This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen
on .
It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
NSW fires live: RFS warns south coast tourists to leave as Victoria bushfires continue – latest
Australia fires live: 17 missing in Victoria bushfires as tourists told to evacuate NSW south coast – latest
(32 minutes later)
At least nine people have died since Christmas Day, and the RFS is urging people to evacuate the New South Wales south coast before dangerous conditions on the weekend. Follow the live news and latest updates today
At least 10 people have died since Christmas Day, and the RFS is urging people to evacuate the New South Wales south coast before dangerous conditions on the weekend. Follow the live news and latest updates today
The Australian Defence Force has issued a statement today saying it has expanded its contribution to the bushfire effort.
Scott Morrison tells us what the emergency commissioners have already made clear - the fires will continue to burn for months in many areas, until there is a change in conditions.
It is a very long press release that outlines everything Defence has done and plans to do during the crisis so I won’t reproduce it for you. What appears to be new since yesterday is:
Scott Morrison appeals directly to those attempting to evacuate and asks them to stay calm and be patient:
An expansion of the ground transport and logistics tasks already supported to five new locations – Tamworth, Mudgee, Nowra, Maitland and Queanbeyan. This task is expected to run from January 6-20.
On the calls for further ADF assistance, Scott Morrison says:
The provision of personnel and equipment to supplement state capabilities to clear and reopen roads in fire-affected areas of Victoria, as well as general engineering tasks to remove debris from public areas and clear fire breaks and fire trails. This will begin today with priority for the Gippsland region.
Scott Morrison on the defence force deployments:
Light engineering. Fire trail clearance at Mudgee from January 6-10.
Scott Morrison:
Recovery operations. Provision of personnel and equipment to undertake recovery tasks as identified and assessed by the NSW Government based on advice from specialist ADF advisers. These tasks - in Tamworth, Wollondilly, Nowra, Mudgee, Maitland and Wingecarribee - will start from January 6.
Scott Morrison has begun his press conference from the Sydney CPO (the federal government building in NSW).
As we’ve already reported, Defence also says HMAS Choules and MV Sycamore has begun “relief operations in Mallacoota this morning, including supporting the relocation of vulnerable and high-priority people to Westernport”.
He has just returned from the funeral of Horsley Park brigade deputy captain Geoff Keaton.
NSW authorities say people in the Kosciuszko national park must evacuate by 10am tomorrow.
Daniel Andrews:
Here is the alert and evacuation notice from the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service.
The Princes Highway remains closed in the following locations:
Current situation:
• Between Batemans Bay and Moruya
There are large fires to the west and south of Kosciuszko national park that will move in an easterly direction in coming days.
• Between Narrabarba and Cann River (Victoria)
There are multiple other fires within the park which could expand in coming days. NPWS is continuing to gather intelligence about the location, size and predicted progress of these fires.
- From Narrabarba, you can travel west on Imlay Road to the Monaro Highway to head north.
Lightning and ember attacks may result in additional fires.
The Snowy Mountains Highway is open between Bega and Adaminaby so anyone on the far south coast is also able to travel to Canberra or Sydney via the Snowy Mountains Highway to Cooma, the Monaro Highway to Canberra and the Hume Highway.
It is unlikely that these fires will be contained in the coming days or weeks.
Many other roads remain closed including:
The current weather forecast indicates that Saturday 4 January will be a bad fire weather day. Fires are likely to spread quickly prior to and during this Saturday.
South of Nowra:
This is not a fire season that NSW has seen before. It is hotter and drier than we have previously experienced.
• Jerrawangala to Tomerong: Turpentine Road is closed
Evacuations:
• Wandandian: Wandean Road is closed between the Princes Highway and Bollerang Road
An evacuation order is applied to all of Kosciuszko national park and resorts and all other places located within Kosciuszko national park. All people located in Kosciuszko national park must exit Kosciuszko national park boundaries before the deadline of 10am eastern daylight savings time Friday 3 January 2020. This is an essential measure to protect life.
• Nowra Hill to Charleyong: Braidwood Road/Nerriga Road is closed
People outside of Kosciuszko national park need to monitor advice from the NSW RFS and other fire and emergency service agencies to remain informed as to whether other areas outside of Kosciuszko national park need to evacuate.
Around Braidwood:
Kosciuszko national park is closed for entry. Permanent residents and essential staff may enter but must have evacuated by the deadline of 10am, Friday 3 January 2020.
• Braidwood to Nelligen: the Kings Highway is closed
This good news came in from NSW police late last night.
