1 00:00:00,080 --> 00:00:02,480 Speaker 1: As we know, an emergency was last week declared for 2 00:00:02,520 --> 00:00:06,040 Speaker 1: the Gregory District for the communities. Now just make sure 3 00:00:06,080 --> 00:00:10,000 Speaker 1: we've got the right line here for various communities, and 4 00:00:10,080 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: we also know the Upper Victoria River had reached major 5 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:16,320 Speaker 1: flood levels with seven hundred people evacuated. To Darwin and 6 00:00:16,600 --> 00:00:19,360 Speaker 1: Catherine and joining me on the line to keep us 7 00:00:19,440 --> 00:00:21,680 Speaker 1: up to date with exactly what is going on is 8 00:00:21,760 --> 00:00:25,440 Speaker 1: the acting Assistant Commissioner Danny Bacon, who is in the 9 00:00:25,680 --> 00:00:30,120 Speaker 1: I think it's the Emergency Management Center. Good morning to you, Danny, Morning, 10 00:00:30,160 --> 00:00:32,720 Speaker 1: Daddy Nate, thanks so much for your time this morning. 11 00:00:32,720 --> 00:00:37,160 Speaker 1: Sorry about that phone line. Now, let's find Assistant commissioner. 12 00:00:37,159 --> 00:00:39,559 Speaker 1: How many people ended up having to be evacuated. 13 00:00:40,520 --> 00:00:45,080 Speaker 2: I'm just on a six hundred we were evacuated. All 14 00:00:45,200 --> 00:00:48,839 Speaker 2: the ones that have been sent to the National Center 15 00:00:48,840 --> 00:00:51,800 Speaker 2: of National Resilience was five hundred and thirty four. People 16 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:56,880 Speaker 2: are being housed there and a small number of gone 17 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:02,040 Speaker 2: to family friends or are in medical facilities lifting conditions. 18 00:01:02,080 --> 00:01:06,840 Speaker 2: So but yeah, this significant amount of people will evacuate, 19 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:07,720 Speaker 2: it is it's. 20 00:01:07,560 --> 00:01:10,039 Speaker 1: A massive number. Really, did any end up having to 21 00:01:10,040 --> 00:01:12,120 Speaker 1: go to the Foski Pavilion or are they all at 22 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:13,600 Speaker 1: the Center for National Resilience. 23 00:01:14,520 --> 00:01:17,160 Speaker 2: Everyone's at the Center of National Resilience, And initially we 24 00:01:17,400 --> 00:01:19,520 Speaker 2: set up Foski's because we were able to stand that 25 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:23,120 Speaker 2: up immediately, so the first ones that were able to 26 00:01:23,160 --> 00:01:26,440 Speaker 2: be evacuated out went there initially, but that has since 27 00:01:26,480 --> 00:01:30,440 Speaker 2: been closed down. That will remain as a steam by facility, 28 00:01:30,840 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 2: as a number of other facilities would also be as 29 00:01:34,000 --> 00:01:37,080 Speaker 2: part of our long term planning for events of this nature. 30 00:01:37,440 --> 00:01:41,440 Speaker 1: So how are things going currently out there at Howard 31 00:01:41,440 --> 00:01:44,880 Speaker 1: Springs in terms of that just under six hundred people 32 00:01:44,880 --> 00:01:46,640 Speaker 1: that are out there, how are they all settling? 33 00:01:48,520 --> 00:01:52,840 Speaker 2: They're selling rather well, it's basically it's another small community 34 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:57,720 Speaker 2: within a community. Obviously not obviously, but the community members 35 00:01:57,720 --> 00:02:04,520 Speaker 2: from Calceringy, darg Ragu and Pigeonhole within the CNR, they're 36 00:02:04,920 --> 00:02:08,639 Speaker 2: getting i suppose adjusted to life within the CNR environment 37 00:02:09,360 --> 00:02:11,440 Speaker 2: and we would be looking at trying to transition them 38 00:02:11,480 --> 00:02:14,400 Speaker 2: back to community as soon as it's safe to do so. 39 00:02:14,400 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 2: So the center themselves is being run by the Welfare team, 40 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:23,800 Speaker 2: which is fantastic. They're organizing a range of activities to 41 00:02:23,840 --> 00:02:27,160 Speaker 2: try and provide some form of normality in life there. 