Bushfire recovery update

The new normal

It’s been a long and devastating fire season already in Eurobodalla and RFS predict it’s not ending soon. The Emergency Operations Centre has developed this fact sheet to help residents be better prepared before, during and after bad fire days.

Find the Eurobodalla Emergency Centre updates on Council’s website and on Facebook

Bushfire recovery for business

Council’s business support team is encouraging Eurobodalla businesses to complete the NSW Small Business Commissioner’s survey about bushfire impacts on small business. This information will help determine the level of government recovery support provided, so be sure to have your say:

  • Start the survey

The NSW Business Connect Bus will be in the shire next week, offering assistance to businesses directly or indirectly affected by bushfires.

  • Thursday 6 February – Batemans Bay
  • Friday 7 February, 9.30am to 12.30pm – Moruya
  • Friday 7 February, 1.30 to 4pm – Mogo.

Business Connect advisors are now available at Eurobodalla’s Recovery Centre, located at the Soldiers Club, 6 Beach Road, Batemans Bay, 9am to 5pm weekdays and 10am to 4pm weekends. You can also find advice online with NSW Government’s bushfire customer care for businesses:

Eurobodalla Recovery Centre and outreach

Eurobodalla Recovery Centre and outreach tonight in the Bodalla Hall and tomorrow at the Narooma Golf Club is an opportunity to give special attention to rural landowners west of the highway who've lost so much. Those land holders have been invited to come to town for a light supper, catch up with their community, and hear about the funding and support on offer.

  • Wednesday 29 January 6pm-8pm, Bodalla Hall
  • Thursday 30 January 6pm-8pm, VENUE CHANGE, now at Narooma Golf Club

There'll be plenty of time for one-on-one discussions with disaster agency staff including:

  • Rural Assistance Authority
  • Rural Adversity Mental Health
  • NSW Disaster Recovery
  • Eurobodalla Shire Council
  • South East Local Land Services
  • Service NSW
  • Small Business Connect
  • Australian Red Cross
  • Salvation Army
  • Chaplains

The Eurobodalla Recovery Centre at the Batemans Bay Soldiers Club is open every day to support people impacted by the fires. No appointment is necessary. If you need transport to get to the centre, please call Council’s Community Transport on 4474 1040.

Customers impacted by bushfires can also now call Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit www.service.nsw.gov.au for assistance.

Sports stars – shire bound

Last week the South Sydney Rabbitohs were at Mackay Park, kicking around the footy with the Bay Tigers, giving younger players some exposure to how some of the best in the game handle the ball.

This week it was the Dragons, with more than 70 players and staff from St George hosting a family day at Hanging Rock yesterday, before dispersing across the shire to share the love, and spend some dollars at eateries and with accommodation providers across the shire.

Also visiting this week, Olympians James Magnusson, Jarrod Poort and Josh Beaver. The swimmers hosted a free clinic at the Moruya Pool with around 70 kids taking advantage of the know-how and enthusiasm on offer, and twice 100-metre-freestyle champion James saying he was also keeping a look out for future swimming champions.

This Saturday, Mackay Park will go a little bit State of Origin, when the Blues visit to run a clinic for 5 to 14-year-olds. Coach Brad Fittler says it’s their way to show those affected by bushfires the players are thinking of them, “These are the people who cheer for them and these are the people they play for”.

Water

Level 4 water restrictions are in effect across Eurobodalla, with the water storage at Deep Creek Dam now below 50 percent capacity.

Under level 4 water restrictions all outdoor use is banned, except:

  • Watering gardens with watering cans or buckets filled directly from the tap,
    and
  • Washing and rinsing private vehicles on grass with buckets filled directly from the tap, between 6-8am and 6-8pm.

Level 4 water restrictions ensure we have enough potable water until we get significant rainfall. Our community needs to pull together and save water now so we don’t have to proceed to much stricter level 5 restrictions in the future. Don’t waste valuable water washing down houses and decks – there will be ash from the fires for some time. That water is needed for drinking, bathing and protecting lives and properties.

Variations apply for specific businesses. Emergency services continue to be exempt from all restrictions. Find out what you can and cannot do at:

Farm fencing

Teams from the Australian Defence Force are helping Eurobodalla’s farmers, clearing downed trees in the heavily impacted areas of Belowra, Cadgee, Nerrigundah, Eurobodalla and Deua Valley. Essential Energy have also come on board, allowing the unburnt sections of fallen energy poles to be reused as fence posts.

For assistance with clearing or fencing on rural properties, farmers should contact Council on 4474 1000 or council@esc.nsw.gov.au

Clearing of burnt farm buildings and demolition waste is being coordinated by the NSW Government:

  • Register at Service NSW.

More information