1 00:00:00,400 --> 00:00:04,040 Speaker 1: Three sixty with Katie Wolf thanks to Joyce Main, Dowin 2 00:00:04,240 --> 00:00:06,080 Speaker 1: homes On and Stuart Highway Berrima. 3 00:00:06,640 --> 00:00:09,879 Speaker 2: We know that there's certainly all eyes on the Daily 4 00:00:09,960 --> 00:00:13,080 Speaker 2: River region at the moment as the water levels continue 5 00:00:13,119 --> 00:00:16,959 Speaker 2: to rise. Joining us on the line right now, Gary Higgins, 6 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:18,240 Speaker 2: Good morning, Gary. 7 00:00:18,120 --> 00:00:18,760 Speaker 1: Morning, Katie. 8 00:00:18,760 --> 00:00:19,480 Speaker 2: How are you good? 9 00:00:19,560 --> 00:00:19,799 Speaker 3: Mate? 10 00:00:19,800 --> 00:00:21,360 Speaker 2: How good is it to have a chat to us 11 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,720 Speaker 2: just as a regular punter, not in your political role? 12 00:00:26,520 --> 00:00:30,760 Speaker 1: Much much more relaxing, I think, for you have to 13 00:00:30,760 --> 00:00:31,560 Speaker 1: worry about what I. 14 00:00:32,280 --> 00:00:36,600 Speaker 3: Say exactly Gary, how things going? 15 00:00:37,200 --> 00:00:40,800 Speaker 2: I mean, I understand that the Daily River region's really 16 00:00:40,840 --> 00:00:43,440 Speaker 2: on alert at the moment, keeping an eye on those 17 00:00:43,479 --> 00:00:44,199 Speaker 2: water levels. 18 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:49,680 Speaker 1: Yeah. Look, The thing that people need to realize, of course, 19 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:51,960 Speaker 1: is that the people down there are very used to 20 00:00:52,720 --> 00:00:55,760 Speaker 1: this happening on an annual basis. On in the last 21 00:00:55,760 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: couple of years they haven't had to go through this, 22 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:01,080 Speaker 1: but normally at the beginning of the work season, everybody gets 23 00:01:01,120 --> 00:01:06,399 Speaker 1: ready for the flooding the changes down there over the 24 00:01:06,440 --> 00:01:09,440 Speaker 1: last few years, knowing that the community really doesn't get 25 00:01:09,440 --> 00:01:13,120 Speaker 1: cut off till we get to about thirteen meters. So 26 00:01:13,200 --> 00:01:15,640 Speaker 1: that's the Weather Bureau of course, is saying they'll get 27 00:01:15,640 --> 00:01:19,600 Speaker 1: to moderate flooding. I think by about Friday night, which 28 00:01:19,600 --> 00:01:24,040 Speaker 1: will be over that thirteen meters I know from history 29 00:01:24,080 --> 00:01:26,640 Speaker 1: looking back at some of the river heights, I think doristyle, 30 00:01:26,640 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: which is about three days or four days from the daily. 31 00:01:30,640 --> 00:01:32,280 Speaker 1: That's the amount of time it'll take for the water 32 00:01:32,280 --> 00:01:35,320 Speaker 1: to get down. It's close on twenty one meters. Twenty 33 00:01:35,360 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: one meters you know, normally would equate to about thirteen 34 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:42,039 Speaker 1: thirteen and a half meters a daily. But I think 35 00:01:42,080 --> 00:01:44,560 Speaker 1: we have to remember if they predict more rain in between, 36 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: that of course will increase. 37 00:01:48,840 --> 00:01:50,760 Speaker 3: That's where it becomes a bit boring, isn't it. 38 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, that can happen very quickly. The houses, most of 39 00:01:55,600 --> 00:02:00,320 Speaker 1: the houses in the community are above fourteen meters, they 40 00:02:00,480 --> 00:02:03,440 Speaker 1: don't get flooded. There's probably half a dozen or a 41 00:02:03,480 --> 00:02:06,640 Speaker 1: dozen that do below that. But the issue there is 42 00:02:06,680 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 1: that you get crocs going around everywhere. Like crocs come 43 00:02:09,160 --> 00:02:11,079 Speaker 1: out of the main part of the river, they get 44 00:02:11,120 --> 00:02:14,680 Speaker 1: in the slow flowing bits of the river, which of 45 00:02:14,720 --> 00:02:18,840 Speaker 1: course around in the community. So with all the kids 46 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: down there, that's to worry, and the thing is how 47 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,200 Speaker 1: do you get them out? So I know emergency