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| NSW and Queensland fires: Sydney to face catastrophic danger rating for first time – live | NSW and Queensland fires: Sydney to face catastrophic danger rating for first time – live |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| For the first time ever, there is a catastrophic fire danger forecast for Sydney, as firefighters battle dozens of blazes across NSW and Queensland | For the first time ever, there is a catastrophic fire danger forecast for Sydney, as firefighters battle dozens of blazes across NSW and Queensland |
| On Tuesday the New South Wales lower house of parliament is due to debate legislation that would try to stop planning authorities from blocking mine developments based on emissions from coal once it is burned. | |
| With the bushfire crisis in NSW unfolding, environment advocates are calling on the government to postpone that debate. Protests are expected in Sydney on that day. Authorities have put in place a catastrophic fire danger forecast for the same day. | |
| “The NSW government did this kneejerk reaction in response to pressure from the mining industry to take climate change out of the consideration for new coalmines and gasfields,” George Woods, a coordinator at Lock the Gate, said. | |
| “With the catastrophe unfolding around us in north-east NSW, this is the time to be listening to the people and responding effectively to climate change. | “With the catastrophe unfolding around us in north-east NSW, this is the time to be listening to the people and responding effectively to climate change. |
| “We would like them to withdraw the bill.” | “We would like them to withdraw the bill.” |
| NSW Labor has called for parliament to be suspended this week. | NSW Labor has called for parliament to be suspended this week. |
| The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service has closed parts of the Byfield conservation, state and national parks due to bushfires. | |
| Warning signs are in place and campgrounds have been evacuated. | Warning signs are in place and campgrounds have been evacuated. |
| The following campgrounds are now closed until advised it is safe to return: Upper Stony, Red Rock, Waterpark Creek, Five Rocks, Nine Mile Beach – Casuarina, Melaleuca, Myrtella and Pandanus – and Water Park Point Headland. | |
| All permits are suspended for the duration of the closure. | All permits are suspended for the duration of the closure. |
| For the first time ever, there has been a catastrophic fire danger forecast for Sydney on Tuesday. | For the first time ever, there has been a catastrophic fire danger forecast for Sydney on Tuesday. |
| That is the highest level of bushfire danger, and homes are not designed to withstand fires in this level. | That is the highest level of bushfire danger, and homes are not designed to withstand fires in this level. |
| The NSW Rural Fire Service says high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity is forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter areas. | The NSW Rural Fire Service says high temperatures, strong winds and low humidity is forecast for the Greater Sydney and Greater Hunter areas. |
| Illawarra and the north coast regions are on extreme level, while the far north coast, New England, far south coast, southern ranges, and lower central west plains are on severe. | Illawarra and the north coast regions are on extreme level, while the far north coast, New England, far south coast, southern ranges, and lower central west plains are on severe. |
| It’s for this reason a number of schools have been closed. Residents are advised to avoid bushfire-prone areas, and people have been told to go to safer areas such as large cities or towns away from bushland. | It’s for this reason a number of schools have been closed. Residents are advised to avoid bushfire-prone areas, and people have been told to go to safer areas such as large cities or towns away from bushland. |
| Some schools will temporarily close tomorrow, the secretary of the Department of Education in NSW, Mark Scott, has announced. | Some schools will temporarily close tomorrow, the secretary of the Department of Education in NSW, Mark Scott, has announced. |
| An emergency warning has been issued for residents in John River due to the Bills Crossing Crowdy fire. | An emergency warning has been issued for residents in John River due to the Bills Crossing Crowdy fire. |
| A total fire ban has been issued for the entire state of New South Wales for Monday and Tuesday due to the dangerous conditions expected over the next two days. | A total fire ban has been issued for the entire state of New South Wales for Monday and Tuesday due to the dangerous conditions expected over the next two days. |
| Terri Nicholson is a resident of Terania Creek near the world heritage-listed Nightcap national park. | Terri Nicholson is a resident of Terania Creek near the world heritage-listed Nightcap national park. |
| Forty years ago her parents, Nan and Hugh Nicholson, hosted the blockade that ultimately stopped logging of the rainforest near their property and saved rainforest in other parts of NSW. | Forty years ago her parents, Nan and Hugh Nicholson, hosted the blockade that ultimately stopped logging of the rainforest near their property and saved rainforest in other parts of NSW. |
| She says now they are watching it burn. | She says now they are watching it burn. |
| “Nan and Hugh Nicholson hosted the site of the Terania protest to defend this great rainforest from logging and now we’re here defending it due to the effects of climate change,” Nicholson said from her parents’ property. | “Nan and Hugh Nicholson hosted the site of the Terania protest to defend this great rainforest from logging and now we’re here defending it due to the effects of climate change,” Nicholson said from her parents’ property. |
