Gippsland › Latest news › Department of Primary IndustriesThank God For The RainThe rain has provided the light at the end of a fiery tunnel •Tell us your opinion •See what others have said The Bogong Complex (south) FiresWelcome rain has provided relief for exhausted firefighters, communities and support staff alike. While 95 per cent of the Bogong Complex fires were contained before the rain, it has provided the light at the end of a fiery tunnel and hopefully will bring an end to the endless waiting and watching for many. Heyfield Incident Control Fires The management of the Water Spur and Rileys Track has been handed over to the Ovens IMT in the North East region. Crews deployed from Heyfield will be focusing on access and drainage works on roads and tracks following the rain. Swifts Creek Incident Control Fires There has been reasonable rain around the entire fire edge in the Swifts Creek area, although an unknown amount after the rain guage underwent some serious 4WD damage last night. Work over the next couple of days is expected to concentrate on mapping any remaining hotspots, checking tracks and planning for rehabilitation works. Any fire activity is expected to be of low intensity and not a threat to private property. Swifts Creek IMT will now be scaling down, leaving a CFA presence for community protection if needed. Orbost Incident Control Fires The American firefighters finished up yesterday and will be gratefully farewelled from Delegate and Orbost to Melbourne as they head home after assisting us in the suppression of these fires. Future backburning operations required to contain the fire will be planned around the weather conditions. Weather Rain has persisted variably across the region and temperatures today will peak in the high teens or low twenties. Winds are expected to be east to north easterly, fresher in the east. The high humidity will also persist tomorrow, with precipitation expected to move away and winds ease. The low cloud might break tomorrow afternoon. School and bus services The Dargo Primary School will resume on Monday February 24. Tubbut Primary School will then be the only school in the Gippsland region yet to resume. Buses servicing Omeo Primary School, Swifts Creek Primary School and Swifts Creek Secondary College WILL RECOMMENCE on Monday February 24. This decision has been made in consultation with the Swifts Creek Incident Control Centre. The Bruthen Phelan (Riveria Tours) Bus has resumed its normal run now that the Great Alpine Road is open. The Mount Taylor McCoy bus will also resume its normal run from Monday February 24. Road transport There is a manned roadblock north of Buchan on the Gelantipy Road, with a permit system for stock and fodder transport beyond these points. People will need to contact 1800 668 066 to make an application to transport livestock or fodder through the roadblock. 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. The roadblock is in place for safety reasons as there are still smouldering trees, stock on the road and contractors working on the road. Anyone travelling through the area must proceed with caution, turn on their lights if conditions are smoky and reduce speed. VicRoads staff are currently carrying out safety checks on this road. Refuge Areas There are Emergency Refuge Centres at: 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 Orbost Staging Area has been relocated from Lochiel Park to the DPI Orbost North Depot on the Bonang Highway. 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 news:
The following roads and tracks are closed due to backburning operations along the Yalmy 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. Fire Recovery Information Sessions Farmers affected by fire are invited to a 2 hour On-farm information session to address key issues that will influence farm recovery from the fires. These sessions are being conducted jointly by the Department of Primary Industries and the VFF. Topics include:
Sessions will be held in:
For details please call DPI Bairnsdale on 51 520600 Gippsland Fire Recovery Wild Dog meetings DPI/DSE staff and local representatives from the Gippsland Wild Dog Management Committee will be conducting community meetings at the following locations:
These meetings will inform the communities about the current control program and address the issues surrounding the management of wild dogs in fire affected areas. Baits will be available under normal application processes. Community Fire meetings will be held at the following places over the coming weeks:
The Gippsland Community Fire Information Line is: 1800 668 066 Please note: this number is now operating between 8.00am and 8.00pm seven days a week 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 from DPI Animal Health staff.Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
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