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Home > What's news on the travel scene in Australia > Archive 9
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Closures at Kakadu 2015

 

Merl Campground, the Bardedjilidji walk and the Manngarre rainforest walk are now closed.     

 

Yellow Waters access road and boat ramp are now closed.  Home Billabong boat ramp is still accessible.  Yellow Waters Cruises are still operating.  

 

Muirella Campground, Four Mile Hole Billabong and Two Mile Hole Billabong are now closed.

 

Malabanjbanjdju caravan campground and Burdulba campground are now closed.

 

Updated 2nd January 2015

 

 

Darwin remembered.  19 February 2015 and seventy three years since the first attack on Darwin. 

 

On 19 February 1942, Japanese headed towards Darwin with 81 medium bombers, 71 dive bombers and 36 fighters.  There were at least 45 vessels in the harbour at that time and 21 were sunk or disabled.  Many buildings, including those on the airfield and the Darwin Post Office were amongst those destroyed during the first air raid; the Post Office was on the site where Parliament House now stands.  Twice as many bombs were dropped on Darwin than were dropped on Pearl Harbour ten weeks prior, in two waves that morning. 

 

At least 292 people were killed with hundreds more injured.  These unexpected raids shocked the nation, although the magnitude of the damage was censored.  The loss of life on this first day of air raids was dramatically understated in the media, with press releases listing some of the property damage and saying that a few lives had been lost.  Any claims made by the Japanese were censored from publication.

 

By late 1942, there were 60,000 troops based in the Northern Territory.  Darwin sustained at least 62 more air raids to 12th November 1943, but none so severe as on the first day.

 

Read about our visit to Darwin and more about the bombing with the role Darwin played during the War on our Darwin Travelogue and on Facebook 

 

19 February 2015

 

Leliyn (Edith Falls) in the Nitmiluk National Park
Northern Territory Parks and Wildlife advise that the top falls are currently closed following rainfall in the area. See more about  Leliyn
 
26th February 2015
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Staying in Touch on the Road - what do you need and what are the choices?
The latest edition if this e-book covers in detail:
 
Basic, Smartphones and Tablets

Laptops, Modems and Internet

Antennas
 
Remote Satellite and safety devices
 
Data Safety and Backup Options

Video, VoIP, Chat and Social Media

Managing Photos and Videos

Creating Easy Websites and Blogs
 
And much more, including remote accessing your home computer, must-have apps, programs and websites.
 
This publication can be purchased on line from Staying in Touch on the Road for $9.97, from which a generous proportion will be donated to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. 
 
New edition 2016 of Staying in Touch on the Road now available for a small donation to the RFDS. See this on our Facebook page and share this news. 
Edition released 14 February 2015
Updated edition released 1 July 2016 

Western Australia – Fires and Floods. 

While there are road cautions due to flooding apply to many roads in the Pilbara and Kimberley, through the South West and Great Southern, there are cautions and closed roads due to numerous bushfires.  Lightning strike last week caused many of these fires, with a major fire around Northcliffe in the South West and at Lower Hotham in the Boddington, Collie and Williams Shires.  Drive with extra caution where there is smoke and if possible avoid areas where emergency services personnel are working.     

 

·        Caution for water on the Goldfields Highway at Jubilee Mine Site turnoff forty to fifty kilometres north of Kambalda due to recent rain.   

 

·         The South West Highway has been re-openend between Bridgetown and Manjimup following a bushfire north east of Palgarup in the Wilgarup area which is now under control.  Drive with caution as there may be smoke and follow speed restriction signage.

 

·         The South West Highway which was closed between Manjimup and Walpole due to a recent bushfire has been re-opened with speed restrictions and smoke cautions.  Many roads between the highway and the coast are still closed in this area.   The road to Windy Harbour is now open, but some roads and tracks from this road are still closed.   

          

Always be aware of the needs of emergency services working in areas where fires occur and do not enter a closed road under any circumstances.  Avoid these areas if possible. 

 

There are also closures on the Bibbulmun walking track and on the Munda Biddi bicycle trail in a number of locations.   A historic bridge along the Bibbulmun track was lost in the Hotham fire and at least on in the Northcliffe fire.  A number of campsites were burnt in both fires. 