42 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 2: And yeah, that's kids going to school, activities for the 43 00:02:30,600 --> 00:02:33,120 Speaker 2: young ones and the ng things of that nature. So 44 00:02:33,360 --> 00:02:34,840 Speaker 2: it's good to say, yeah, so. 45 00:02:35,160 --> 00:02:37,160 Speaker 1: We have got some of those young people heading off 46 00:02:37,200 --> 00:02:39,760 Speaker 1: to school. What's the sort of setup to keep them 47 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:40,760 Speaker 1: in that normality. 48 00:02:41,919 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 2: Well, there's one hundred and twenty five kids that from 49 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:46,480 Speaker 2: the center we going to a number of pop up 50 00:02:46,480 --> 00:02:50,120 Speaker 2: schools today around Darwin. I think they'd be very excited 51 00:02:50,120 --> 00:02:52,000 Speaker 2: but also be a little bit nervous in that process. 52 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: And the younger ones have all been sort of set 53 00:02:54,280 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 2: up to a variety of creation activities from that as well, 54 00:02:58,720 --> 00:03:02,360 Speaker 2: and that sort of sure that they have their normal 55 00:03:03,080 --> 00:03:05,880 Speaker 2: routine in place, but also gives appearances a bit of 56 00:03:05,880 --> 00:03:06,600 Speaker 2: a break as well. 57 00:03:06,919 --> 00:03:10,240 Speaker 1: You can all understand, I certainly can. I've got kids 58 00:03:10,240 --> 00:03:13,480 Speaker 1: that are probably that age, so I can only imagine 59 00:03:13,480 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 1: how they must be feeling after being evacuated from their communities, 60 00:03:16,840 --> 00:03:19,520 Speaker 1: and then you've got the kids running around and you know, 61 00:03:19,600 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: looking for things to do. So I think that that 62 00:03:21,320 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 1: is really a good way of doing it. Now, Acting 63 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:26,919 Speaker 1: Assistant Commissioner tell us, do you have any idea at 64 00:03:26,919 --> 00:03:29,480 Speaker 1: this point in time the extent of the damage to 65 00:03:29,560 --> 00:03:34,120 Speaker 1: those communities where people have been evacuated from well. 66 00:03:34,160 --> 00:03:37,680 Speaker 2: Certainly the image declaration remains in place for Calking, Dagga, 67 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:42,320 Speaker 2: argue Yarrown, Pigeonhole and Plumper. Probably the significant damage is 68 00:03:42,320 --> 00:03:45,960 Speaker 2: caused to the Darga, Argue and Pigeonhole communities, which receives 69 00:03:45,960 --> 00:03:51,560 Speaker 2: significant inundation to majority of the dwellings quite often up 70 00:03:51,560 --> 00:03:54,560 Speaker 2: to roof height CALCARINGI probably about fifty percent of the 71 00:03:54,640 --> 00:04:00,240 Speaker 2: dwellings from that. So in essence, there has been a 72 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,720 Speaker 2: quick rapid assessment, but that needs to be some further 73 00:04:05,120 --> 00:04:07,640 Speaker 2: in depth assessment of those particular dwellings just to make 74 00:04:07,680 --> 00:04:09,760 Speaker 2: sure that they are safe for residents. You'll need to 75 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,080 Speaker 2: qualified electrician and arrange difference so as well as to 76 00:04:12,120 --> 00:04:15,640 Speaker 2: make sure that they are safe to be re housed 77 00:04:15,680 --> 00:04:18,560 Speaker 2: again within those particularly dwellings. But also we need to 78 00:04:18,560 --> 00:04:22,200 Speaker 2: make sure that the infrastructure in the community can sustain 79 00:04:22,480 --> 00:04:25,040 Speaker 2: the community returning to normality. And that's the only series. 80 00:04:25,040 --> 00:04:28,440 Speaker 2: Ship power and the light makes sure that the loads 81 00:04:28,440 --> 00:04:31,200 Speaker 2: here can take a return to the community as we 82 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:35,520 Speaker 2: need be. So I don't have a specific date, but 83 00:04:35,600 --> 00:04:38,080 Speaker 2: what we will be doing is transitioning from a response 84 00:04:38,120 --> 00:04:40,920 Speaker 2: to a recovery phase. But I would submit that that's 85 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:46,520 Speaker 2: going to be a part transition, and probably the communities 86 00:04:46,520 --> 00:04:49,800 Speaker 2: that haven't been impacted as much as in Calcaring, you've 87 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 2: probably see much a bit more of a staggered approach there. 