Do any swaggers around Morwell Vic need assistance

[scarps]

Continue to hear that life around Morwell isn't great atm due to the fire in the coal mine and it pumping out pollution etc.

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/feb/28/morwell-mine-fire-vulnerable-residents-advised-relocate

I know the local council and state government are helping out, but thought a forum thread to see if any swaggers needed assistance might be good.

[clarky]

Nice call Scarps. We are in Traralgon which is not flash, but it really is quite horrible in Morwell. Trouble is most of them can't afford to go anywhere or have to work. Local businesses have been significantly impacted.

Any help would be welcome I would think.

[Brij]

Traveling through town the smoke is generally not to bad. My office is on the NW corner and the smoke has only been "nearly" an issue on a couple of occasions.

However for the people who live on the south, or south east side of town it is a night mare having to put up with the smoke (light and heavy) constantly.

Best thing you could probably do is when you travel through the area stop in the town and spend some money. The local businesses are really doing it hard. They have been doing it hard for a decade (probably longer) and this severe drop in trade will really hurt them. And then the flow on of this is that some may close up shop, which will amplify the issues of the local community.


If you do stop don't worry to much about the smoke. Is is generally not to bad most of the time (that I've been in town) and is very dependant on the prevailing winds. You will have the distinct odour of burning coal and you'll end up with a light coating of ash/dust on your car, but no worse than a few kms of dirt road.

Peter

[Black Diamond]

Hopefully the effected businesses get some financial assistance from the government. Would be devastating to the local economy if businesses close down because of this.

[PAC1977]

My office is on the SE corner of the commercial area. It's pretty nasty down that way, most of us have relocated to different offices around the area. Feel for all those living through it, and for those shopkeepers who will definitely be strugglîng with the lack of customers.

[Crisp Image]

OK so the smoke is my fault. Well not entirely my fault. You see I was in the mine operating when the fire started.
I for one will be glad when it is out. The Fire Fighters are doing the best job they can and when the conditions are good they make good ground. When the wind whips up it is a different story.
So if any swaggers are there for the cause I say thanks and if you are a volunteer and fight fires for "fun" then you get double the thanks.
I know what it is like to fight a coal fire as we deal with them almost every day (although mostly very small fires) and most volunteers I speak to say the will never come back to a coal fire.
That's about it for me.
Regards
Crispy

[Brij]

........... and most volunteers I speak to say the will never come back to a coal fire.....
Regards
Crispy

I'm not proud of it, but that's me. Been out to Hazelwood mine a few times over the years. I also take my hat of to those that keep going back.

And Crispy, although it is not always easy having pretty well paid employees working beside volunteers, I wont take anything away from the work the mine employees are doing  .

I was actually on the the fire truck at the Jack River fire near Yarram when it all it the fan in Morwell.

Not a good feeling when the wife rang up in the evening to say her and the kids were evacuating (we live NE of Morwell).

Luckily for us the fire ran out of momentum before it got to close. Also helped by the only 2 volunteers left at home with a 300L slip on in the back of a ute putting out spot fires all around town, due to all the  CFA resources being already committed.

Peter

[Crisp Image]

although it is not always easy having pretty well paid employees working beside volunteers, I wont take anything away from the work the mine employees are doing  .

Peter

You are correct. As a Volunteer myself I know too well that someone is being paid to do the work that you are doing and they could be working with you. We just have to get the job done and remember that Volunteers do it for free but not for nothing. I am sure I don't stand alone when I say I like the volunteer work I do or I wouldn't do it.
Coal Fires are hard and dirty that you just don't seem to be winning then all of a sudden it is out.
I usually say thanks to the fire fighters I talk to that are in the mine. Without them I may not have the well paid job that I have if the mine were to close down.
Back to work tomorrow to get my dose of smoke.
Regards
Crispy