as communicated (in part) to Mike Kelly MP
The priority for Defence is to assist in ensuring the safety of human life, help with evacuations from isolated communities, support recovery centres, assist with temporary accommodation at bases, and move supplies.
In your region and wider New South Wales, Joint Task Force 1110 is doing the following:
JTF 1110 is contributing emergency assistance, with a focus on supporting state authority damage assessments and initial recovery efforts.
The JTF is assembling its forces at Holsworthy Barracks and other bases.
Logistics Support Detachments have been deployed to provide support in Moruya. Food, water and humanitarian aid has been delivered to this area.
Army and Navy are providing rotary wing support through a combination of MRH-90 Taipan, MH-60R Seahawk and EC-135 helicopters for fire mapping, surveillance, and search and rescue support operations supporting New South Wales Rural Fire Service throughout the Hunter, Greater Sydney, Illawarra and Southern regions.
HMAS Adelaide is currently off the coast of Eden ready to commence relief and evacuation operations along the coast line according to the most pressing need. Navy liaison officers have disembarked HMAS Adelaide and forward deployed to Bega and Moruya to coordinate support. Navy liaison officers are also established in Eden and Wonboyn.
HMAS Adelaide is carrying:
· 400 personnel, including the crew, logistics and engineering capabilities
· 300 tonnes of relief supplies
MV Sycamore is off the coast of Merimbula ready to commence evacuation operations.
On 6 January 2020, one P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft conducted reconnaissance over the South Coast of New South Wales. This aircraft is operating from RAAF Base Edinburgh, South Australia.
From 9 January 2020, an engineering reconnaissance team will operate out of the Incident Control Centre at Moruya after linking with the Rural Fire Service in Mogo.
400 stretchers have been provided to the evacuation centres at Moruya and Batemans Bay. A fuel tanker has been sent to the Milton showground.
A health care team has been established in Batemans Bay.
