1.30pm January 3
Residents in the Snowy Monaro have attended meetings and hopefully you watched it via live stream.
Rural Fire Service has recently released a projected spread of fire for the region on Saturday in NSW. It shows large fire across much of the Kosciuszko National Park and the Dunns Road and the Green Valley/Talmalmo fire across the Corryong area most likely joining as one. A number of Snowy Valleys Towns have been told to evacuate as they are undefendable. What it does not show is the fires in Victoria Gippsland area directly below. So there is concern on all fronts for the region.
The Snowy Monaro meeting in Jindabyne urged people to leave if they were not capable to defend. The Cooma meeting said that Cooma is not in the red zone and people should just stay inside tomorrow and be diligent.
Everyone should now be well aware of their intentions to either stay and defend your property, or leave.
Word is the roads are not as busy as yesterday through Cooma, although that could change this afternoon.
I can't speak for other towns, but many Jindabyne residents I spoke to are all staying and they have some additional fire trucks as backup.
But everyone should realise that there is not reinforcements just waiting to help you, you must be aware that you may not receive help even if you call for it. That was the clear message from NSW Rural Fire Service in the Snowy Monaro.
At this stage it is the calm before the storm in Jindabyne at least, we are sure other areas are already under immediate threat.
We will do a few more posts later today and see what happens tomorrow and good luck to everyone and stay safe.
We have also added a Leave Zone link below.
Summary of January 2 and the coming days ahead.
By now everyone should know that the wider region is and has suffered major fires. Towns have come under severe fire impact, especially to the west of the Snowy Mountains in the Snowy Valleys area and the Corryong region in Victoria. There has been major impact here for some of these towns including Batlow and Tumbarumba. Batlow, Khancoban and Corryong have been advised to leave town.
The fires to the east of Cooma and Bredbo have impacted that area heavily, and the south coast is in a VERY difficult situation.
There are numerous fires to the south in the Gipssland Victorian area close to the border.
And it does not look like ceasing as all alerts have been raised for the coming days by fire authorities. Please pay CLOSE attention to authority websites and their updates via Facebook on Friday and particularly Saturday.
The Kosciusko National Park is closed and everyone to evacuate and to be out by 10am Friday morning. This has seen remaining tourists leave today, and residents finalising their departure. Thredbo Resort and Lake Crackenback Resort, adjacent to the national park on the Alpine Way has closed their resort and all to depart by 10am Friday.
This afternoon in the Snowy Monaro, the NSW Rural Fire Service has alerted a Tourist Leave Zone for Jindabyne, Adaminaby, Berridale, Delegate, Providence Portal, Anglers Reach, Old Adaminaby. If you are holidaying in the Snowy Monaro Region, particularly in the areas identified, you need to leave before Saturday.
If you are planning to visit the Snowy Monaro region this weekend, it is not safe.
Do not be in this area on Saturday.
Widespread extreme Fire Danger is forecast across the wider region with authorities saying.
"These will be dangerous conditions, the same or worse than New Year's Eve."
And we all seen how that played out on the South Coast of NSW and Gippsland in Victoria.
NSW RFS have advised residents within our area should be aware and prepare for the worsening fire conditions on Saturday.
Now is not the time for second guessing and authorities have continually stated, especially for rural properties, if you are not staying to defend, leave now.
If you have not taken action in the past few days to prepare your property and yourself, you might need to think about evacuating to a safer area.
In the Snowy Monaro the individual towns have not been greatly affected as yet compared to our neighbours who have had property and personal loss. There are community meetings schedule for the morning at 11am, see below for details. A meeting in East Jindabyne this evening forecast that Saturday will see embers and heavier smoke from fires within the national park.
From these meetings on Friday residents will need to make clear decisions depending on the advice the fire authorities advise.
Many expert commentators have been advising of the impending fire conditions starting on Friday.
You must be VERY diligent during these coming days and have your residential property prepared for worst case scenario by clearing debris, and ensuring embers have little chance of igniting near your property.
We have all the contacts on this page for you to view, but bear in mind some of these websites or Facebook pages may not have the exact information you require when you want it. So now is the time to look ahead, study the weather forecasts, look at the wind direction and make some assumptions yourself for your situation.
Kosciuszko National Park stated today during the 2003 bushfires high levels of resources were available around the Snowy Mountains.
High levels of resources are NOT available for these current fires due to demands in other areas around NSW.
We all know that with so many fires across the lower south east that resources are stretched.
So stay diligent, listen to any advice from experts and make sensible decisions from that.
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Snowy Monaro Community Meetings 11am Friday
Meetings will be attended by members of the NSW Rural Fire Service Monaro District, emergency service personnel, Snowy Monaro Regional Council and NSW Police.
