Page 2 - Week 01 - Tuesday, 11 February 2020
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community groups who assisted at evacuation centres, ACT Policing and public servants across the ACT Government who have responded to storms and bushfires, working tirelessly to keep the Territory safe;
(3) recognises the significant efforts of the ACT Rural Fire Service and the ACT Fire & Rescue in supporting their interstate colleagues in fighting bushfires since September 2019;
(4) acknowledges the support provided by the Australian Defence Force and the New Zealand Defence Force to the Territory and thanks their personnel for helping protect the ACT and surrounding region;
(5) thanks the other States and Territories and international partners for their support in helping respond to bushfires and storms that have occurred so far;
(6) recognises the significant social and economic impact to both Canberra and the surrounding region, and encourages Canberrans to continue to support local communities, businesses and tourism operators;
(7) acknowledges that the bushfire and storm season is ongoing and expresses its gratitude to all those that are continuing to keep our Territory safe; and
(8) further notes that the ACT Government will appropriately recognise, at the conclusion of this year’s bushfire and storm season, the service of all those that have helped protect the ACT.
We are only six weeks into 2020, but already it has been an extraordinary and incredibly difficult year for Canberra and our region. 2020 began with our city shrouded in a thick haze of smoke. We shared the pain with our South Coast friends and family as they lost properties, treasured possessions, livelihoods and, worst of all, loved ones. I am sure many Canberrans would have lived through the terror of the New Year’s Eve fires on the South Coast, hunkered down on beaches, watching the flames as they rolled through their beloved coastal towns.
In the aftermath our city became a safe haven for people escaping these fires and the fires burning to our west. The relief centre at Dickson College supported hundreds of people over a two-week period. Volunteers from organisations such as the Red Cross, Anglicare and the Salvation Army were there providing comfort, a cup of tea and accommodation options for those who needed it, and we thank them for all of that work.
A few weeks later, our city faced a devastating hailstorm that damaged homes and property and tens of thousands of vehicles. There are still many families who will be impacted by this storm for months to come.
We then experienced bushfires within our borders. Both the Beard fire and the Orroral Valley fire threatened properties and lives, and have left a trail of destruction behind them. The weekend of 1 and 2 February presented the biggest bushfire risk to the territory since the 2003 fires. The combination of extreme heat, strong winds and a large fire burning in the Namadgi National Park led to the declaration of a state of emergency for the territory. It was a declaration that was not taken lightly, but it was a powerful message to the community about the threat that we faced.
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