Taste of Tasmania faces temporary closure because of impending storm

Thinking of heading to the Taste of Tasmania this evening? Think again, with organisers preparing to close the site amid rising temperatures and strong winds.

TASTE of Tasmania stallholders are scrambling to pack up and evacuate the site by 5pm.

Stallholders were warned of imminent storm danger and to be prepared for an evacuation.

The festival’s management team notified the stallholders earlier today of their emergency plan.

“In the interest of everyone’s safety, we are closing the Taste site at 5pm in preparation for the extreme weather front approaching Hobart waterfront at 8pm,” festival director Brooke Webb said.

“Stalls located on Castray, The Atrium and The Marketplace will begin to close over the next three hours while stalls in The Shed will remain open until 5pm with last service at 4.45pm.”

FIRE WARNING FOR SOUTH-WEST TOWN

The free entertainment program will continue this afternoon, with The Marketplace wrapping up at 3.45pm, The Lawns at 4.30pm, and The Atrium at 5pm.

Reserved seating ticket-holders for tonight’s 3pm to 7pm session and 7pm to 11pm sessions have been contacted by the box office and offered alternative days and times, Ms Webb said.

“If people ask for refunds we will look at it,” she said.

Staff were already packing down loose decor, umbrellas, fencing and loose tables across the site before the decision to shut down six hours early was made.

Large crowds packed the Taste of Tasmania on the weekend. Picture: LUKE BOWDEN

The weather bureau predicts hot temperatures throughout the day, with sustained winds of about 45km/h in the afternoon, with gusts between 80-90km/h with a chance of up to 100km/h in the late afternoon and evening. If gusts exceed 100km/h the BOM will issue a severe storm warning.

The site is safe to operate in sustained winds of 50km/h.

“These strong gusts are concerning and we have monitored the weather closely,” Ms Webb.

“Our patron and staff safety is our priority.”

Taste stallholders had reported two busy days over the weekend but much smaller crowd today.

“Saturday and Sunday were busy, today it is hot and not many people are here,” said Dila Bhandari of Danphe Nepalese.