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Home > What's news on the travel scene in Australia > Archive 19
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Indian Ocean Drive RE-OPENED Lancelin to Cervantes.  Nambung National Park RE-OPENED.

Update: With favourable weather conditions this fire had been contained and controlled.  All roads have been re-opened. 

 

Wedge Island residents need to be aware that the fire has jumped Indian Ocean Drive approximately four kilometres north of Wedge Island Road.  The fire is out of control and moving fast in a west south westerly direction.

 

The fire is burning in inaccessible terrain east of Indian Ocean Drive and north of Meadows Road and has now burnt 21,000 hectares.  This warning includes people camping at Grey Campsite and on beaches north and south of Wedge Island.
 
Recreation sites which were closed Nambung National ParkWanagarren Nature Reserve, Wedge Reserve  and Grey Reserve have RE-OPENED
 
In addition to Indian Ocean Drive, some local roads have also been closed ALL ROADS AND RESERVES NOW OPEN 
 
Updated 30th January 2016
Fires continue in Tasmania, with Victoria being affected by smoke from across the Bass Strait.  There is a current warning forPerth, with an evacuation centre in Longford for those who choose to leave.  The alert has now been downgraded to Advice level and it is safe for those who left to return home.    The Longford centre has been closed.
 
Tasmania Fire Service has declared a four day Total Fire Ban for the whole of Tasmania from midnight tonight, Friday 22nd January, until midnight Wednesday 27th January 2016.  Due to the number of fires burning across the state and the current dry conditions, TFS has taken the unprecedented step of declaring a four day total fire ban.
 
There are a significant number of fires burning across Tasmania and it's more important that ever that you are exceptionally careful.
 
Open campfires are NOT permitted on Total Fire Ban days.
 
Due to bushfire in the area, Gordon River Road between Strathgordon and Maydena is CLOSED for the forseeable future.  Please do not enter the stretch of road in between, it has been closed for your safety.  This beautiful drive is the road to the Gordon River Dam, passing the lovely campground at Ted's Beach on Lake Pedder.
 
A number of minor roads and walk trails are also closed.  The popular adventure drives of
 
Western Explorer from Balfour Road to intersection of Corinna Road and
Sandy Cape Track – from Sandy Cape Track at Possum Creek to Western Explorer are also CLOSED
 
Updated 26th January 2016
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Fires and flooding in Tasmania have further limited travel, and more storms are due today.
 
In the east due to rain:
 
Tasman Highway between Buckland and Orford is closed due to flooding and landslides.  Extreme caution on:

Tasman Highway between Cranbrook and Bicheno,

Elephant Pass Road, Gray

Tasman Highway, St. Mary’s

Tasman Highway, Falmouth

Esk Main Road, Fingal

Rheban Road, Rheban (the Wielangta Bridge cannot be passed)

Hermitage Road, Triabunna

Lake Leake Road, Swansea

And in the South

Lyell Highway, Sorell Creek

Arthur Highway, Copping

Arthur Highway, Dunalley

Imlay Street, Dunalley

 
In the west due to fires:  Roads remain CLOSED, including a number of minor roads.  The Western Explorer remains CLOSEDGordon River Road between Strathgordon and Maydena remains CLOSED for the forseeable future. 
 
Arthur River Road – access is available to local residents only from the Bass Highway to Arthur River. There is no access south of Arthur River due to damage caused to the Nelson Bay Bridge.
 
 

29th January 2016

 
 
Fires and flooding in Tasmania
Post cyclone Stan road conditions updates

Great Northern Highway

OPEN WITH CAUTION from Auski Roadhouse to Port Hedland

OPEN WITH CAUTION from Port Hedland to Roebuck Roadhouse

 

Ripon Hills Road

OPEN WITH  EXTREME CAUTION from Marble Bar to Telfer Access Road.  

 

Marble Bar Road

OPEN WITH CAUTION Port Hedland to Abydos Intersection (Shaw River)

OPEN TO 4WD AND TRUCKS Abydos Intersection (Shaw River) to Marble Bar

OPEN TO 4WD AND TRUCKS  from Roy Hill Village Access Road to Roy Hill Munjina Road

OPEN WITH CAUTION from Roy Hill Munjina Road to Newman

 

North West Coastal Highway

OPEN WITH CAUTION from Roebourne to Port Hedland

OPEN WITH CAUTION from Minilya to Barradale

 

Nanutarra Munjina Road – Paraburdoo Spur To Bingarn Road

OPEN WITH CAUTION

 

Point Samson – Roebourne Road

OPEN WITH CAUTION

 

Updated 6th February 2016

The Great Northern Highway is OPEN WITH CAUTION AT FLOODWAYS  between Halls Creek and Warmun following closure due to flooding
 
See also road closures and cautions following ex tropical cyclone Stan here
 
Updated 6th February 2016
Other road closures and cautions in Western Australia

Due to weather conditions and extreme fire danger, the following parks and recreation sites have been closed.

