NSW gets $48m bushfire relief package as other states also continue to fight fires
On Sunday evening there were 65 fires burning across NSW, with 31 yet to be contained, while blazes in Victoria and north Queensland are causing alarm.
Weather has hampered firefighting efforts as NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced $48 million has been set aside for bushfire recovery, after blazes devastated some communities.
The community recovery package - a joint federal and state government initiative - was announced on Sunday morning and includes grants of up to $15,000 to help small businesses and farmers.
Ms Berejiklian said it would take some time to appreciate the full financial burden of the devastating bushfires.
“The impact to communities has been evident over the last few weeks, however the extent of the impact to our farming and business sectors has not been fully quantified as these bushfires continue to burn,” she said in a statement. Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud says $18 million of the $48 million package had been earmarked for community projects. “When money flows around a community it can help to speed up the whole recovery,” he said in a statement.
The package will be targeted at the north coast, mid-north coast and Northern Tablelands.
Firefighters are on the lookout for new blazes sparked by lightning in the storms that rolled over parts of NSW on Friday and Saturday. The RFS tweeted a warning for large storm cells between Tenterfield and Tamworth with expected lightning bringing with it the chance of more fires. “Although there will be pockets of heavy rain, there is not expected to be widespread falls, just a lot of lightning,” it said.
“Today has seen lightning over the north of the state with patchy rainfall. We’ll be checking for any new fires over the coming days.” Meanwhile rain in other parts of the state has hampered backburning efforts in some areas.
“Easing conditions will allow firefighters to identify and strengthen containment lines as well as identify new ignitions from yesterday’s storms,” the RFS said on social media.
“Rainfall across some fire grounds yesterday is making access by ground difficult to some areas today. This will limit the amount of firefighting being done by crews today.” On Sunday evening there were 65 fires burning across NSW, with 31 yet to be contained.
All of these were at “advice” alert level, including the 180,000 hectare Gospers Mountain blaze near Sydney’s northwestern outskirts.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Elli Blandford says temperatures will be cooler around many of the state’s fire grounds on Sunday.
“We are looking at cooler temperatures today, particularly where we are seeing fires on the mid-north coast and out in the Hunter,” she told AAP. “In addition we’ve got onshore winds, which increase humidity and means conditions aren’t as dry in a lot of places.” The combination of increased humidity and weaker winds meant a lower fire danger rating, although this rating was forecast to increase on Monday “In the next couple of days we will see an increase in fire danger ratings,” Ms Blandford said.
“A front will move through the state, with a combined increase in temperatures and strong winds associated with that front.” Fire dangers would be elevated but were unlikely to be as extreme as those seen in the past fortnight, she added.
WARNINGS TO PREPARE TO FLEE NTH QLD FIRE
Authorities are warning people they should prepare to flee a bushfire burning west of Cairns.
Fire crews and water bombers are working to contain the fire at Biboohra, which is moving in an easterly direction towards Bilwon Road, Cypress Road and Orchid Close.
Residents are being told to follow their bushfire survival plans or be ready to leave because the situation could worsen quickly.
BUSHFIRE PUTS HIKERS AT RISK
Hikers in Victoria’s Mount Bogong High Plains have been advised to leave immediately, following the closure of a number of walking tracks in the area. An uncontrolled bushfire in the state’s alpine region is travelling uphill towards the peak of Mt Bogong.
The mountain walking tracks have been closed to ensure the safety of people in the area.
The fires continue to burn after being ignited by lightning on Thursday, Forest Fire Management Victoria reported on Sunday.
The fires have grown in size since then, the largest being an estimated 300 hectares.
“The remote locations of these fires are proving to be challenging for our crews and we fully expect them to burn for a number of weeks as firefighters work hard to contain them,” Forest Fire Management Victoria Hume Deputy Chief Fire Officer Aaron Kennedy said.
“While no communities are currently under threat, we need residents to remain informed if conditions change.” A Watch and Act alert has also been issued for a bushfire burning in the Gippsland region and a Total Fire Ban has been announced for Monday for the Northern Country and Mallee.
BUSHFIRE WARNINGS DOWNGRADED IN TASMANIA
Two bushfires north of Launceston have been downgraded as the Tasmania Fire Service reports neither of them poses an immediate threat to homes. The 194-hectare bushfire in Lulworth is still being controlled and has been alight for more than 24 hours.
A 20-year-old man was arrested following suspicions the bushfire was deliberately lit.
The fire had put homes in the Lulworth area at risk, the Tasmania Fire Service said on Sunday afternoon.
The service has advised residents that well-prepared homes are defendable in these conditions.
A second bushfire that has burnt 45 hectares in Lefroy started before 5pm on Saturday and has also been downgraded.
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