services 48 00:02:25,200 --> 00:02:27,519 Speaker 1: have sent some boats down to boat people out. I 49 00:02:27,520 --> 00:02:29,920 Speaker 1: think at the moment it's a matter of the communities 50 00:02:29,919 --> 00:02:32,520 Speaker 1: having a meeting this morning, and it'll be to encourage 51 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,520 Speaker 1: as many people as possible to you know, see if 52 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:37,360 Speaker 1: they can go and stay with relatives out of the 53 00:02:37,880 --> 00:02:40,519 Speaker 1: out of the community while they can drive out and Gary. 54 00:02:40,560 --> 00:02:42,960 Speaker 2: The other concern always is when, because I mean the 55 00:02:43,040 --> 00:02:44,680 Speaker 2: daily river, we sort of keep an eye on it 56 00:02:44,919 --> 00:02:46,720 Speaker 2: every year. I guess you'd say if we have a 57 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:49,160 Speaker 2: fairly good wet season. But the other concern is it 58 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,400 Speaker 2: takes a while for all that water to then go 59 00:02:51,480 --> 00:02:54,200 Speaker 2: away if the community does become flooded, doesn't it. 60 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,120 Speaker 1: Yeah, Look, it takes nearly two weeks for the water 61 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:03,800 Speaker 1: from the upper reaches of the Katherine River to actually 62 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:06,720 Speaker 1: come all the way down through the river. So you're 63 00:03:06,760 --> 00:03:10,120 Speaker 1: looking at, you know, a good two weeks that that 64 00:03:10,320 --> 00:03:14,119 Speaker 1: river potentially could be sitting at that twelve to thirteen 65 00:03:14,160 --> 00:03:18,040 Speaker 1: meters at least. You know, when it goes up, it'll 66 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:20,880 Speaker 1: go up and then it may come down, you know, 67 00:03:20,960 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: a couple of meters reasonably quick. The plus side, of 68 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:26,880 Speaker 1: course is it'll be good fishing. But you know, and 69 00:03:26,960 --> 00:03:29,840 Speaker 1: the river needs is to be able to have that 70 00:03:30,040 --> 00:03:33,080 Speaker 1: good runoffs and good fishing. But the thing is, there's 71 00:03:33,080 --> 00:03:35,839 Speaker 1: the downside to everything, you know, no matter what what 72 00:03:35,920 --> 00:03:40,119 Speaker 1: good you've got, there's always the bad around and that's it. 73 00:03:39,440 --> 00:03:43,160 Speaker 1: But I think, you know, people are quite aware of 74 00:03:43,400 --> 00:03:46,440 Speaker 1: what's going to happen. You know, if they have to 75 00:03:46,440 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: get evacuated, you know, they're always bought into the Hosky pavilion. 76 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:50,280 Speaker 2: You know. 77 00:03:50,320 --> 00:03:53,600 Speaker 1: I presume government could do the same. I always pushed 78 00:03:53,640 --> 00:03:57,200 Speaker 1: to actually have a school and an evacuation center built 79 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:01,120 Speaker 1: out there, and it was costed. But you know that 80 00:04:01,160 --> 00:04:03,000 Speaker 1: hasn't come to fruition yet. Maybe it will. 81 00:04:03,240 --> 00:04:05,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, but wait insane. 82 00:04:06,000 --> 00:04:08,600 Speaker 1: Yeah, well, but it's a if I can just say 83 00:04:08,640 --> 00:04:13,240 Speaker 1: it is a very stressful time when the river is 84 00:04:14,120 --> 00:04:17,000 Speaker 1: like that. I know people will be you know, especially 85 00:04:17,000 --> 00:04:21,120 Speaker 1: some of the caravan parks be lifting beds, chairs, everything 86 00:04:21,720 --> 00:04:24,080 Speaker 1: up was to have all furniture that was we knew 87 00:04:24,160 --> 00:04:26,560 Speaker 1: could go into the water the lakes. But yeah, you know, 88 00:04:26,640 --> 00:04:29,760 Speaker 1: you a fridge sitting on a dining room table. There's 89 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:33,760 Speaker 1: a lot of food gets wasted everything, and you know 90 00:04:33,839 --> 00:04:37,200 Speaker 1: that of course, you know, just adds pressure, especially now 91 00:04:37,279 --> 00:04:39,360 Speaker 1: we've had all the COVID stuff and the tourist parks 92 00:04:39,400 --> 00:04:43,240 Speaker 1: down there a pretty lousy season, So you know, if 93 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 1: it it gets as high as it did in sort 94 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:48,560 Speaker 1: of twenty eleven, and I think it was the same 95 00:04:48,640 --> 00:04:52,640 Speaker 1: in about twenty sixteen, it was nearly nearly fifteen meters, 96 00:04:52,760 --> 00:04:55,200 Speaker 1: so it doesn't look like it'll get to that, but 97 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:58,320 Speaker 1: that can cause them a lot of financial problems o 98 00:04:58,480 --> 00:04:59,040 Speaker 1: hundred percent. 