Bushfire recovery update

Eurobodalla Recovery Centre

Eurobodalla’s Recovery Centre is now open to support everyone in our community impacted by the fires.

The recovery centre is an official NSW Government Disaster Welfare Assistance Point. Professional staff who understand the emergency will be on hand to help, providing a one-stop shop for recovery information, services for the community, and to expedite government processes.

No appointment is necessary. If you need transport to get to the centre, please call Council’s Community Transport on 4474 1040.

Eurobodalla Recovery Centre Batemans Bay Soldiers Club Beach Road, Batemans Bay Monday-Friday 9am-5pm, weekends 10am-4pm

Clean up costs covered

The NSW Government is covering the cost of clean-up of NSW residences and businesses impacted by bushfires. This includes both insured and uninsured properties. For those insured, this means you won’t have the cost of clean-up deducted from your insurance funds.

To ensure you are eligible for clean-up cost recovery, register at Service NSW or visit the Recovery Centre at Batemans Bay Soldiers Club or Council’s administration office in Moruya.

Patience pleaseResidents are understandably keen to return to and clean-up bushfire affected properties but must first understand the risks and required actions.Do not enter a fire affected property until it has been assessed as safe and only if you are the property owner. Building Impact Assessments are well underway throughout the Eurobodalla.Initial inspections identify houses, facilities and outbuildings that are destroyed, damaged and those untouched in fire-affected areas, including any potential hazards.Further assessments are now being undertaken to confirm hazards. A Hazard Identification Notice displayed at a property lets you know potential hazards have been identified. If the ‘suspected asbestos’ box has been ticked, do not enter the property and contact Public Works Advisory on 1800 885 539 to receive the results of the asbestos testing. Demolition wasteFire-affected building demolition waste will not be accepted in kerbside bins or at waste management facilities. This is due to the lack of space and risk of contamination to facilities. Council is working with NSW and Australian governments to find a solution that allows fire-impacted building waste to be removed as quickly as possible. Waste

Surf Beach tip will re-open tomorrow, Saturday 18 January. Waste, green waste and recycling will be accepted. The Buy Back Shop remains closed until further notice.

The site still has no electricity and a generator will power the weighbridge system. Limited internet and phone service means no EFTPOS – cash or existing account customers only.

Manual receipting might be required, and if this happens we ask for patience while customers are served.

Brou tip is open seven days per week, and Moruya will stay open seven days until the end of next week. Standard tip fees apply.

Council’s three-bin kerbside collection resumed as normal on Monday 13 January.

Residents with burnt bins should contact Council for replacement on 4474 1024 or [email protected]

Water Power

In the early hours of this morning, a fire damaged tree fell on powerlines, taking out power to 1,500 homes in Batemans Bay, Batehaven, Sunshine Bay and surrounding areas. Repairs were made and all customers were restored power by 5.45am.

More than 90 percent of Eurobodalla residents have had power restored and Essential Energy are in touch with still affected residents. Contact Essential Energy:

Beaches

All Eurobodalla beaches are open, except Surf Beach at Batemans Bay and North Broulee due to poor water quality following the bushfires.

These beaches will be patrolled daily from Saturday 17 January: Narooma Surf Beach, Dalmeny, Tuross Head, Moruya South Head Beach, Moruya North Beach (near breakwall), Broulee South Beach, Malua Bay. If waterways are discoloured and murky, it is recommended you avoid swimming.

Roads and travel

Please drive carefully. We are seeing more stock on Eurobodalla’s roads with the loss of fencing. And watch for wildlife on road verges, too.

Emergency services are asking people in the Eurobodalla to avoid fire-affected residential areas to respect the privacy of those who have lost homes. Please observe roadblocks - they are in place for your safety.

Assistance for land managers

The NSW Government’s Agriculture and Animal Services team have been on the ground since the fires began, staffing evacuation centres, conducting animal welfare assessments, supporting land managers with stock destruction and burial, and providing emergency fodder and water.

Fodder distribution points at Moruya and Bega have so far supplied 829 tonnes of fodder and 531 kilo litres of water to fire affected land managers. 139 property were visited to carry out animal assessments.

Agriculture and Animal Services encourage fire affected land managers to call 1800 814 647 for emergency fodder, water, veterinary or stock burial services.

NSW Police

South Coast Police are urging the public to report all crime, in particular any theft or stealing from homes or vehicles in bushfire-affected areas.

NSW Police has deployed additional personnel to Eurobodalla and every effort is being made to reduce criminal activity as well as take legal action against offenders. Police are asking reports be made, no matter how minor the incident may appear.

Reports can be made to local police stations, police on patrol or the Police Assistance Line on 13 1444. Any suspicious activity can be reported to Crime Stoppers on 1800 333000.