At each meeting, speakers will provide the latest information on bush fires within the Snowy Monaro local government area.
Meetings will be held at the following times and locations:
11am Adaminaby: Adaminaby School of Arts Building (Memorial Hall) – 21 Denison Street, Adaminaby.
11am Bombala: RSL Club Bombala – 156 Maybe Street, Bombala.
11am Cooma: Centennial Park Bandshell – Sharp Street, Cooma.
11am Jindabyne: Jindabyne Memorial Hall – Thredbo Terrace, Jindabyne.
Snowy Monaro residents are reminded that official evacuation centres operating in the region are located in Bombala and Cooma.
Kosciuszko National Park Evacuation Notice
At 10.51am Kosciuszko National Park issued an evacuation notice which applies to ALL of Kosciuszko National Park and resorts and all other places located within commencing now.
This is an essential measure to protect life.
Advice from Kosciuszko National Park
Know where your Neighbourhood Safer Place is and plan to leave early.
Current situation
There are large fires to the west and south of Kosciuszko National Park (KNP) that will move in an easterly direction in coming days
There are multiple other fires within KNP which could expand in coming days. NPWS is continuing to gather intelligence about the location, size and predicted progress of these fires
Lightning and ember attacks may result in additional fires
It is unlikely that these fires will be contained in the coming days or weeks
The current weather forecast indicates that Saturday January 4 will be a bad fire weather day. Fires are likely to spread quickly prior to and during this Saturday
This is not a fire season that NSW has seen before. It is hotter and drier than we have previously experienced
Driving (roads update lower on page)
With dangerous fire conditions for this coming weekend, authorities have urged tourists on the south coast to leave. This has resulted in HUGE traffic delays on Thursday and Friday via Snowy Mountains Highway from Bega/Cooma to Canberra, and in addition, tourist traffic leaving the Snowy Mountains will encounter longer travel times.
Roads will have limited visibility due to heavy smoke.
If you are considering to leave, it would be best to do it earlier rather than later.
Please check Live Traffic before you travel to confirm your route.
Community Meetings (evacuation centres at bottom of page)
January 3
Tumut - Tumut Boys Club Hall Friday 10.30am
Talbingo Country Club Friday 1pm
Snowy Monaro
11am Adaminaby: Adaminaby School of Arts Building (Memorial Hall) – 21 Denison Street, Adaminaby.
11am Bombala: RSL Club Bombala – 156 Maybe Street, Bombala.
11am Cooma: Centennial Park Bandshell – Sharp Street, Cooma.
11am Jindabyne: Jindabyne Memorial Hall – Thredbo Terrace, Jindabyne.
Kosciuszko National Park + Thredbo Resort
Kosciuszko National Park to be evacuated by 10.00am Friday January 3.
Kosciuszko National Park Alerts
Bushfire Essential Websites
For all Bushfire Updates visit these websites. If they have not been updated from the last time you looked, nothing has changed.
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me
https://www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/major-fire-updates
https://www.emergency.vic.gov.au/respond/
Note: The Vic Emergency website predicts future growth of fire, the NSW website shows current fire.
Download the Fires Near Me App for travelling
NSW Rural Fire Service
Please follow their NSW Rural Fire Services Facebook page for updates.
Everyone should use the Live Traffic App or https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html for road closures as changes will be updated as they come to hand.
Kosciuszko National Park Alerts
https://www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au/visit-a-park/parks/kosciuszko-national-park/local-alerts
Current Fires
There are numerous fires burning across the region, most of which have been burning for several days. Please be diligent if these are near your property for embers and refer to the authority website for latest information.
Note: Fires Near Me app may not be showing large scale fire in the Green Valley, Talmalmo (Greater Hume LGA) area.
But this fire is still a major concern across the Corryong region including Tooma, Khancoban, Geehi, Tom Groggin, Jingellic, Jingellic Road, Welaregang, Lankeys Creek and Kosciuszko National Park. Residents have been advised to leave some towns.
Adaminaby Complex - If you are in the area of Bugtown, Old Adaminaby and Anglers Reach, monitor conditions.
West of Eucumbene - Doubtful Gap Trail fire.
Alpine Way - Pilot Lookout, Snowy Creek and further south at Tin Mines.
Jindabyne South - Half Penny Hill has been burning for a few days and is being controlled and Nine Mile Complex near Victorian border.
Victorian Border to south. There are numerous fires across the Gippsland region, use Vic Emergency app to view these.
Dunns Road - a large fire extending through many towns including Tumbarumba, Maragle, Talbingo, Yaven Creek, Batlow, Kunama, Wondalga, West of Blowering Dam
refer to the NSW Rural Fire Service Major Fires Update
Evacuation Centres
Upon arriving at an evacuation centre, please ensure your details are registered.