88 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:55,839 Speaker 2: But certainly for the residence of Daga, Ragua and Pigeonhole, 89 00:04:56,400 --> 00:04:58,280 Speaker 2: I think there'll be a longer period of time before 90 00:04:58,279 --> 00:04:59,719 Speaker 2: we can get them back to their communities. 91 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:02,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, Like, how long are we thinking? 92 00:05:04,120 --> 00:05:05,800 Speaker 2: I'd hate to put a figure out, I really do. 93 00:05:05,960 --> 00:05:09,120 Speaker 2: Until we get a full assessment on the ground, Katie, 94 00:05:10,200 --> 00:05:13,240 Speaker 2: until we can actually examine you know, the series ponds 95 00:05:13,279 --> 00:05:16,000 Speaker 2: that the power station to see you know, what's damage, 96 00:05:16,000 --> 00:05:18,600 Speaker 2: If it's damaged at all, can it be repaired? And 97 00:05:18,680 --> 00:05:21,520 Speaker 2: so until we can sort of do that full assessment, 98 00:05:22,360 --> 00:05:25,880 Speaker 2: I think by placing a timeline on it, unfortunately may 99 00:05:25,880 --> 00:05:29,720 Speaker 2: create on intations which may not be able to be managed, 100 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 2: both from community people that want to return back as 101 00:05:32,240 --> 00:05:36,480 Speaker 2: quick as possible. So yeah, until that full assessment can 102 00:05:36,520 --> 00:05:38,159 Speaker 2: take place, they can't provide an outcome. 103 00:05:38,279 --> 00:05:40,800 Speaker 1: And are the residents sort of bracing to have to 104 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:43,640 Speaker 1: rebuild from scratch or how they're feeling at this point 105 00:05:43,640 --> 00:05:44,960 Speaker 1: from what they're telling you guys. 106 00:05:45,800 --> 00:05:50,120 Speaker 2: Oh, certainly the very distressing for the evacuees themselves. You know, 107 00:05:50,920 --> 00:05:53,880 Speaker 2: a lot of these people lost everything. You know, there's 108 00:05:53,880 --> 00:05:57,479 Speaker 2: some residents obviously within kal Karingi that that weren't inundated, 109 00:05:57,680 --> 00:06:00,919 Speaker 2: but majority of the dwellings were. So there's various degrees 110 00:06:00,960 --> 00:06:05,200 Speaker 2: of what people have lost. They're all unsure of what 111 00:06:05,240 --> 00:06:08,120 Speaker 2: they're going to return back to, as anybody would, and 112 00:06:08,160 --> 00:06:10,680 Speaker 2: so it's about trying to keep that information to them 113 00:06:10,680 --> 00:06:14,520 Speaker 2: as best we can and trying to actually a provide 114 00:06:14,520 --> 00:06:16,799 Speaker 2: some form of normality for them in the evac center, 115 00:06:17,279 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 2: but also trying to provide some information for them to 116 00:06:21,160 --> 00:06:23,360 Speaker 2: return home and what that may look like and how 117 00:06:23,400 --> 00:06:24,880 Speaker 2: we can support them in that transition. 118 00:06:25,200 --> 00:06:27,760 Speaker 1: And what are we expecting this week when it comes 119 00:06:27,839 --> 00:06:31,279 Speaker 1: to the weather. From those briefings that you've had with 120 00:06:31,400 --> 00:06:35,400 Speaker 1: the Emergency Operations Center and with the Bureau, what are 121 00:06:35,400 --> 00:06:37,599 Speaker 1: we expecting this week when it comes to the weather. 122 00:06:40,240 --> 00:06:44,640 Speaker 2: Well, initially, I suppose our immediate concern for the for 123 00:06:44,720 --> 00:06:48,080 Speaker 2: our emergency response is a watching breath, particularly for Timber 124 00:06:48,120 --> 00:06:52,080 Speaker 2: Creek posts. The water going past of the river bathhouse 125 00:06:52,120 --> 00:06:55,920 Speaker 2: that's still not expected to peak until Tuesday and Wednesday. 