Livingstone Shire Fire Disaster Update #7: Firefights face challenging conditions today
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The community is being urged to continue monitoring alerts and heeding the safety warnings of emergency services to assist firefighters in keeping themselves and the general community safe.
Chair of Local Disaster Management Group Mayor Bill Ludwig said firefighters are facing dry and hot conditions with variable wind changes moving in a north- westerly direction, with winds gusts of up to 30km/hr.
“While a majority of the fires have been contained, there are still some hot spots burning between Browns Lane and Woodvale Park Road, near Mount Barmoya and Lake Mary areas and with some flare-ups overnight, emergency services continue to closely monitor the situation and carry out mitigation works where necessary,” Mayor Ludwig said.
“We are urging the community to stay alert and keep up to date of all the latest information being shared by emergency services, as the challenging weather conditions remain a concern and now is not the time to be complacent.
“We are also asking residents to refrain from using any machinery that may generate sparks today over the coming days.
“Police are maintaining a high profile in the affected areas as home owners return to their properties, some still without power, and Ergon Energy crews are working to get the remaining 95 customers restored.
“Looking forward, Council is also working in close partnership with several agencies and community groups to activate a number of specific taskforces including economic and regional development, community development, environment and regulatory and built environment to assess the short, medium and long-term recovery needs in these areas.”
The Department of Communities Community Recovery Hub is now open seven days a week from 9.00am – 5.00pm, and will be working alongside Livingstone Shire Council and Emergency Service Organisations to minimise the impact and ensure the recovery of affected communities, during and after a disaster.
The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment for people adversely affected by the November 2019 bushfires has been activated and is now available for eligible residents to apply at https://www.humanservices.gov.au/individuals/services/centrelink/eastern-queensland-bushfires-november-2019-australian-government-disaster-recovery-payment
Council is continuing to monitor the fire risk with all updates to the community provided through the online Disaster Dashboard (http://disaster.livingstone.qld.gov.au/ ) or through Council’s official Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/livingstoneshirecouncil/ ).