 

See reports on News Page for road closures and restrictions in the north of the state.

Updated 27th February 2015

Cyclone Maria crossed the Queensland coast between Mackay and Rockhampton and headed south.  Damage and heavy rain has resulted.  While many roads are cut close to the storm's path, caution is urged due to wet and slippery conditions on others.  Through much of Queensland there are roads which may be flooded, damaged or boggy.   See RACQ for full details of closures, cautions and restrictions. Avoid travel in these areas if possible. 
 
Cyclone Lam has impinged mainly on Arnhem Land in the Northern Terrirtroy.  No major Northern Territory highways are closed.  Bitter Springs at Mataranka is now open, but exercise caution with water over access to this and other roads in the area.  See below for Lelyin (Edith Falls).
 
Updated 28th February 2015
Two cyclones have affected roads in Queensland and Northern Territory
Cape York Peninsula and Far North Queensland
 
Jenkins Crossing Road Cooktown is closed for the duration of the wet season. Burke Developmental Road Howitt is currently closed due to water and boggy conditions.  Peninsula Developemtal Road Laura is currently closed. 
 
While all major highways are open, there are a number of other roads closed due to flooding.
 
7th February 2015

New fishing limits for the Northern Territory

New conservation measures were announced 27th February 2015 to commence in April 2015.  In summary, limits for individual recreational fishers include

 

The reduction of the general personal possession limit from 30 to 15 fish

 

Personal possession limit of barramundi now 5.  The minimum size for barramundi is 55 centimeters.  Use of a spear gun to take fish no longer prohibited.

 

Special conditions apply for barramundi and king threadfin taken in the Daly and Mary River fish management zones, with a maximum size limit of 90 centimetres. (For vessels there is a limit of 3 per person and vessel limit of 1 fish over 90 centimetres will apply to allow the retention of a fish that is unfit for release.)

 

New species per person bag limits

 

Barramundi – as above

 

Golden snapper 3

             

Mangrove jack 3

           

Cod and groper 5

           

King threadfin 3

 

Marlin and sailfish 1

            

Red snappers – saddletail, crimson, Indonesian

see special controls; any combination to a limit of 10 total

 

Bream (Acanthopagrus sp) 15

             

All other fish species not subject to specific individual limits 5

             

Unchanged limits

 

Black jewfish 2

            

Spanish mackerel 2

             

Sharks (excluding protected species) any combination to a limit of 3.

 

Sawfish, northern river and speartooth sharks are protected and must not be taken

 

Vessel limits

Vessels with 4 or less people on board, each person can take their personal possession limit.  Vessels with more people have further limits. 

 

A new network of fit for purpose temporary protection areas will be implemented in the Northern Territory to aid in the protection and recovery of "at risk" reef fish species. There will be no recreational fishing of any form allowed within these areas, however fishers may traverse through a protected area provided no lines or rods are rigged for the purpose of fishing.

 

Check full details of the licence requirements, bag and size limits from links for each state.

 

28 February 2015

 

See photos of the South West Highway and surrounds following the after fire opening of the Highway on Facebook.  From a distance of 120 kilometres between Manjimup and Walpole 30 kilometres of the Highway was directly impacted by the fire. 
 
Photos taken 2nd March 2015
Tasmania Fire Service have issued a Watch and Act warning for a bushfire which started in the vicinity of Curries River Dam and impacted on Beechford Road, north of Lefroy.  This area is just to the east of George Town which is at the Tamar River Mouth. 
 

Updated 7th March 2015
 
Elsey National Park near Mataranka has been CLOSED due to extensive flooding.  Martin Road (to Bitter Springs) is CLOSED.  Homestead Road and Mataranka Hot Springs are CLOSED.
28th March 2015
The Shire of Halls Creek notify that Duncan Road and Tanami Road are open for 4wd and heavy vehicles only.
Updated 22nd January 2015
News from the Kimberley
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The Shire of Broome advise that the road to Cape Leveque is open to 4wd vehicles, but closed to vehicles in excess of 11 tonne gross mass, and is closed to road trains at all times.
8th January 2015
The Birdsville Track inside track in South Australia is closed due to flooding.
 
Updated 7th March 2015

New fishing limits for the Northern Territory - see details here