| “I don’t even have the words right now. It’s just gobsmacking and distressing to witness.” | “I don’t even have the words right now. It’s just gobsmacking and distressing to witness.” |
| Out of control fires have spread from the Nightcap national park into private property on the western side of the valley and on Sunday were heading south. Many residents in the immediate vicinity have been evacuated to The Channon, the nearest town. | Out of control fires have spread from the Nightcap national park into private property on the western side of the valley and on Sunday were heading south. Many residents in the immediate vicinity have been evacuated to The Channon, the nearest town. |
| “We’re seeing rainforest burn. There’s fire threatening our houses right now,” Nicholson said. | “We’re seeing rainforest burn. There’s fire threatening our houses right now,” Nicholson said. |
| “There’s fire trucks, volunteers. The local fire service is incredible, they’re protecting our home. This is the home I grew up in. My childhood home. My parents’ land. | “There’s fire trucks, volunteers. The local fire service is incredible, they’re protecting our home. This is the home I grew up in. My childhood home. My parents’ land. |
| “It’s quite intense to see ancient, iconic rainforest burn – this delicate ecosystem – and see firefighters here risking their lives and just to see global heating in action.” | “It’s quite intense to see ancient, iconic rainforest burn – this delicate ecosystem – and see firefighters here risking their lives and just to see global heating in action.” |
| Nicholson said residents were preparing for conditions to worsen over the next few days. | Nicholson said residents were preparing for conditions to worsen over the next few days. |
| She said right now people were responding to the immediate crisis. But Terania Creek was an environmentally engaged community with a history of caring for the forest, opposing gas fields and now being active on the climate crisis. | She said right now people were responding to the immediate crisis. But Terania Creek was an environmentally engaged community with a history of caring for the forest, opposing gas fields and now being active on the climate crisis. |
| “There is anger at politicians for continuing to be blind and continuing to support and promote activities that make the situation worse,” she said. | “There is anger at politicians for continuing to be blind and continuing to support and promote activities that make the situation worse,” she said. |
| “Anger at the wilful ignorance of politicians who are ignoring increasing risk to our people, our natural system and the economy. | “Anger at the wilful ignorance of politicians who are ignoring increasing risk to our people, our natural system and the economy. |
| “We saw volunteers risking their lives yesterday and again today. The drought and the fires have now become very personal for our family. It’s incredibly personal having it on your doorstep.” | “We saw volunteers risking their lives yesterday and again today. The drought and the fires have now become very personal for our family. It’s incredibly personal having it on your doorstep.” |
| New South Wales Labor is calling for state parliament to be suspended for the week. Via AAP: | New South Wales Labor is calling for state parliament to be suspended for the week. Via AAP: |
| NSW Labor is calling for the upcoming week of state parliament be suspended so politicians can be with the communities they represent while they battle devastating bushfires. | NSW Labor is calling for the upcoming week of state parliament be suspended so politicians can be with the communities they represent while they battle devastating bushfires. |
| Manager of opposition business Ryan Park on Sunday wrote to Speaker Jonathan O’Dea to ask that the reserve week instead be used to finalise any legislation. | Manager of opposition business Ryan Park on Sunday wrote to Speaker Jonathan O’Dea to ask that the reserve week instead be used to finalise any legislation. |
| “The communities impacted by this horrific situation need all the support they can get and we are of the firm view that elected Members can help their constituents better by being in their electorate,” Mr Park said in a statement. | “The communities impacted by this horrific situation need all the support they can get and we are of the firm view that elected Members can help their constituents better by being in their electorate,” Mr Park said in a statement. |
| “Members need to be there for the community the next week when the full extent of the damage caused will become more evident.” | “Members need to be there for the community the next week when the full extent of the damage caused will become more evident.” |
| Mr Park said the situation was unprecedented and Labor believed parliament shouldn’t sit next week as a result. | Mr Park said the situation was unprecedented and Labor believed parliament shouldn’t sit next week as a result. |
| The deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, had this to say about this tweet from Greens MP Adam Bandt: | The deputy prime minister, Michael McCormack, had this to say about this tweet from Greens MP Adam Bandt: |
| “This is despicable. The fact is, at this time, as David Littleproud has just said, we want to put this above politics. People who are at risk of losing their homes or people have already lost their homes or pets, indeed lost family members, don’t need to hear politicians coming out and starting to play the same game,” he said. | “This is despicable. The fact is, at this time, as David Littleproud has just said, we want to put this above politics. People who are at risk of losing their homes or people have already lost their homes or pets, indeed lost family members, don’t need to hear politicians coming out and starting to play the same game,” he said. |
| McCormack said Adam Bandt should think before making “such stupid and callous comments” like that. | McCormack said Adam Bandt should think before making “such stupid and callous comments” like that. |
