Now 'catastrophic' because of the heat, winds and unfavourable weather forecast.

With a number of very serious fires near Sydney - virtually out of control.

The big danger is that these will join up. International assistance is required.

Australian agencies have worked nonstop, and done their best - albeit not enough to defeat nature.

Barney wrote:
Australia largely inhabited?

7 people per square mile!




because it's largely uninhabitable !

I flew to Uluru once and looking out the window I thought where is this so-called desert as I gazed on greenery below.

That lasted an hour.the next four hours it was red dirt & desert below.

Uluru was the hottest of anywhere I've been on this planet..very dry heat as little scorpions scuttled around as I clambered from air conditioned hotel room to a cocktail party in a sand dune to gaze at that bizarre piece of rock.

In the morning I noticed Sir Cliff Richard was in the hotel with his manager. That night I went to see 'Cats' in a huge circus tent. I hated it. Spent all my time in the bar.

## Of course that one hour of greenery flying through NSW..encompasses land the size of say Germany & Poland combined plus a few smaller joints like Belgium.

### Sadly I see there are fires in the Southern Highlands which is very near Sydney. It's some of the most beautiful countryside I've ever seem..lush green and rolling hills with a very unique look. Popular with the well heeled who have hobby farms and many celebs live there like Miriam Margolyes.
Lord McAlpine (falesley accused ) had a sensational house there with one of the most beautiful gardens I've ever seen.

Tens of thousands of people have now been advised to leave New South Wales, where temperatures are expected to exceed 40°c with more winds.

Over 100 fires are raging around Sydney, and the devastation continues without any signs of respite. Dwellings are rapidly surcoming to the ceaseless burning.

Amazingly - many residents are campaigning for the Sydney New Year fireworks display to go ahead. For morale and other reasons.

In the circumstances, this event must be cancelled, with all efforts directed towards the ongoing danger - which could get worse.

Just spoke to a Sydney mate

To put on the New Year celebrations there


Would literary be like Nero

Watching Rome burning


Top man on holidays - reluctant to return

Undoubtedly, this country has issues

4,000 people forced onto the beach at Mallacoota - because of unrelenting fires, and two further fatalities. Strong winds are fanning the flames.

Temperatures got close to 50°c, with the population migrating between different parts of New South Wales and Victoria.

Yet tonight's New Year's fireworks event has, inexplicably, been given the go ahead in Sydney - despite the ban on fires.

Dorothy Rowe explores the strange phenomenon of holidaymakers ignoring fire warnings, even when signs of danger are clearly visible to the naked eye, in her book "Why We Lie: the Source of our Disasters".

Penrith - a Sydney suburb - is the hottest on earth, at c50°c

With 14 fires nearby, at emergency/evacuation levels - and more people missing

The end is nigh, and not for the fires...

Yes the fireworks went ahead.

It's complicated..they are paid for in advance and up to, at times, a million residents have lined the harbour foreshores to view them..mainly families.

The was a decision of the lefty Lord Mayor & the conservative premier ( who has been in the thick of it and handled herself well in this crisis).

There are literally 100,000s of tourists who turn up and an entire industry that has grown around the fireworks..hotels who charge premium price ($10,000 for a room !!)..dozens of restaurants, venues, parks with vantage points who charge (some for charity)..big dances and parties and so on so I can see the decision to go ahead, when it changes nothing avoided dozens of businesses losing a lot of money.

At the same time the PM Scott Morrison was foolish to host a party at his harbourside residence..gone down like a lead balloon..and the fireworks themselves seemed rather tame but I think the already smoky sky sucked up the dazzling sparkles and muted the entire event.

Saturday I actually ventured to the beach at 10am..but so did a million others and after driving to 3 beaches gave up as there wasn't a parking spot to be had..came home and voila..there was one right outside my flat which is a block from Bondi Beach.

But I struggled to walk there and the sand was a nightmare (for me) as I had to stop 3 times to get my breathe (difficult being 84 but looking 40)..I need a Sedan Chair & some hunky lifesavers to carry me back & Forth.

Penrith?..been there once..really a sort of satellite suburb on the edges of Sydney and a city within itself but surr ounded by trees (now alight).

Smoke is visible as far as South America - as 10.5 million hectares have now been burned. An area the size of South Korea, and growing all the time.

Over 130 fires still rage, and a new national bushfire Agency has been created with A$1 billion to spend - although, somewhat surprisingly, the PM seems reluctant to blame climate change.

Around 1,600 homes have now been lost - with, at least, a couple of dozen fatalities. Later this week, temperatures are set to rise again - with the wildfire season often running to March.

I'm watching videos of it now.
People crying ( understandably) because their Homes and everything they own is gone.

Elton John has pledged a huge amount. Well done!

The rest of the world cant help in person but if they could help by donating to help victims buy homes, I am sure it will be immensely appreciated.

It's surprising how much could be raised.

Bondi Beach today..bizarre..you can see the sand but not the sea..clouded in smoke ( it's now reached Chile)

Every second person wearing a mask.

Erratic winds are fanning thr the flames, with temperatures expected to exceed 40•c

On the borders of New South Wales and Victoria, two fires are about to merge - creating a 1.5 million acre burning area.

And - by text messages - 240,000 residents of Victoria have been urged to leave, by the government.

Now getting close to Canberra, where a state of emergency has been called.

Ember fires are now a major problem - where glowing ashes are swept ahead of the bushfires, by the wind.

Temperatures continue to exceed 40°c - and officials are now saying the situation 'may be uncontrollable'.

Al last, heavy rain - which started earlier this week, and is expected to continue into next - is extinguishing many of the bushfires, and curtailing others.

Thirty have died, with a billion animals. 2,500 homes have been lost, and 10 million hectares burned. It seems that only nature itself could remedy what it created.

pissing down with rain all day and tonight.

Like winter but it's still summer.

local fish'n'chip shop (best in world) all doom and gloom as tourists desert Bondi.

11 inches of rain, since Thursday, has put out 20 of the 60 bushfires.

Flooding is now a new problem.

33 dead - but it seems the worst may be over.

Reservoirs around Sydney have received - over the weekend - as much rain, as they did for all of 2019!

By next weekend, most of the bushfires should be extinguished - although half a dozen are still deemed uncontrollable.

Floods - next. And much fewer tourists next year arriving to witness these alarming quirks of nature - now an annual event.

After 6 months, the bushfires are out.

Peaking at 150 fires - in and around New South Wales - they had a firefront 3,500 miles long.

Bringing death and destruction.

Now contained, the bushfires destroyed c11 million hectares - over a 6 month period.

Between 1 and 1.5 billion animals are said to have died - with dozens of human fatalities.

And c3,000 homes burned. The overall cost to Australia is said to be in the region of A$5 billion.

The conundrum now is - how to prepare for next year...

Declared over at last - after 6 months of burning; including a wilderness area the size of South Korea.

33 dead, 2,500 homes gone - and 1 billion (plus) animals destroyed.

Largely because Australian summers are lasting twice as long - due to climate change.


Next - what precautions should be taken before next summer...