Community Newsletter - Far East Wednesday 8 January 1200hrs and Cabbage Tree Creek. Crews are now Current situation focusing on checking containment lines and The fires in Gippsland have joined into one large treating hazardous trees on the Princess Hwy fire impacting an area of nearly one million beyond Orbost. hectares. Hundreds of fire fighters are on the ground, including 39 from the United States. Information for and Surrounds A controlled burn will be undertaken today at Favourable weather conditions have slowed the Furnell, Tamboon, and for the spread of fires. All warnings remain at Watch and protection of asset and private property. Act or Advice messages for going fires. Increased smoke will be visible. Significant smoke impacts continue to be experienced in . It is advised that Cann River Escorted Convoys where possible, people stay indoors and limit their The from Orbost to the NSW exposure to smoke and wear a smoke mask border is closed to the general public. Regular when outdoors. Sensitive people should take escort convoy’s to Orbost for people in Cann precautions. River and Bemm River. Schedule is: Community members are advised to continue to Tuesday and Friday – Weekly monitor the Vic Emergency app and emergency Escorts will only occur if conditions are deemed broadcasters. You should maintain situational safe. awareness at all times. Do not drive thorough smoke. Call 000 in an emergency. Cann River assemble 10:00am at Cann River College. Bemm River assemble 10:30am at The Victorian Emergency Information line is 1800 Sydenham Inlet Road bridge intersection. 226 226. The convoy will return to Bemm River and Cann Due to access issues into fire affected River from the Orbost Football Oval at Lochiel St, communities and isolated properties, impact Orbost at 5.30pm. assessment is still occurring and information will be provided as soon as possible. A number of Delivery services/trucks can join the returning critical infrastructure telecommunications towers escort in to Bemm River & Cann River. You will have been affected. 40 ADF personnel arrived be escorted out on 8:30am Wednesday or today in East Gippsland to support relief works. Saturday respectively.

Their first task will be to undertake road clearance Information for Bendoc along local government roads commencing with Bushfires in the area are not yet under control. Combienbar Road, north of the Princess Hwy to The fire activity has decreased with the mild gain access to the isolated communities of Club conditions however there may still be fire Terrace and Combienbar. movement today. Light rain has fallen on the fire ground over the past 48 hours. Information for Mallacoota HMAS Choules evacuated 198 community Isolated Communities members and 76 emergency service personnel overnight from Mallacoota. HMAS Choules is due Essential supplies are continuing to be provided to dock at HMAS Cerberus this evening. Plans to to isolated communities. Critical needs have dock at Hastings were changed due to unsuitable included: medication, food, fuel for generators tides. and fresh water.

Information for Orbost Work continues to make contact with isolated While the weather conditions have moderated, communities. there are still active fires around Orbost, Marlo

Register. Find. Reunite. Contact is still trying to be made for the following People in affected areas are encouraged to isolated communities: register with the Red Cross at Register. Find. • Maramingo Creek Reunite. https://register.redcross.org.au or by • Wingan River calling 1800 727 077. Use Register to let people know you are safe. Use Find to look for people If you are in one of these communities, or have you know who may be affected by these fires. contact with someone who is, please contact Community Liaison Officers at Orbost ICC on 03 Relief Centres 5161 1361, 03 5161 1319, text 0427 425 392 or Morwell – Kernot Hall, 50-70 Princes Drive, email [email protected]. Morwell