99 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:01,640 Speaker 2: So it sounds like it's very anxious weight at the 100 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:04,120 Speaker 2: moment for a wait and watch, I guess you'd say 101 00:05:04,160 --> 00:05:06,840 Speaker 2: for the for the residents around that way. 102 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:10,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, there'll be another three or four days before they 103 00:05:10,400 --> 00:05:12,920 Speaker 1: get a clear picture of the amount that's at Doris Valle. 104 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:16,640 Speaker 1: It'll take four days for to get down, so you know, 105 00:05:16,760 --> 00:05:19,320 Speaker 1: provided they don't get too much rain between now and then, 106 00:05:20,240 --> 00:05:22,760 Speaker 1: you know, it may not be too serious, but it's 107 00:05:22,800 --> 00:05:24,000 Speaker 1: still a concerned. 108 00:05:23,920 --> 00:05:26,479 Speaker 2: Well, Gary Higgins, it's always wonderful to catch up with 109 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:27,679 Speaker 2: your mate very quickly. 110 00:05:27,800 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 3: What have you been up to in retirement? 111 00:05:31,839 --> 00:05:34,120 Speaker 1: Well, I've joined the very Spring Seniors group. 112 00:05:34,320 --> 00:05:37,120 Speaker 3: Have you good on you? 113 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:43,240 Speaker 1: And then I'm spending a lot of time making salami cabanossi, 114 00:05:44,839 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: brewing my own beer, eating eating fruitcakes and cups of tea. 115 00:05:51,120 --> 00:05:53,200 Speaker 1: I think you're being cut down. Actually, I think Ronda's 116 00:05:53,200 --> 00:05:56,680 Speaker 1: worn out on that one. 117 00:05:58,120 --> 00:05:59,120 Speaker 3: You live in the dream. 118 00:06:00,720 --> 00:06:03,200 Speaker 1: We had a relaxing day yesterday. Was there forty eight 119 00:06:03,279 --> 00:06:04,160 Speaker 1: wedding anniversary? 120 00:06:04,279 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 3: Oh? How lovely. 121 00:06:08,279 --> 00:06:09,359 Speaker 1: A mark for lunch? 122 00:06:09,520 --> 00:06:11,160 Speaker 3: Oh that is lovely? 123 00:06:11,600 --> 00:06:15,479 Speaker 2: Oh mate, Well, congratulations to you and Ronda. Your wife 124 00:06:15,560 --> 00:06:18,880 Speaker 2: Ronda is an absolutely lovely woman. And you're a good 125 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,720 Speaker 2: bloke yourself too, Gary, mate. It sounds to me like 126 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 2: you need to bring some of your homemade food into 127 00:06:23,960 --> 00:06:24,520 Speaker 2: the studio. 128 00:06:26,680 --> 00:06:28,719 Speaker 1: Yeah, well I could bring bring some. Mean, you know, 129 00:06:28,760 --> 00:06:31,440 Speaker 1: I'm not a person to push alcohol, but the beer 130 00:06:31,520 --> 00:06:39,359 Speaker 1: is good. Yeah, well it can last long, it wouldn't. 131 00:06:39,920 --> 00:06:42,480 Speaker 2: Well, it's lovely to talk to you this morning, Gary Higgins. 132 00:06:42,560 --> 00:06:44,839 Speaker 2: Let us know how things are going out in the 133 00:06:44,920 --> 00:06:48,000 Speaker 2: daily region, and we'll probably talk again in the coming days. 134 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:52,000 Speaker 3: It on you, mate, Thank you, Gary Higgins. There. 135 00:06:52,040 --> 00:06:55,360 Speaker 2: Hey, sounds like he's thoroughly enjoying retirement. But I know 136 00:06:55,400 --> 00:06:58,520 Speaker 2: that lots of you who listened to the show obviously, no, Gary, 137 00:06:58,640 --> 00:07:01,919 Speaker 2: forty eighty years for he and his wife Rhonda. What 138 00:07:02,040 --> 00:07:03,839 Speaker 2: a lovely thing to hear this morning.