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Gippsland Fires: Fire Activity Significantly Reduced

Infra-red checks are being undertaken to locate any remaining hotspots

By Gippsland Integrated Multi Agency Coordination Centre - 26th February 2003 - Back to News

The Bogong Complex (south) Fires

Heyfield Incident Control Fires

Infra-red checks are being undertaken to locate any remaining hotspots this morning.

Recovery teams have been established to move forward into rehabilitation work, particularly on fire control lines and soil erosion.

Swifts Creek Incident Control Fires

Crews are concentrating on patrolling and mopping up edges. The largest amount of fire is in the Nunniong area, which is slowly burning itself out.

Recovery teams are being developed to move into the rehabilitation phase.

Orbost Incident Control Fires

A spotfire near Campbells Knob, 8kms east of Gelantipy has reached seven hectares. Crews have been hampered by the rugged terrain and blackberries, but hope to have the fire contained today.

Fog and smoke were preventing aircraft from assisting with this fire.

Weather

Morning fog, then warm and humid with moderate northerly winds, expected to turn southerly during the afternoon.

School news

Tubbut Primary School is the only school in the Gippsland region yet to resume.

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.

Please contact VicRoads on 51 523344 for permission to go through this road block.

VicRoads staff are currently carrying out safety checks on this road.

Road news:

• The Great Alpine Road from Bruthen to Dinner Plain is now open, but roads and tracks off that road are still closed
• Benambra-Corryong road, from Stacey’s Bridge to Omeo - closed
• Benambra-Limestone Road/Limestone-Black Mountain Road from Benambra to Suggan Buggan – closed
• Tongio Gap road from Tongio to Omeo - closed
• Bogong High Plains Road is now open between Mount Beauty and the Omeo Highway, but there is no access to the Omeo Highway, which remains closed from Omeo to Mitta Mitta.
• Dargo High Plains Road between Dargo and Mt Hotham – closed
• Crooked River Road - closed
• Birregun Road – closed
• Tamboritha Road above the bitumen – closed
• All roads in State Forest and National Park in the Wonnangatta catchment.
• Marathon Road, in State Forest north of private property - closed
• Gelantipy Road, from Buchan to Wulgulmerang - closed
• Snowy River Road from Wulgulmerang to NSW - closed
• McKillops Road from Wulgulmerang to Bonang - closed
• Cabanandra Road - closed
• Dellicknora Road – closed

The following roads and tracks are closed due to backburning operations along the Yalmy Road:

• Yalmy Road from Bonang Highway (just south of Bonang) to Orbost
• 36 mile Road between Yalmy Road and Bonang Highway
• Jersey Track between Yalmy Road and Bonang Highway

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:

• Feeding livestock
• A farmer’s experience in recovery after fire
• Pasture recovery from the fire

Sessions will be held in:

• Omeo/Swifts Creek area on Monday March 3, 10.00am till 12.00pm
• Omeo Valley/Benambra on Monday March 3, 2.00pm till 4.00pm
• Wulgulmerang on Tuesday March 4, 10.00am till 12.00pm

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:

Wednesday February 26: Swifts Creek Community Hall at 10.00am, Omeo Business Centre at 1.00pm and Benambra Hall at 3.00pm.

Thursday February 27: Buchan Caves reserve Guide Room at 10.00am and Gelantipy Hall at 1.00pm.

Friday February 28: Tubbut Hall at 1.00pm.

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 week:

• Friday February 28: Noojee Hall, 7.30pm
• Wednesday March 5: Labertouche Hall, 8.00pm

The Gippsland Community Fire Information Line is: 1800 668 066

Please note: this number is now operating between 9.00am and 5.00pm, from Monday to Friday.

This number will give you information on every aspect of the fire situation in Gippsland, your bushfire preparation and planning, recovery and rehabilitation issues 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.

Ministerial Taskforce

The State Government has formed a Ministerial Bushfire Recovery

Taskforce to help the fire-affected areas of Victoria. The seven-member Taskforce,

headed by Treasurer John Brumby has been in place for about three weeks and in that time has visited and talked with several affected communities. Up to $200,000 has already been provided to East Gippsland, Indigo, Towong and Alpine Shires to help with immediate bushfire recovery efforts.

The Taskforce has also set up the 2003 Bushfire Recovery Appeal Fund (1800 890 390) for anyone wanting to donate money to those in need, and a Bushfire Recovery Volunteer Register (1800 287 400) for people interested in becoming volunteers.

"And a special hello to Grade 5/6 students in Mr Kelly’s class at Boisdale Consolidated School!"

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com

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