Power outages Bairnsdale Power outages are affecting many areas inside 1. Bairnsdale Football Pavilion, Dalmahoy Street and outside the fire area. Restoration of power is Bairnsdale a priority but could take some time, depending on 2. Bairnsdale Racecourse - 75 Racecourse Rd, the extent of fire damage to network Bairnsdale. infrastructure. Ausnet crews are working to assess and restore power as soon as possible. Sale – Sale Baptist Church – Cnr Princess Hwy and Cobains Rd, Sale. Sale Regional Sports The AusNet Facebook page provides regular Complex – 116 Cobains Rd Sale (for evacuees) updates. Check AusNet Website for outages: https://www.ausnetservices.com.au/En/Outages/e Please note: Emergency Relief Centres are a lectricity-Outages. What to do during power place of last resort - the best possible place for outages: www.energy.vic.gov.au people who have left East Gippsland is with family or friends, or their own homes if they are Road Information out of the area under threat. Fire has impacted road access in and out of parts of East Gippsland and there is a priority to open For information on health services status and roads as soon as possible. The running fire in the availability in impacted areas north of Princess Hwy is preventing the road from visit www.emergency.vic.gov.au/relief opening and the 4,900 kms of road networks in the East Gippsland district need to be checked. East Gippsland Shire Council Bushfire Information Roads cannot be open until they are deemed to available here: be safe by the authorities. https://www.eastgippsland.vic.gov.au/Bushfire_inf ormation Firefighters and the ADF are working assess and Stay informed treat hazardous trees and other damage. This will • www.emergency.vic.gov.au. take some time due to the scale of the fires. • VicEmergency Hotline - freecall 1800 226 226. • VicEmergency Wesbite – There are reports of local residents cutting their www.emergency.vic.gov.au way out of closed areas. Residents must stop • Facebook or Twitter (#vicfire). this immediately. It is not safe to drive on these • Local radio – ABC Gippsland frequencies roads until they have been treated for hazardous o Bairnsdale & Sale 100.7FM and 828AM trees and other damage. There is still active fire in o Latrobe Valley 100.7FM some of these areas. o Omeo 720AM o Orbost 97.1FM The Princess Hwy is open between Bairnsdale o Mallacoota 104.9FM and Orbost. Work continues on the Princess Hwy o Cann River 106.1FM to Cann River. Check the VicTraffic website To access this information in other languages call (traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/) or call 13 11 70 for the Translating and Interpreting Service on 131 road closures. 450 (freecall) and ask them to call VicEmergency

Hotline. If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or have Water Supply and Contamination a speech/communication impairment contact The heavy demand on water supplies associated National Relay Service on 1800 555 677 and ask with the fire response has resulted in low them to call the VicEmergency Hotline. pressure in parts of East Gippsland. East Gippsland Water is asking customers to conserve Health and Bushfire Smoke water where possible. If your area is affected by Significant smoke across East Gippsland may bushfires, your water source could become lead to serious and adverse health effects for contaminated from debris, ash or small dead people over 65, children 14 years and younger, animals. You should not source water from a pregnant women and those with existing heart creek that has been affected by bushfire as the and lung conditions. If you need medical advice water may be contaminated. Water drawn from for burns or exposure to smoke, seek medical deep bores or wells should still be safe to use. If advice by calling Nurse on Call on 1300 606 024. you suspect contamination, use an alternative Anyone experiencing wheezing, chest tightness water supply for drinking and food preparation. and difficulty breathing should call Triple Zero Bushfires and private drinking water supplies (000). information: https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/healthy Financial Assistance living/bushfires-and-water-tanks Households in Gippsland can now access the following emergency payments to relieve Bushfire and Public Health: personal hardship. https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public- • Emergency Relief Assistance Payments health/environmental-health/climate-weather-and- Australian Government Disaster Recovery public-health/bushfires-and-public-health Payment • Disaster Recovery Allowance Livestock Welfare and Concerns • Emergency Re-establishment Payments Farmers wishing to report livestock impacted by fires will be given the highest priority. Agriculture The Rural Financial Counselling Service is also staff are available to provide assessment available to farmers, offering free and and euthanasia of livestock. To access independent financial support to primary assistance call 1800 226 226 and selecting option producers and non-agriculture related small “0” and the “4” to speak to an operator. Farmers businesses. Contact 1300 735 578 or visit who do not have the capability to dispose of dead http://emergency.vic.gov.au/relief/#financial_assis stock, should contact the appropriate municipal tance council for assistance.

Mental Health For those who are disposing of stock on farm, It is normal to have strong emotional or physical please remember to Dial before you dig – call reactions following a distressing event. There is 1100 or www.1100.com.au always help available through your doctor and local mental health professionals: Further information on livestock issues Visit • Lifeline - 131 114 www.agriculture.vic.gov.au or call 136 186. • Beyond Blue - 1300 224 636 Livestock producers needing emergency fodder • MensLine - 1300 789 978 for livestock should contact the Victorian Farmers • Kid’s Help Line - 1800 55 1800 Federation (VFF) on 1300 882 833 or email [email protected]. The Victorian Farmers • Parent Line - 13 22 89 Family Violence Federation are also accepting donated fodder.

Family Violence Injured Wildlife There is an increased risk of family violence after Information about what to do if you find injured an emergency. Help is available. Call 1800 737 wildlife is available from www.wildlife.vic.gov.au or 732 (1800RESPECT). by calling 1300 094 535.