Community Newsletter Advice for the Upper Murray Community

Friday, 3rd January 2020 – TOTAL FIRE BAN

A day of TOTAL FIRE BAN has been declared in the Wimmera, South West, North East and East Gippsland You should MAINTAIN SITUATIONAL AWARENESS at all Districts for today. times. No fires can be lit or be allowed to remain alight in the open air 12:01 AM on Friday, 3 January 2020 until 11:59 PM, Current Messages Friday, 3 January 2020. EVACUATE NOW Messages issued for: Information about the Fire Situation , , Towong, , Walwa, Burrowye, , Lucyvale, Nariel Valley, Shelley, This fire was ignited by lightning in steep forested terrain in and surrounding communities. NSW on Sunday 29 December in the Green Valley area. The current fire area is estimated to be approx. 113,000 ha There are also Watch and Act messages for surrounding and numerous properties affected. The bushfire is currently communities. travelling in a south-easterly direction on a large front towards For further information - Go to: Tom Groggin Station. It is a dynamic fire situation. http://emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/ and listen to local ABC There are also fires just across the border in NSW which are Radio, the National Emergency Broadcaster. highly active and dynamic. There is a chance these fires will join with the fires burning in the Upper Murray area of . Should the fires escalate on Friday / Saturday, there Water in Affected Communities – Articulated Supplies will be limited to no resources available for Fire Suppression We ask residents to be mindful of their water usage and in your community. only use what is necessary. Current supplies are adequate The Premier has declared a STATE of DISASTER, areas but may be compromised in the coming days, due to expected affected include: bad weather and depending on the situation. • East Gippsland Shire A NE Water crew have been deployed and examined • Mansfield Shire infrastructure to ascertain damage to the system and advised • Wellington Shire town water supplies are safe to drink. • Wangaratta Rural Shire Water Contamination • Towong Shire If your area is affected by bushfires, your water source could • Alpine Shire become contaminated from debris, ash or small dead • Mount Buller animals. • Mount Hotham You should not source water from a creek that has been • Falls Creek affected by bushfire as the water may be contaminated. • Mount Stirling Alpine Resorts Water drawn from deep bores or wells should still be safe to use. If you suspect contamination, use an alternative water There are over 500 fire crew and support staff working on supply for drinking and food preparation. this fire. The situation is very dynamic, with assessments being continually updated: Resources: • Significant property and stock losses within the Upper • Bushfires and private drinking water supplies Murray area. https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthyliv ing/bushfires-and-water-tanks • AgVic is dealing with extensive critical animal health issues with stock injured / losses recorded so far being approx. • Bushfire and Public Health : 13,000 cattle and 5,000 sheep. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public- health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and- Power outages are affecting many areas inside and outside public-health/bushfires-and-public-health the fire area. Many sections of road surfaces have been damaged by the fire and require a safety assessment, including for Hazardous trees. Infrastructure and Essential Services

AUS Net – Residents – interim power reconnected Locations within Upper Murray including: BUT only for essential services – turn off appliances not Walwa, Tindaltra, Towong, Upper Towong, Thowgla, required. This incudes appliances on stand-by i.e. TVs, Tom Groggin, Biggara, Bunroy, Nariel Valley, Lucyvale, stereos, chargers etc. Berringama, Shelley, Koetong, , If your fridge or freezer is empty or not being used turn it off; Valley – these locations are expected to be impacted by spot this is to stop drawing unnecessary power from the grid. Air fires and ember attacks or the fire will close major roads Conditioners can be used but it is advised not to keep them resulting in communities being isolated; your route to safer on all night. locations may be blocked. Road closures may occur, including roads that have recently

All residents in other impacted areas it is not known at this Current Park Closures stage when power will be reconnected. Residents in fire impacted areas should be considering alternative power As a result of the fire all Parks and State Forests are closed arrangements. Further power disruptions are expected in the to the public until further notice: coming days. For information on forest access and roads visit www.parks.vic.gov.au

The AusNet Facebook page provides regular updates. Road Closures Check AusNet Website for outages: https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/Outages/Electricity- Road closures have been activated on sections of the: Outages • Guys Forrest Road From: Road, What to do during power outages: www.energy.vic.gov.au Burrowye To: Shelley-Walwa Road, Guys Forest • Shelley-Walwa Road (C547) From: Murray Valley There is significant communications towers and Highway, Shelley To: Church Street, Walwa other infrastructure that has been impacted. • Burrowye Road From: Guys Forrest Road, Burrowye There are currently NBN outages in Corryong and via NBN To: , Koetong Wireless. There are two faults that are being investigated. Telstra is working on reinstatement time TBC. Information • Murray Valley Highway (B400) From: Road, on NBN outages can be found at Bullioh To: Upper Murray Road, Towong Upper https://downdetector.com.au/status/nbnco/map/ • Cudgewa Valley Road (C548) From: Murray Valley A mobile communication system is currently being planned – Highway, Cudgew To: Murray River Road, Tintaldra no further details are available at this stage • Murray River Road (C546, C542) From: Granya Road, Granya To: Murray River Road, Tintaldra • Benambra-Corryong Road (C545) From: Benambra Animal Welfare To: Colac Colac