• Braidwood to Moruya: Araluen Road is closed
Thredbo is being evacuated.
• Braidwood to Cooma: Cooma Road is closed
The prime minister’s office has told media Scott Morrison will hold a press conference at 1pm in Sydney.
In and around the Snowy Mountains:
I’ve been speaking to Kelly, who is down in the isolated town of Mallacoota who was holidaying with family when the fire hit on Tuesday. He was among the 4,000 people who took refuge on the foreshore.
• Tumut to Adaminaby: the Snowy Mountains Highway is closed
As we have been hearing, supplies are running low in the town as the navy and police boats bring in food and water by sea. Reports are that about 100 homes have been destroyed.
• Batlow to Tumbarumba: Batlow Road is closed
“The town’s food supplies are getting a belting so not sure how long the food is going last,” Kelly said. “The local bakery has closed as of this morning as their generator [is down] so bread is now out of the question.”
• Jindabyne to Khancoban: Alpine Way is closed
His wife, Stacey, is a nurse and has walked down to the medical centre to offer some help. “They could not have been happier to see her as they are so under the pump with patients,” Kelly said.
A number of smaller local roads are also closed in the south coast and Snowy Mountains areas, and many roads crossing the NSW-Victorian border are also closed, including the Monaro Highway between Rockton and Cann River (Victoria).
“My boys done a sweep of the lake and picked up all the rubbish around the edges to help out in any way. We were meant to go home Saturday but that won’t be happening and to be honest we are happy to stay and help out in any way we can.
Up to the minute information about road closures is available at livetraffic.com.
“One thing I will say is fuck I’m a proud Australian because when the shit hits the fan people stop their lives to help those who are struggling to give them a hand back up.”
The NSW police have more information on road closures and the evacuation of the south coast and Snowy Mountains.
For those looking to get out of the NSW south coast before Saturday, the ABC has this very useful article.
The Transport Management Centre has provided the following information about traffic movement and road closures, which is current as at 11.30am:
Kerri Warren, a real estate agent in Mallacoota, says she estimates about 100 homes have been lost in the Victorian coastal town. That does not include other structures like sheds.
Motorists on the south coast are able to travel north on the Princes Highway from Batemans Bay.
I mentioned earlier this morning that Scott Morrison has declined to go on ABC News Breakfast to discuss the fires. That’s according to Michael Rowland, who noted the PM was yesterday entertaining the Australian and New Zealand cricket teams at Kirribilli House.
The Princes Highway as also recently reopened between Tilba Tilba and Brogo, as well as between Falls Creek and Milton.
“Hopefully we will see the prime minister touring some of the fire-ravaged areas over the course of the next day or so,” Rowland told viewers.
A reduced speed limit of 60km/h is in place, and the highway may be closed for short periods to allow emergency vehicles through.
The reaction to the fact Morrison is not front and centre during the crisis is continuing.
Motorists are advised to take extreme care, follow the directions of emergency services and traffic crews, and drive with headlights switched on due to smoke in the area.
The Ten Network’s national affairs editor, Hugh Riminton, has written this devastating piece.
Motorists should also allow plenty of extra travel time and be patient as northbound traffic on the Princes Highway is very heavy approaching Wandandian and is queued back almost to Termeil.
Riminton argues that those arguing against action on the climate emergency have shifted from denial to the claim that Australia’s emissions are not globally significant.
NSW authorities have once again shut the highway out of the south coast as conditions become too dangerous.
But citing Australia’s efforts at war time and comparing, he writes:
While Anthony Albanese is speaking, the Victorian premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed another person has died and 17 people are unaccounted for after the East Gippsland fires.
Arguing the response from Canberra has equated to “nothing”, he concludes:
But people voted for Scott Morrison and his government’s policies:
The full piece is definitely worth a read.
The government says it will meet its Paris targets, to which Anthony Albanese said:
Some readers from outside Australia have been in touch about the current fundraising efforts. To remind you, the Red Cross is running a fundraising drive, which you can read about here.
Would Labor introduce a carbon price?
My colleague Naaman Zhou looked at the ways you can assist in this story. Note that he compiled this piece before the Red Cross drive was established.
And what else is needed, according to Anthony Albanese?
What does Anthony Albanese think needs to change? Does the nation need to consider a carbon price?
Anthony Albanese is using this interview, which comes ahead of Scott Morrison’s doorstop interview at 1pm, to hit the government over its climate change strategy.
