Fire alerts and track closures

[stepbystep]

From Fisher Bluff on Saturday evening. It will be interesting to see what areas were backburned and why. Were forestry assets protected at the cost of wilderness areas? An inquiry will be needed for this and many other issues around these fires, it will be most welcome! Wonderful work by the folk on the ground and those coordinating the effort.

The Blue Peaks track has suffered losses, but also some near misses. Fisher Bluff is safe, this time. Fires stopped on the Ritter Plain by heavy rain.

[Nuts]

We were thankful for some limited access. It's probably worth noting, from TFS mapping on previous page, that it shows the progression of firefront. While some areas are obviously devastated, expect much to be patchy within the area maps, large areas unburnt. Isn't that good

[Thornbill]

It's probably worth noting, from TFS mapping on previous page, that it shows the progression of firefront. While some areas are obviously devastated, expect much to be patchy within the area maps, large areas unburnt.

That's definitely a point worth remembering Nuts. You can easily look at the map of the affected area and assume it all been razed, when that's not the case.

[Mountain Rocket]

Seems Parks have re-opened 'all walking tracks leading off Scotts Peak Road are now OPEN including: Mt Anne area, Lake Judd Track and Port Davey Track' but WOJ remains closed. From: https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php? ... 7512044296

Full list here: http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7785

[johnrs]

Blue Peaks and Lake Explorer tracks
Good reports here.
Damage co0nfined to the first 500m or so above Lake McKenzie
on the Blue peaks pad
and nothing further east along the dam headwaters up into the Fisher river.
Yeates plateau below the dam has been widely burned but some Pencil Puines look like surviving.
The grove in the creek at the dam car park is untouched.
Not ideal but could have been much worse.
John

[Hermione]

This piece by Richard Flanagan is quite eloquent http://www.themercury.com.au/news/tasma ... 04554992ff

[Stibb]

I have noticed the WoJ area is still closed. Are there still active fires or are closures due to post-fire hazards? If so, I assume it is just a matter of time before the road (and tracks) open. The official sites are pretty vague so I would appreciate more specific info (pics?) especially around Moses Creek track (which I think has been partly burnt )

[DanShell]

I have noticed the WoJ area is still closed. Are there still active fires or are closures due to post-fire hazards? If so, I assume it is just a matter of time before the road (and tracks) open. The official sites are pretty vague so I would appreciate more specific info (pics?) especially around Moses Creek track (which I think has been partly burnt )

It would be best to ring the relevant ranger to find out but according to their website the Moses Creek Track is still closed. They are possibly monitoring the status of each particular track in a very localised arrangement. We had a track closed on us on Saturday (which wasn't listed in that link I provided) but it would appear the ranger opened it again on Sunday (or someone took the notice down that wasn't supposed to!).

[Chris]

Higgs Track was still officially closed today in line with TFS post from 18th Feb.

I would appreciate any info of the amount of damage in that area. Did hear the Lady Lake hut had been saved fairly early in this episode, but fear that might mean a lot of damage nearby. I've been hoping do Higgs with someone who first went there in the late 50s, and don't want her to see it devastated.

[DanShell]

Heres to hoping this rain opens all our tracks again

[whynotwalk]

Heres to hoping this rain opens all our tracks again

Agreed! I would suspect that as long as choppers are flying anywhere near the exclusion zone, they will continue to have the tracks closed. Today's rain, plus some good follow-up rain, would be the only thing that might see tracks around the WoJ re-open soon. Otherwise I'd be looking at Plans B, C & D

cheers

Peter

[Nuts]

Good Morning

[Nuts]

Shouldn't be long. The holdup and bottom line being that they need to stop finding work, lot's of different access points, roads and tracks to clear over a large area. Given the favourable weather, I understand the crews are making good progress.

[Davo1]

It was hinted this morning that the exclusion zone will continue for probably at least another two weeks...don't take it as gospel as most of the staff know about as much as we do.
They did guarantee though that they won't be allowing access until it's safe.

[Nuts]

I believe TFS administer the closures Davo?, and offer a much more optimistic ETA.

[whynotwalk]

This update, from PWS dated March 2nd, looks (perhaps, maybe) a little more optimistic for the Walls/Central Plateau areas.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park / Central Plateau CA
The tracks within the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and many tracks in the Central Plateau CA remain closed because of the ongoing risk to bushwalkers and ongoing fire fighting operations.

Fire crews and specialist contractors are currently assessing the condition and safety of numerous access roads and walking tracks in the area and removing dangerous trees, removing rock falls and stabilising steep embankments. It is expected that this work will be completed by the end of the week and soon after the PWS will be able to open a significant number of walking tracks in the Walls of Jerusalem NP and Central Plateau CA.

Those planning walks there soon can but watch and hope,

cheers

Peter

[Davo1]

Walls of Jerusalem National Park / Central Plateau CA
The tracks within the Walls of Jerusalem National Park and many tracks in the Central Plateau CA remain closed because of the ongoing risk to bushwalkers and ongoing fire fighting operations.