For urgent animal welfare and needs for pets, horses and Information on updated road closures is available via livestock including food and water contact Ph 1800 226 226 13 11 70 or the Vic Traffic website: or visit http://agriculture.vic.gov.au for more information. traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au

Landholders needing emergency fodder for livestock should contact the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) on Ph 1300 Protect Your Health 882 833 between 9am and 5pm or email [email protected]

Stock feed / hay is also available by contacting Nerida Kerr Heat Health Alert for TODAY Friday, 3rd January 2020 on Ph 0419 899 024 The forecast conditions may cause an increase in heat Local shire and Ag Vic are working together regarding the related illnesses in the community. Extreme heat can disposal of livestock. affect anyone. Pregnant women, people with a pre- Livestock after an Emergency and Farm Recovery existing medical condition, people aged over 65 and Resources: children and babies are most at risk. http://agriculture.vic.gov.au/agriculture/emergencies/rec People with existing heart or lung conditions, including overy/livestock-after-an-emergency asthma, should follow the treatment plan from their doctor.

Corryong Health Services are available for health Relief Information related concerns on Ph 02 6076 3290.

Relief centres have been established at Nurse-on-Call on 1300 60 60 24 (this is a phone service that • Corryong - High School, Towong St allows you to discuss any health related issue with a • Tallangatta - Memorial Hall, Towong St registered nurse, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for the cost • - The Cube, 118 Hovell St of a local call from anywhere in Victoria). • Wangaratta - Performing Arts Centre, 33 Ford St • For those with animals: Wangaratta Showgrounds at Mental Health Golf Link Lane, Wangaratta It is normal to have strong emotional or physical reactions What We Don’t Know following a distressing event. There is always help available through your doctor and local mental health professionals There have been property and significant stock losses in the Lifeline - 131 114 areas impacted by fires, but it is too early to be specific. The Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 focus is on the going fires and protecting the community. We MensLine - 1300 789 978 understand that it is stressful to not know what is happening. Kid’s Help Line - 1800 55 1800 We are absolutely prioritising people returning to their Parent Line - 13 22 89 properties once the threat of fire has passed and it is safe to do so.

Family Violence Weather Outlook

There is an increased risk of family violence after an TODAY Friday - 3 January 2020 emergency. Help is available. Visit Hot and sunny. Light winds. Overnight temperatures falling to www.vic.gov.au/familyviolence or call 1800 737 732 between 11 and 15 with daytime temperatures reaching 33 (1800RESPECT). to 40.

Useful information Saturday – 4 January 2020 Very Hot. Mostly sunny day. Slight (20%) chance of a People in affected areas are encouraged to register with the shower in the afternoon and evening. The chance of a Red Cross thunderstorm in the afternoon and evening. Light winds at: Register.Find.Reunite https://register.redcross.org.au/ or becoming northwest to northeasterly 15 to 25 km/h during by calling 1800 727 077 the morning then tending southeast to southwesterly during Use Register to let people know you are safe. the afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 17 Use Find to look for people you know may be affected by an and 21 with daytime temperatures reaching 34 to 43. emergency. Sunday – 5 January 2020 Contact VicEmergency Hotline on Ph 1800 226 226 to speak Cloudy. Medium (60%) chance of showers, most likely in the to someone about recovery. They can connect you with morning and afternoon. Chance of Thunderstorms in the people who can help. north in the morning and afternoon. Winds south to southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h becoming light during the Households in the local government areas of East Gippsland afternoon. Overnight temperatures falling to between 10 and and Towong can now access emergency payments to relieve 17 with daytime temperatures reaching between 16 and 26. personal hardship. To find out more information visit: http://emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/#financial_assistance Monday – 6th January 2020 Cloudy. Medium (50%) chance of showers. Areas of smoke More information is provided on your local council’s website haze. The chance of a thunderstorm in the east. Light winds. and social media channels Overnight temperatures falling to between 9 and 14 with https://knowyourcouncil.vic.gov.au/ daytime temperatures reaching between 19 and 25.

Stay informed

• www.emergency.vic.gov.au. • VicEmergency Hotline - freecall 1800 226 226. • VicEmergency app. • Facebook or Twitter (#vicHAZARD). • Local radio: ABC Radio is the National Emergency Broadcaster - make sure you have a battery-operated radio available with a supply of batteries, to stay informed should power be cut.

To access this information in other languages, call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 450 (freecall) and ask them to call VicEmergency Hotline.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have a speech/communication impairment contact National Relay Service on 1800 555 677 and ask them to call the VicEmergency Hotline.