Residents, property owners and business operators will be returning to the Tasman Peninsula today.

The Southern Regional Emergency Management Committee Chair, Commander Peter Edwards, said all areas of the peninsula will be accessible from midday.

“This access via the Arthur Highway, which remains closed to the general public, is for residents, property owners and business operators only, and I request others to be sympathetic to the situation and not try to gain access to the area,” Mr Edwards said.

“It’s important that those without a genuine need to access the Peninsula don’t try to do so, as it will only slow progress for the residents who are obviously very anxious to return to their homes. I thank all of them for their patience over the past week in what can only be described as a traumatic and frustrating time.”

The Southern Regional Emergency Management Committee agreed that media representatives will not be permitted to go through the road blocks on the Arthur Highway.

“This has been a very emotional time for the residents, property owners and business operators and I ask that media representatives afford them the dignity to return to their homes and deal with what confronts them in  privacy,” Mr Edwards said. “It must be remembered that some of these people don’t know whether they have lost their homes, whether they’ve been badly damaged or saved from the fire.”

Police will have a checkpoint at the intersection with Sugarloaf Road, where they will be checking to ensure that people returning are residents, property owners and business operators.

The speed limit on the Arthur Highway is reduced to 60km/h for residential access and remains closed to the general public. Fire remains active in the area and work crews are continuing to clear the road and restore power poles. Authorities understand the need to reopen the road as soon as possible.

Public Health representatives will be at the police checkpoint handing out Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) Kits to people returning. PPE kits will still also be available from the Workplace Standards bus situated near the Dunalley pub.

Counsellors will be available in the affected communities – including on board the Centrelink bus – and Red Cross is aiming to provide additional support.

Public information sessions were held in Hobart, Dunalley, Nubeena and Sorell yesterday, where residents were given an opportunity to ask questions and receive information packs about support services.

Information packs will also be handed out at the police checkpoint and various other locations.

People who would like information on the bushfire recovery process can subscribe to email updates at  http://www.dpac.tas.gov.au/bushfires_in_tasmania

For more information on the fire situation and support services, contact 1800 567 567. Up-to-date information on the fires can also be found at the Tasmania Fire Service website www.fire.tas.gov.au. Police information is also available at www.police.tas.gov.au. Information on grants and other support available to those affected by fires can be found at www.dpac.tas.gov.au/bushfires

There are many people who remain unaccounted for, and police urge
people to register their details with the National Registration and Inquiry
Service on 1800 727 077 or via www.redcross.org.au.

Tasmania Police Media & Communications

(03) 6230 2296