Bombala Community Centre at 163 Maybe Street. This centre is open 24 hours.
Cooma Multi-Function Centre at the Cooma Showground. This is open 24 hours.
Perisher Skitube terminal or Perisher Carpark
Tumut – Club Tumut Bowling Club
Holbrook Library, Library Court, Holbrook.
These centres will provide residents access to services including welfare for evacuees and direction to assist with small animals.
Evacuation Centres at Adelong and Tumbarumba will be closing. An evacuation centre has been established at the Equex Centre on the corner of Kooringal Road and Copland Street in East Wagga Wagga
Local Land Services and NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) are on the ground providing assistance to landholders who have been impacted by the fire at the following location:
• Tumut Showground is now open as a self-care shelter place for domestic and large animals. Plenty of room including for horses, cattle, sheep and poultry. Local Land Services staff are on site to provide assistance and advice.
• Holbrook Showground is now open as a self-care shelter place for domestic and large animals. Plenty of room including for horses, cattle, sheep and poultry. Local Land Services staff are on site to provide assistance and advice.
Evacuating animals
Bombala Saleyards - for large animals, self care only
Cooma Saleyards - for large animals, self care only
Cooma Showground - horses, self care only
Cooma Pound - dogs - limited space, please contact Council's Ranger Services on 1300 345 345.
For assistance with cats, or small animals/pocket pets, please contact the Cooma Pet Shop on 6452 6399 or the Cooma RSPCA branch on 0488 445 029.
For further information, please regularly check Snowy Monaro Regional Council Facebook page.
Local Land Services and NSW Department of Primary Industries (NSW DPI) are on the ground providing assistance to landholders who have been impacted by the fire at the following location.
Tumut Showground is now open as a self-care shelter place for domestic and large animals. Plenty of room including for horses, cattle, sheep and poultry. Local Land Services staff are on site to provide assistance and advice.
Holbrook Showground is now open as a self-care shelter place for domestic and large animals. Plenty of room including for horses, cattle, sheep and poultry. Local Land Services staff are on site to provide assistance and advice.
People looking for shelter for their animals and pets, see below:
Dandaleith Boarding Kennels and Cattery - 69215008 (free/limited boarding available for dogs and cats)
Equine Centre CSU - 0408922119 (free facilities for horses and portable camping)
Moorong Vet Clinic - 69213462 (housing evacuated pets for a couple of days at a time. Must be up to date with vaccinations)
Lake Road Vets - 0407402380 (short term accommodation for evacuated pets)
Fernleigh Road Boarding Kennels - 69312518 (emergency boarding kennels for evacuated pets)
Belisi Equine - 0421277717 (free for horse accommodation)
Lake Albert Pony Club - 40 horse yards available
Colvin Racing - 0412481459 (paddocks available)
Follow Snowy Valleys Council Facebook page.
Neighbourhood Safer Places
Neighbourhood Safer Places are a place of last resort during a bush fire emergency.Darlow NSW RFS Shed - Ellerslle Woolshed Road, Ellerslie
Yaven Creek NSW RFS Shed - Yaven Creek Road, Yaven Creek
Tumbarumba Sportsground - Lauder Street, Tumbarumba
Memorial Park - Corner of Memorial Ave and Wakefield Ave, Batlow
Adelong Showground - Campbell Street, Adelong
Wondalga RFS Shed - Cnr Wondalga Road and Greenhills Road, Wondalga
Roads Update
There will be heavy traffic coming from the South Coast to Cooma as visitors leave. This will continue on Friday.
Roads in Kosciuszko closed.
The Alpine Way is closed from the Park Entry Gate near Skitube to Khancoban.
Kosciuszko Road and Guthega Road closed for entry.
The Elliot Way closed.
The Snowy Mountains Highway is CLOSED from Adaminaby to near Tumut Plains Road.
The Batlow Road is closed from Batlow to Tumbarumba and will remain closed for several days.
Sections of the Wondalga Road is closed.
The Jingelic Road from Hume Highway at Holbrook is closed.
Lower Barry Way to Suggan Buggan closed.
Lower Monaro Highway to Cann River closed.
YOU MUST CHECK LIVE TRAFFIC UPDATES BEFORE ANY TRAVEL
https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html
Personal Safety and Fire Plan
Everyone should assess their own situation and act accordingly on what the expert fire websites are stating and take any direction given.
Everyone should be diligent and look at many of these websites for up to date information.
Plus, you should have a fire plan to suit your town, your home/property or individual situation and know where to go and what to do in case of emergency. Prepare your property, have your precious personal belongings ready to go at short notice.
Just be pre prepared in case your situation changes at short notice. This is not to alarm anyone, just be prepared.
Essential to clear any loose debris from near your home and have hoses, fire extinguishers and clear directions of what you will do in case of emergency
