21 October 2013

Member for Hume Angus Taylor has urged residents in fire prone areas to only take notice of official warnings and advice regarding bushfire danger.

Mr Taylor’s message comes after confusion amongst Hill Top residents in the Southern Highlands after unofficial warnings were posted on social media.

“These are stressful and difficult times. As the bush fire continues to burn in the Southern Highlands, conditions are again expected to deteriorate in coming days.

“I urge all residents in fire prone areas to only heed the advice of official sources. Let’s leave emergency warnings and calls to action in the hands of the experts. Fires Near Me.com (the website and app) and the NSW RFS (Rural Fire Service) website are the best sources for up to date advice and warnings,” he said.

Mr Taylor said he had visited the Mittagong Fire Control Centre last Friday evening, as well as Bargo and Hill Top last night (Sunday) and had again this past weekend been viewing the damage from the fire. “There are many homes and many lives impacted. Two homes have been burnt out, one at Balmoral, one at Yanderra.”

He said there was short term Federal assistance available for those worst affected by bushfire. “The Disaster Recovery Payment is available through Centrelink and offers payments of $1000 per adult and $400 per child for serious injury caused by the bushfire or when the principal place of residence has been destroyed or has sustained major damage.”