 

Pinjar and Gnangara off-road vehicle areas (closed until 8 am Friday 12th February 2016)

Avon Valley National Park (closed until further notice)

Mountain Quarry (Boya) to rock climbers at Greenmount National Park

Stathams Quarry to rock climbers at Gooseberry Hill National Park

Honeymoon Pool in the Wellington National Park

Stockton Lake 7.5 kilometres south-east of Collie

Hoffman Mill 18 kilometres north-east of Harvey

Barrabup and Workers Pool 8 kilometres north-west of Nannup

Wrights Bridge 9 kilometres south-west of Balingup

Grimwade Settlement 14 kilometres east of Kirup

 

9th February 2016   

Update: Indian Ocean Drive RE-OPENED around midday 24th February 2016. Fire extinguished. 
 
Indian Ocean Drive is again CLOSED due to a bushfire burning in the vicinity of Nilgen Nature Reserve 22nd February 2016.  The road is CLOSED between Meadows Road and Ocean Farms Road and remains closed 23rd February 2016.
Updated 24th February 2016 
The Hopetoun-Ravensthorpe Road (between  Jerdacuttup Road and Springdale Road) has RE-OPENED with speed restrictions, following closure this afternoon due to a bushfire.
 
26th February 2016
Great Northern Highway, Western Australia.  Caution near Kumarina Roadhouse due to flooding on the road. 
 
27th February 2016
Fire bans and fires - with changes to the weather, the fire situation in Western Australia has eased
The are no total fire bans current, and although there have been a number of fires, all have been controlled and contained.
 
ATotal Fire Ban has been declared for 11th February 2016 for the Perth Hills, Murray and Waroona shires to the south of Perth and Chittering and Gingin shires to the north, and in the Midwest-Gascoyne the Greater Geraldton, Mingenew and Morawa, Chapman Valley, Shark Bay and Carnarvon shires.
 
A Total Fire Ban has been declared for 9th February 2016 for parts of the Midwest-Gascoyneextended to include the Wiluna Shire, South West and areas of the Wheatbelt, Perth, Perth Hills and surrounding areas including Mandurah. With hot days ahead this ban will remain in place until more favourable weather conditions. 
 
The emergency warning now downgraded to Advice for the bushfire now under control between Harvey and Myalup. which started 7th February 2016.   The fire has burnt 1,120 hectares.  A number of other fires have been contained without too much damage. Most roads in the fire zone are now reopened.   
 
 
Updated 19th February 2016
 
 
Looking for somewhere to avoid crowded caravan parks this Easter? 
 
New South Wales Park and Wildlife are seeking camp hosts for National Parks campgrounds, in particular covering the Easter holidays.  See this and more volunteer opportunities which often come with free camp sites or accommodation.
 
2nd February 2016

Litchfield National Park

 

With heavy rainfall in the area, water levels in stream in Litchfield National Park may rise suddenly. 

 

The Lower Finniss Crossing on Litchfield Park Road has flooded, cutting off access to the park via Cox Peninsula Road.  Access via Batchelor remains open.

 

Florence Falls and Buley Rockhole are again CLOSED for swimming due to turbidity and dangerous currents with large volumes of water moving through the catchments.  Conditions can chance quickly and even when open, a sensible and cautious approach is needed this time of year.  Improvements at Buley Rockhole will commence soon:

 

Work on the Buley Rockhole upgrades are expected to begin soon with the project due for completion by the end of April.  The upgrades will include the relocation of the carpark, a new day-use area with five new shaded shelters and a new footpath. Please note that the current campground will be closed during the upgrades but additional camping area will be established throughout Litchfield. 

Updated 10th February 2016

Nitmiluk National Park - Updated

 

Water levels are slowly dropping at Leliyn and access to the Sweetwater walking track and swimming at Sweetwater Pool is OPEN once again.

 

The Southern Rockhole at Nitmiluk National Park remains CLOSED to swimming high water levels. The Windolf Walk down to the Katherine River has RE-OPENED.

 

The Upper Pool at Leliyn (Edith Falls) and the southern side of the Leliyn Loop Walk is also CLOSED due to high river levels. Flood water levels are currently very high, making swimming conditions very dangerous. These areas will be CLOSED until water levels recede. Nitmiluk Park Rangers will reassess these areas tomorrow.

 

Updated 5th February 2016

Northern Territory Roads and Parks

Update:  Bitter Springs has RE-OPENED 9th February 2016.

Mataranka Bitter Springs access road (Martin Road) has been CLOSED and thermal pools at both Bitter Springs and Mataranka are CLOSED to swimming due to flooding.

 

The Central Arnhem Road (Arnhemland) is closed at the Waterhouse Creek Crossing
 
The Buntine Highway is CLOSED between Top Springs and Camfield River bridge due to flooding.  CAUTION on other parts of the road due to damage and flooded areas. 
 
The Plenty Highway is CLOSED between Huckitta Intersection and Queensland Border
 
The Tanami Road is OPEN WITH CAUTION between Granites Mine and the Western Australian border due to flooding.
 
Other seasonal road closures were shown here and from Kakadu  here  
 
Updated 9th February 2016
10/1/2024
 
File: ArchivedNews