing are the Buchan to Bairnsdale and the Chandlers Creek to Cann River P-12 College.

All schools in the Wellington and East Gippsland Shires are receiving daily updates from the CFA on the status of the fires and advice for school communities.

There is a manned roadblock north of Buchan, with a permit system for stock and fodder transport to the north of Buchan. People will need to contact the Animal Welfare office on 51 594266 for a permit on the day they want to transport livestock or fodder. Entry will only be allowed if the load and the conditions are suitable. Any loads of fodder must be covered with a tarpaulin to reduce the risk of embers igniting the load.

It is imperative that landholders act on the information provided during DSE/CFA information sessions and make arrangements for their stock well before the fire becomes a problem.

Please be aware that you will not be able to take your stock out or get fodder to them during the danger period and that could last for a number of days once the fire affects your area. Please assist authorities by taking action to protect your stock in plenty of time.

It might be a good idea to talk to neighbours about making arrangements to share fodder in urgent situations where trucks may not be able to get through.

The Omeo Oval remains the designated refuge area for residents in the Omeo and Benambra areas. For residents in the Swifts Creek and Cassilis area, the Swifts Creek Secondary College is your designated refuge area and for Ensay residents, the Ensay Hall or Bruthen Hall if preferred. For Buchan residents, the Buchan Recreation Reserve is your designated refuge area.

Other Emergency Refuge Centres are: Tubbut Hall, Bonang Hall, Delegate River Tavern, Karoondah Park, Gelantipy.

Bombala High School and Delegate Primary School are refuge and registration sites for the movement of people in the area. The Dargo Hall is a registration and refuge area only at times of high risk.

The Bairnsdale Staging Area is being strengthened and a new staging area is being established at Sale. Some resources at the Gelantipy Staging Area are being relocated to Buchan Caves Reserve to better manage the fire as it moves south. There will still be crews at Gelantipy for asset protection.

Please take care on roads in areas where the fire has burned through. With many fences down, stock may be wandering on the roadsides, creating a hazard for vehicles. The Omeo, Benambra, Suggan Buggan and Wulgulmerang areas in particular are where stock are loose.

Residents are urged to call the Gippsland Community Fire Information line on 1800 668 066 to report stock losses and to get help with the care or humane destruction of injured stock.

DPI beef and sheep officers will be available to provide free personalised advice to fire-affected farmers. The service will include advice on drought feeding and feed budgeting. Farmers will be helped to make the hard decisions on options for retaining or selling stock. Farmers should phone 1800 668 066 to express interest. They will be contacted by a DPI officer who will determine their needs and arrange a farm visit if required. Printed materials can also be mailed to farmers free of charge.

If you leave your home or town you are requested to inform the Australian Red Cross staff at your local refuge area, who are keeping track of all movements during the fires for safety reasons.

If you have already registered but you then change your plans it is important to inform the Red Cross. Also, if you leave your vehicle at a staging area they should be informed.

Road closures:

• The Great Alpine Road from Bruthen to Dinner Plain is closed to all except emergency vehicles & local traffic
• Omeo Highway between Omeo and Mitta Mitta
• Benambra-Corryong road, from Stacey’s Bridge to southbound traffic.
• Benambra-Limestone Road/Limestone-Black Mountain Road from Benambra to Suggan Buggan
• Bogong High Plains Road between Mount Beauty and Omeo Highway. 
• Dargo High Plains Road between Dargo & Mt Hotham
• Gelantipy Road, from Buchan to Wulgulmerang
• Snowy River Road from Wulgulmerang to NSW
• McKillops Road from Wulgulmerang to Bonang
• Cabanandra Road
• Dellicknora Road

Motorists are warned not to drive through roadblocks, even if the fire has passed and it appears to be safe. Smouldering trees could fall across the road well after the fire has been through.

Safety Messages

While every effort is being made to keep people informed about the fire situation, it may not be possible to provide official warning before a fire approaches private property.

Use common sense and keep watch over the weather and fire conditions in your area. On days of high fire risk, stay alert and be prepared that a fire may approach without official warning from DSE/CFA.

