Geeveston residents prepare for the worst

Anxious Geeveston residents on Tuesday packed the community hall for the latest news on the Tahune bushfire as heavy smoke and ash continued to blanket the town.

ANXIOUS Geeveston residents on Tuesday packed the community hall for the latest news on the Tahune bushfire as heavy smoke and ash continued to blanket the town.

Tasmania Fire Service Deputy Chief Officer Bruce Byatt said the Tahune Airwalk and facilities had been protected but remained at high risk.

Sustainable Timber Tasmania confirmed the estimated 1000 hectare fire had affeccted Permanent Timber Production Zone land, including land close to the Airwalk.

As a precautionary measure, operations at the Southwood (Huon) wood processing site near Judbury were shut down and emergency management plans were put in place.

TFS district officer Stuart Males said many “vitally important” volunteer firefighters would remain at Geeveston Fire Station to provide protection to the town and conduct “business as usual”, including alarm calls and house fires.

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Volunteer firefighters will remain on standby at Geeveston Fire Station. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

More than 100 locals flooded into the drop-in information session at the Geeveston Community Hall before a formal meeting was held at 7pm. Many asked questions about evacuating and were told leaving early was the safest option.

Baker & Co Providore and Patisserie owner Fiona McAlpine praised firefighting efforts but said her biggest concern was the wind.

“I won’t be around on Friday if the winds and temperatures come to fruition. I’m not risking it,” she said.

“I live in a 1911 timber cottage on a steep slope that’s tinderbox dry. As long as you’re safe, everything else is just stuff. I’ve already got a few staged evacuation points.”

Residents at the information session at the Geeveston Community Hall. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Craig Abel, 47, said the upcoming severe heatwave was keeping the town “on edge”.

“On Monday, the smoke was really bad, you couldn’t see and it was snowing ash,” he said. “I’ve never seen it like that before in 25 years, but some old-timers have told me the last time they saw it like this was in the lead-up to the ’67 fires. I’ve got some water and hessian bags stockpiled, I’ve cut down the grass and wet the house but there’s nothing more I can do.”

Baker & Co Providore and Patisserie owner Fiona McAlpine is ready to evacuate if necessary. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Cars could be seen pulling up outside Huon Valley Hardware, with homeowners making a mad dash to collect more hoses, dust masks, sprinklers and irrigation supplies.

Maureen Cleary, who lives on Arve Rd, said she had spent the entire day dousing as much of her weatherboard home as possible.

“We’re packed and ready to go if we have to. We’ve got food supplies, clothing and water,” she said.

“It’s real, it’s happening, and with the wind we’ve got to be prepared for any situation.”

Huon Valley Mayor Bec Enders said the local PCYC has been set up for use as an evacuation centre. Picture: MATT THOMPSON

Huon Valley Mayor Bec Enders said the Huonville PCYC building would remain the local evacuation centre for “as long as required by the community”.

The centre was opened at 3pm on Monday and was attended by 19 adults and children.

“People are understandably concerned. There is a lot of smoke and falling embers that is creating anxiety for our local community,” she said.

“The PCYC building is considered by TFS to be defendable and it has the capacity to accommodate a large number of people. The surrounding Huonville Recreation Ground also provides a number of buildings and amenities that will also be available for use.

“If you are attending an evacuation centre you need to think about bringing personal items and medications. If you are bringing animals, such as dogs, they need to be on a leash and preferably crated.”

Cr Enders said the Ranelagh Showgrounds could also be used to store livestock.