126 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:59,479 Speaker 2: Although I rising slowly So what's that look like for 127 00:07:00,080 --> 00:07:03,480 Speaker 2: on the track for Coulibar Station, Viture Station and tim 128 00:07:03,520 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 2: mcreek community itself. So keeping an eye on that watching 129 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:10,440 Speaker 2: brief for a number of other communities, particularly where below 130 00:07:10,640 --> 00:07:13,480 Speaker 2: is that's still going to provide signing the amount of 131 00:07:13,560 --> 00:07:19,760 Speaker 2: rain across the top end. But I'm not overly concerning 132 00:07:19,760 --> 00:07:22,760 Speaker 2: the information like currently have before me of any other 133 00:07:22,800 --> 00:07:26,160 Speaker 2: sort of community being in undated or flooded. So Tim 134 00:07:26,240 --> 00:07:28,880 Speaker 2: mccreek probably our watching brief at this particular point in time. 135 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,840 Speaker 1: Yeah, right, Well, we will catch up with the Bureau 136 00:07:30,880 --> 00:07:33,280 Speaker 1: of Meteorology a little bit later this morning as well. 137 00:07:33,880 --> 00:07:37,080 Speaker 1: Now what are we what's the situation right now as 138 00:07:37,120 --> 00:07:39,280 Speaker 1: well when it comes to the rail line because I 139 00:07:39,320 --> 00:07:41,480 Speaker 1: as I understand that the public are being advised that 140 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:44,200 Speaker 1: a two hundred meters section of the rail lines being 141 00:07:44,320 --> 00:07:47,440 Speaker 1: washed away north of Tenant Creek due to flooding. So 142 00:07:47,520 --> 00:07:49,320 Speaker 1: what's the situation at the moment. 143 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:53,640 Speaker 2: Well's exactly that, Cuddie. It's just north of Tenant Creek 144 00:07:53,880 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 2: Judon Meet as a section of rail line has been 145 00:07:57,000 --> 00:08:00,400 Speaker 2: washed away. Advice is that will take it least four 146 00:08:00,440 --> 00:08:03,960 Speaker 2: to five days for that to be repaired then inspected 147 00:08:04,000 --> 00:08:06,280 Speaker 2: to make sure that there's no other issues with it. 148 00:08:06,720 --> 00:08:09,800 Speaker 2: So at the moment, the particularly the freight, they'll be 149 00:08:09,800 --> 00:08:13,280 Speaker 2: looking it offloading in Ours Springs and that'll be through 150 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,240 Speaker 2: a road transport. The Stuart Highway is currently open, so 151 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 2: it's the Barkley were where the Victoria Highway is currently 152 00:08:21,960 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 2: closed at the Buntei and Highway turn off, and for measures, 153 00:08:27,960 --> 00:08:31,200 Speaker 2: we've also closed the Victoria Highway at the border of 154 00:08:31,320 --> 00:08:34,600 Speaker 2: Wa And that's just so we don't we stop people 155 00:08:34,600 --> 00:08:37,480 Speaker 2: coming into Timbercreek being the next town, and just so 156 00:08:37,559 --> 00:08:41,719 Speaker 2: we don't reduce the critical infrastructure or goods sort of 157 00:08:41,760 --> 00:08:43,400 Speaker 2: stuff in case we need to sustain them for a 158 00:08:43,400 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: period of time during their isolation. 159 00:08:45,400 --> 00:08:47,520 Speaker 1: And Danny, what's that going to mean for us when 160 00:08:47,520 --> 00:08:49,880 Speaker 1: it does come to freight and food and things like that. 161 00:08:49,920 --> 00:08:51,600 Speaker 1: Do we have any idea at this point? Is it 162 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:54,240 Speaker 1: going to be disruptive all? 163 00:08:54,280 --> 00:08:58,559 Speaker 2: Certainly disruptive now. So I'm very comfortable with the functional 164 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:03,600 Speaker 2: groups that focus on critical goods and services and communities 165 00:09:03,600 --> 00:09:06,199 Speaker 2: and in the top end are used to being isolated 166 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:09,640 Speaker 2: during the wet season normally, So I'm very comforfable that 167 00:09:09,360 --> 00:09:11,960 Speaker 2: they've got a lot of processes and plans in place 168 00:09:12,480 --> 00:09:17,040 Speaker 2: to have looked at alternative methods, be that air freighting, 169 00:09:17,080 --> 00:09:20,600 Speaker 2: in barging, or as we're doing with the railay at 170 00:09:20,640 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 2: the moment, reverting the road when needed. So there still 171 00:09:24,040 --> 00:09:26,360 Speaker 2: needs to be a number