Residents must be self-reliant and be prepared for the event of fire on their property. Neither the CFA nor the DSE can guarantee a fire truck and crew will be there to protect individual homes.

The first step in being prepared is to develop your own Bushfire Survival Plan. Contact 1800 668 066 or your local CFA for more information.

Stay tuned at home and in your car to local stations (ABC Regional Radio on 100.7 FM, 106.7FM or 720 on AM band, 3HCR on 97.3, 3TR on 99.9FM, 3REGFM on 90.7FM, Cooma 2XL on 92.1FM, ABC Bega on 810AM) and keep listening for fire location information, spread of fires and weather conditions to monitor your local situation so you have an up to date snapshot of what is happening.

Be prepared for power and phone lines to fail – have a battery operated radio and/or CDMA phone on hand.

Radiant heat affects people well before the actual flames reach them. Have protective clothing ready in case you need to be outside protecting your home. Wear natural fibres, no synthetics: long sleeves, long pants, wide brimmed hat, sturdy boots and gloves and eye protection.

Look after your health. You may be under the threat of fire for a prolonged time. Make sure you eat and drink regularly and plan to rest as often as you can.

Residents planning to leave should get organised in advance. Plan what you would like to take ahead of time. Plan where you are going to go and let others know of your plans.

Looking after livestock:

Don’t be caught outside tending to livestock when the fire front approaches. Plan for their welfare well in advance.

• On high fire danger days, larger animals such as goats and horses are best placed in a paddock that has been well grazed. Horses should not be locked up in small areas or stables, but moved to an open paddock with little vegetation so they can move freely.
• Horses are good at moving themselves to safe open areas and suffer minimal burns if left to do so.
• All equipment including rugs, halters and flyveils should be removed from horses, as the plastic may melt and buckles may burn the animal.
• For enquiries about emergency horse accommodation, please call 1800 668 066.

Safety measures for sheep and cattle can be put into place quickly during threat of fire. One of the key factors in minimising risk to stock is to identify the safest areas on the farm. On days of extreme fire risk stock should be moved to lower risk areas. You should also listen to weather forecasts and observe your own environment to help you decide when to put your plan into action.

Safe areas include paddocks with green summer crops or lucerne, bare paddocks with no dry feed, or a ploughed paddock. Firebreaks are imperative. They may be a bare laneway or a ploughed break. Stock can be held in yards with bare or ploughed surrounds. The surrounds can be wetted in advance, however the yards must be well defended as the fire front passes.

LIVESTOCK - AFTER THE FIRES

Help and advice are available for people who have suffered damage to livestock or fencing during the fires. If you need assistance to begin your post-fire recovery, call our information line on: 1800 668 066

A new edition of "Sheep Notes" is now available which makes specific reference to post-fire recovery.

Contingency plans

Staff from the Department of Primary Industries and the CFA are endeavouring to ensure that communities most likely to be affected by the fires in the region are kept well informed and up to date with the situation as it develops.

This section of the Community Update is directed at those communities to help

prepare them for the possibility of fire threat.

Community meetings will be held at the following places over the coming week:

• TODAY: Swifts Creek Fire Station, 5:45pm, followed by BBQ
• TODAY: Heyfield Memorial Hall, 7.30pm
• Thursday February 13: Ensay Fire Station, 5:45pm, followed by BBQ
• Thursday February 13: Lakes Entrance Mechanics Institute, Mechanic Street at 4pm AND 7:30pm
• Friday February 14: Licola Lions Club Camp, 7.30pm
• Monday February 17: Raymond Island Community Hall: 2.30pm
• Monday February 17 Paynesville Community Hall, 7.30pm
• Tuesday February 18: Stratford Mechanics Institute Hall, 7.30pm

A community contact line has been set up for anyone affected by the fires to obtain information relevant to their situation.

This number will give you information on every aspect of the fire situation in Gippsland, your bushfire preparation and planning and further contacts that you might need. It is also to report stock losses and get help to treat injured stock.

Please note: this number is for information only, not for reporting fires.

The Gippsland Community Fire Information Line is: 1800 668 066

Call 000 or your local fire station to report any new fires.