Fire crews and specialist contractors are currently assessing the condition and safety of numerous access roads and walking tracks in the area and removing dangerous trees, removing rock falls and stabilising steep embankments. It is expected that this work will be completed by the end of the week and soon after the PWS will be able to open a significant number of walking tracks in the Walls of Jerusalem NP and Central Plateau CA.

Copied from the Parks & Wildlife Service page today

Full report here http://www.parks.tas.gov.au/index.aspx?base=7785

[Davo1]

must have hit the send button about the same time Peter

[whynotwalk]

Ha Ha Not sure if it's great minds or small minds ... davo

cheers

Peter

[Mountain Rocket]

Not sure if people have seen this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CA8P-2YoLnk
Aerial views of the fire aftermath in the Lake Mackenzie and Lake Louisa.

This article is also worth a read: https://www.trektasmania.com.au/tasmani ... ire-story/

[north-north-west]

That article is highly misleading.

Yes, sedge and heath areas respond well to regular burning, as do eucalypt forests. But these aren't the ecosystems we've been most concerned about with the CP fires. Pine forests, rainforests and cushion plant communities, for instance, are not fire adapted and do not survive these events. They should make that plain rather than blathering on about buttongrass regeneration.

[Davo1]

http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/378 ... res/?cs=87

Some more roads open in the west

Becketts and Dempster area still no go...

and this from Parks
Current reserves and tracks closed due to bushfires

11 March 2016

Campfire restrictions lifted:

Note that all previous campfire restrictions imposed during January have been lifted.

NORTH/NORTH EAST AREA


Advice from Canoe Tasmania regarding Mersey White Water Regional Reserve:

The Mersey River Forest Road is still closed.

Canoe Tasmania strongly recommends that people do not paddle the Mersey River between Rowallan Dam and Lake Parangana until: it has been confirmed that the known trees still across the river in dangerous locations have been removed; the entire slalom course has been checked for wires and ropes in the river and any found have been removed; and a party has checked the remainder of the river from the bridge below Rowallan Dam down to Lake Parangana and confirmed it is safe for normal use.

Walls of Jerusalem National Park

The Walls of Jerusalem National Park remains closed until the Mersey Forest Road is declared opened (which is expected to be 12 March). The following tracks remain closed until further notice.

Walls of Jerusalem main track (will open when Mersey Forest Road is opened)

Junction Lake Track (will open when Mersey Forest Road is opened)

Little Fisher Track

Moses Creek Track (will open when Mersey Forest Road is opened)

Lake Myrtle Track (will open when Mersey Forest Road is opened)

Central Plateau Conservation Area / Western Tiers

Devils Gullet walking track

Yeates Track (South Mole Creek)

Parsons Track

Arm River Regional Reserve

Arm River Camp

Mersey White Water Regional Reserve

Mersey White Water Camp

NORTH WEST AREA

Cradle Mountain National Park

The following access tracks for the Overland Track remain closed:

Arm River Track and Lees Paddocks Track (will open when Mersey Forest Road is opened)

Sumac Road (Tarkine Tourist Loop Road)

Walking tracks and campgrounds accessed from Sumac Road (Tarkine Tourist Loop Road), including:

Milkshake Hills Regional Reserve and Milkshake Summit Track.

SOUTHERN AREA

Southwest National Park

Sentinal Range Track and Wedge River Campground

For the latest information on road closures, check the Tasmania Police Community Alerts website http://www.police.tas.gov.au/community-alerts/. For the latest bushfire information go to the Tasmania Fire Service website www.fire.tas.gov.au

[Nuts]

Right, well...

Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 11.30.21 AM.png (39.48 KiB) Viewed 24228 times

So??

Fair's fair, we know these closures effect community and constituents, all of whom have been waiting patiently, if not for a few more details of what exactly the various services are indeed up to in there, then reasonably expecting consideration and updates on access, how about some professional and timely community interaction?



and this obscure tidbit

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Obviously this would be of potential interest to park users, yet nobody cares to direct it to park users?
Not to mention the fact that this spur track is accessed from a road only showing as open to emergency services.
I'll assume, in all hope, all we are worthy of, operations haven't started.

[Nuts]

Screen Shot 2016-03-11 at 1.24.19 PM.png (66.06 KiB) Viewed 24191 times

[north-north-west]

Western Explorer is now open too.

[Nuts]

In case anyone made plans, Mersey Forest, Lemonthyme & Rapid River roads still aren't listed as open.

[Davo1]

Laurie Davison
I can't find any updates since the 11th and no more about the possibility of Mersey Forest Road reopening on the 12th.
Is it open and if so is the Road to Lake Mackenzie open????
Like · Reply · 8 minutes ago

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service The Western Tiers / Mole Creek Field Centre have confirmed today that roads are open.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 4 minutes ago

From their FB page

[phs]

Any more updates

I read in the Tas parks site they were gong to re open the walls of Jerusalem on the 12th ?

[Davo1]

Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service
Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service The Western Tiers / Mole Creek Field Centre have confirmed today that roads are open.
Unlike · Reply · 1 · 4 minutes ago

From their FB page

From the above post.......Parks said yesterday the Mersey Forest Road is open

[DanShell]

Mersey Forest Rd is definitely open and plenty of people are using it to access the Walls.