of coordinated points to that. 172 00:09:26,400 --> 00:09:29,240 Speaker 2: There really does, given the signial amount of rainfall we 173 00:09:29,280 --> 00:09:32,360 Speaker 2: have for this particular event. But I'm very coforfable that 174 00:09:32,400 --> 00:09:34,920 Speaker 2: I have said that the teams involved in that functional 175 00:09:34,960 --> 00:09:38,960 Speaker 2: group well across the issues there at the Canter Measure 176 00:09:39,000 --> 00:09:40,000 Speaker 2: that well. 177 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:43,240 Speaker 1: Acting Assistant Commissioner and also the regional controller with the 178 00:09:43,280 --> 00:09:47,120 Speaker 1: Emergency Operations Center, Danny Bacon. We always appreciate your time. 179 00:09:47,160 --> 00:09:49,079 Speaker 1: Anything else we should be aware of quickly before I 180 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:49,640 Speaker 1: let you go. 181 00:09:50,840 --> 00:09:53,120 Speaker 2: The only thing is is I said flood and forget it. 182 00:09:53,520 --> 00:09:56,079 Speaker 2: Please stay off our road network if there's no need 183 00:09:56,120 --> 00:09:58,800 Speaker 2: to travel at all. You know, we've had to divert 184 00:09:59,240 --> 00:10:02,800 Speaker 2: rescue choppers for evacuations for people that were bogged on 185 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:10,120 Speaker 2: the road over road network as well. So don't you 186 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:13,520 Speaker 2: know into a river crossing that that's over the road 187 00:10:13,960 --> 00:10:16,400 Speaker 2: your own safety, but also that we don't have to 188 00:10:16,400 --> 00:10:18,679 Speaker 2: divert resources to rescue you as well. 189 00:10:18,800 --> 00:10:20,360 Speaker 1: Yeah, whereabouts did that happen. 190 00:10:21,480 --> 00:10:24,360 Speaker 2: Oh, I had that occurred during the evacuation process of 191 00:10:24,920 --> 00:10:30,320 Speaker 2: calcuering itself. Just a vehicle was stranded along the roadway, 192 00:10:30,320 --> 00:10:34,360 Speaker 2: which we had divert one of the helicopters to rescue 193 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,240 Speaker 2: those particular individuals. We've just took that away from our 194 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,160 Speaker 2: immediate task of evacuating. Caltering you that's on. 195 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:43,840 Speaker 1: Must be a bit frustrating when people do that. I 196 00:10:43,840 --> 00:10:45,800 Speaker 1: mean I listened to that and think, oh goodness mate, 197 00:10:45,800 --> 00:10:48,560 Speaker 1: why would you try and drive through flooded waterways and 198 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:51,240 Speaker 1: then ending up having to have the you know, the 199 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:55,679 Speaker 1: emergency those that are organizing the evacuation come and rescue 200 00:10:55,720 --> 00:10:56,959 Speaker 1: you would be a bit embarrassing. 201 00:10:57,880 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 2: Yeah, I don't think it was intentional. All the parties 202 00:11:01,160 --> 00:11:04,000 Speaker 2: already don't. But I'm just asking, you know, if there 203 00:11:04,160 --> 00:11:05,920 Speaker 2: really is the need to travel. If there's not, please 204 00:11:05,960 --> 00:11:11,480 Speaker 2: don't travel. Particularly the road network certainly is saturated during 205 00:11:11,480 --> 00:11:14,160 Speaker 2: this time of year anyway, as you're well aware, through 206 00:11:14,200 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 2: iceolated storms, rivers go up and down very very quickly. 207 00:11:17,840 --> 00:11:21,160 Speaker 2: If there's no need to travel, don't travel. And as 208 00:11:21,160 --> 00:11:24,160 Speaker 2: I said, if it's flooded, forget it, because we don't 209 00:11:24,160 --> 00:11:25,480 Speaker 2: become a statistic. 210 00:11:25,200 --> 00:11:29,480 Speaker 1: Yeah, very good advice indeed well Danny Bacon, the regional 211 00:11:29,520 --> 00:11:33,599 Speaker 1: controller at the Emergency Operations Center and also acting Assistant Commissioner. 212 00:11:33,640 --> 00:11:36,120 Speaker 1: We always appreciate your time. Thanks so much for coming 213 00:11:36,120 --> 00:11:36,800 Speaker 1: on this morning. 214 00:11:37,280 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 2: Thanks very much, Katie, thank you.