Family & Personal Counselling support (based in Bairnsdale) can also be accessed through our fire information line,

1800 668 066

TELEPHONE HELP

Telstra Country Wide is offering free call diversion for people affected by the bushfires. This allows you to divert calls from your home to another phone. Call 1300 134 239.

and finally!

A rabbi, a priest, a monk, an Englishman, a Scot, a Welshman, a German, a Russian, an American, a cowboy, an Irishman, a horse and a grasshopper walk into a bar.

The barman says "What is this some sort of joke?"

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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  Wellington Shire Council has secured $2 million for road safety upgrades across Maffra, Stratford, Sale, Wurruk and Heyfield, with works beginning before Christmas and completion expected by mid-2027.
• Darren Chester blames Labor-Greens timber shutdown as Maryvale Mill job losses hit Gippsland workers and families
  Federal MP Darren Chester says 84 more Maryvale Mill job losses stem from Labor-Greens forestry policies, urging state and federal governments to fund an economic transition plan for the Latrobe Valley.
• Regional hospitals face staffing and funding pressures as new nurse-to-patient ratios take effect across Gippsland health services
  New nurse-to-patient ratios have passed Parliament, with Gippsland hospitals reclassified, but workforce shortages and funding pressures raise concerns over implementation and patient care.
• Yarragon weekend escape offers country hospitality, local flavours, shopping and scenic West Gippsland adventures
  Yarragon offers an easy West Gippsland weekend escape from Melbourne, combining boutique shopping, local food and wine, scenic walks, galleries, markets and welcoming country accommodation.
• Trafalgar BMX track upgraded for safer, faster and more enjoyable riding experiences for local riders
  Trafalgar BMX track has reopened following a $26,000 upgrade, featuring reshaped jumps, straights and berms, improved drainage and enhanced safety. Council says the works will support active recreation and the growing local BMX community.
• The Nationals' $5 Better Roads Plan promises pothole repairs and long-term maintenance across neglected Gippsland road network
  The Nationals' $5 billion Better Roads plan would tackle Gippsland's deteriorating roads, repair one million potholes, restore preventative maintenance and establish Better Roads Victoria for improved standards.
• Darren Chester congratulates Maffra student Jaxon Marshall on National Youth Parliament selection representing Gippsland in Canberra
  Maffra Secondary College student Jaxon Marshall will represent Gippsland at the 2026 National Youth Parliament, earning praise from Darren Chester for bringing regional and agricultural perspectives to Canberra.
• Melina Bath honours Colin "Stocky" Stockdale for 63 years of outstanding CFA service to South Gippsland community
  Melina Bath congratulated Colin "Stocky" Stockdale on receiving the CFA's highest honour, recognising his 63 years of leadership, mentorship and dedicated service protecting South Gippsland communities.
• The Nationals unveil $40M plan offering health workers incentives to fill critical regional jobs across Gippsland and Victoria
  The Nationals propose $40 million over four years for a Victorian Rural Health Workforce Incentive Scheme, offering eligible regional health workers up to $10,000 for relocation, accommodation and professional development.
• Carran Carran restoration project strengthens river health, habitat connectivity and flood resilience across West Gippsland
  West Gippsland CMA's long-term Carran Carran restoration project is improving river health, reducing flood-related avulsion risks, restoring habitat connectivity, controlling willows and supporting native fish, agriculture and communities.
• New Bairnsdale worker accommodation nears completion, boosting healthcare workforce capacity across East Gippsland communities
  Bairnsdale new 28-apartment healthcare worker accommodation is nearing completion, providing affordable housing for up to 32 staff and strengthening regional health services while supporting local jobs and investment.
• Metung mother Lily Martyn establishes foundation supporting neurodivergent children, young people and families across Gippsland
  Metung mother Lily Martyn has launched Do It For Foundation Gippsland, supporting neurodivergent children, young people and families. The foundation has connected 95 East Gippsland families seeking support, understanding and practical solutions.
• Draft Omeo District Place Plan released for after 10 months of consultation for final community feedback until 2 October 2026
  East Gippsland Shire Council has released the draft Omeo District Place Plan for feedback, prioritising health, education, housing, employment, social connection, environmental care and emergency preparedness. Submissions close October 2.