The past few days have seen fires raging in the Tallaganda National Park, threatening communities in Braidwood, Hoskinstown, Majors Creek and surrounding areas.
The NSW Rural Fire Service, and an army of volunteer fire fighters, have selflessly and tirelessly done a remarkable job protecting properties and lives under strong winds and challenging conditions.
While the threat has eased for some areas, the fires remain a serious concern for others. To date the fire has burnt through 20,000 hectares.
The fires have seen several road closures, school closures and other impacts to services in the region. Many Council staff are also local residents directly affected by the fires. Some of our services are currently shorthanded while our staff tend to their own properties and families or volunteer to fight the fires.
Following is a list of known Council services and activities impacted by the fires:
- Pumping of water from the Shoalhaven River for the Braidwood town water supply has been temporarily suspended while pipes burnt in the fire are replaced and water quality in remaining extraction ponds in the river is being assessed.
- Drought relief taps for eligible properties not on town water remain open. Properties can access up to 1,000 litres per occasion from the following sites: Braidwood - Bicentennial Park; Captains Flat - Wilkins Park; Bungendore - near Council depot in Ellendon St.
- Braidwood Pool is closed until further notice by QPRC Aquatics.
- Braidwood Waste Transfer Station is closed on Monday 2 December, but is hoped to reopen as normal at 1pm Friday.
- Braidwood kerbside waste collection will continue as normal on Tuesday 3 December.
- Road construction and grading activities in areas surrounding Braidwood have been scaled back while equipment and staff have been redeployed to activities such as building of fire breaks and containment lines.
- Drivers should take care in areas that the fire has passed through. Traffic advisory signage and road name signs are likely to be damaged. Burnt trees may also present a hazard for drivers.
- The Braidwood Connect business meeting scheduled for 3 December has been cancelled. This meeting planned to host the draw of the Christmas Shop & Win campaign. The draw will take place in a low key public drawing on Wallace Street at 2pm on 3 December. Winners will be notified and announced in local media.
- QPRC's Braidwood Customer Services and Library remain open but are shorthanded.
The NSW Office of Emergency Management has a Disaster Welfare Assistance Line currently open seven days per week from 8.30am to 4.30pm – Ph 1800 018 444
An evacuation centre is open at Braidwood National Theatre Community Centre, 100 Wallace Street, Braidwood - Open until 8pm tonight.
The community is reminded to continue to monitor the Fires Near Me app or www.rfs.nsw.gov.au/fire-information/fires-near-me for up to date information on the fire situation.
Kings Highway remains open, however drivers should check the LiveTraffic app or http://livetraffic.rta.nsw.gov.au