| “The fact is, the government does take climate change very seriously. The fact is we are meeting our international obligations and will continue to do so.” | “The fact is, the government does take climate change very seriously. The fact is we are meeting our international obligations and will continue to do so.” |
| (The UN might dispute that though, we aren’t for 2030.) | (The UN might dispute that though, we aren’t for 2030.) |
| “Australians get through these because we are a resilient bunch,” McCormack said. “We stick together, we band together, we make sure that we help those in need and comments coming from a little Melbourne apartment from a little individual with a little mind should not be accepted or tolerated at this time.” | “Australians get through these because we are a resilient bunch,” McCormack said. “We stick together, we band together, we make sure that we help those in need and comments coming from a little Melbourne apartment from a little individual with a little mind should not be accepted or tolerated at this time.” |
| The Bureau of Meteorology says the fire conditions in NSW are expected to remain persistent for most of Sunday. That is, dry conditions, driven by a high pressure system, and south-westerly wind gusts of up to 35km/h in some areas, such as Armidale. | The Bureau of Meteorology says the fire conditions in NSW are expected to remain persistent for most of Sunday. That is, dry conditions, driven by a high pressure system, and south-westerly wind gusts of up to 35km/h in some areas, such as Armidale. |
| Those winds are expected to be constant for most of the afternoon, however, a change of direction to south-easterly winds is forecast for the later part of the afternoon. | Those winds are expected to be constant for most of the afternoon, however, a change of direction to south-easterly winds is forecast for the later part of the afternoon. |
| Abrar Shabren, a forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said that could change the direction of the fire and “can be a significant problem for firefighters on the ground”. | Abrar Shabren, a forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology, said that could change the direction of the fire and “can be a significant problem for firefighters on the ground”. |
| He said the winds will ease into Monday, but there will be little respite. Fire conditions potentially worse than those seen on Friday have been forecast for Tuesday. | He said the winds will ease into Monday, but there will be little respite. Fire conditions potentially worse than those seen on Friday have been forecast for Tuesday. |
| On Tuesday, hot, dry and gusty conditions will affect much of NSW. Large parts of the state, including fire-affected areas of the north-east, as well as the Illawarra, the Blue Mountains, the central coast and the Hunter, and parts of the state’s central west are being warned of severe to extreme fire danger. | On Tuesday, hot, dry and gusty conditions will affect much of NSW. Large parts of the state, including fire-affected areas of the north-east, as well as the Illawarra, the Blue Mountains, the central coast and the Hunter, and parts of the state’s central west are being warned of severe to extreme fire danger. |
| “There is potential for conditions on Tuesday to be worse than they were on Friday last week,” Shabren said. | “There is potential for conditions on Tuesday to be worse than they were on Friday last week,” Shabren said. |
| “Very high fire danger will persist in the affected areas up to Tuesday and even after it peaks on Tuesday, so there’s very little respite. | “Very high fire danger will persist in the affected areas up to Tuesday and even after it peaks on Tuesday, so there’s very little respite. |
| “We’re not expecting any significant rainfall in the foreseeable future. The outlook is for drier and hotter conditions for the remainder of the year.” | “We’re not expecting any significant rainfall in the foreseeable future. The outlook is for drier and hotter conditions for the remainder of the year.” |
| Shabren said Tuesday’s strong winds could also bring raised dust to parts of the state’s west such as Dubbo, Condobolin and Parkes. | Shabren said Tuesday’s strong winds could also bring raised dust to parts of the state’s west such as Dubbo, Condobolin and Parkes. |
| Yesterday it was revealed that the federal government was prepared to deploy the Australian Defence Force in order to combat the fires. When asked about this, Morrison said that the response from the NSW government had been “outstanding” and if the state needed more support, the state government would ask for it. | Yesterday it was revealed that the federal government was prepared to deploy the Australian Defence Force in order to combat the fires. When asked about this, Morrison said that the response from the NSW government had been “outstanding” and if the state needed more support, the state government would ask for it. |
| When he was asked about climate change, someone heckled back to the journalist “oh please!” Morrison said his focus was on what was happening on the ground. | When he was asked about climate change, someone heckled back to the journalist “oh please!” Morrison said his focus was on what was happening on the ground. |
| “One of the stories I heard today and the commissioner has referred to it because it is not uncommon, you have firefighters out there saving someone else’s house while their own house is burning down,” he said. | “One of the stories I heard today and the commissioner has referred to it because it is not uncommon, you have firefighters out there saving someone else’s house while their own house is burning down,” he said. |
| “And when we are in that sort of a situation, that is where attention must be.” | “And when we are in that sort of a situation, that is where attention must be.” |