tn19 Up-date – PLEASE READ – tn19 called off
posted Jan 27, 2019, 3:38 PM by Martin Riddle [ updated Jan 27, 2019, 3:46 PM]
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The tn19 contingency planning group met at 10am this morning and agreed the following: Yesterday the bushfire warning for Franklin was elevatedfrom ‘Advice’ to ‘Watch and Act’ with residents told to enact their BushfirePlan, and non-residents told to stay away from Franklin. Communities within afew kilometres of Franklin are at the higher alert level of ‘Emergency’ andwere door- knocked by police last night and asked to leave. The good news isthat, as of this morning, there has been no direct impact on any township.Weather conditions are unlikely to change significantly for the next few daysand the community has been advised not to become complacent. Official advice is, if you don’t live near Franklin , stay away. While it would be possible to re-route the Raid to avoidhigh risk locations it is not reasonable to ask our local support volunteers toleave their families and properties vulnerable at this time. We must alsoconsider whether it is responsible to embark on an activity (the Raid) whichhas the potential to call on the emergency services at a time when theirresources are directed towards existing threats to lives and property. Underthese circumstances our only option is to call off the Raid. We are currently looking at alternative activities on thewater with the Raid boats, possibly including day sails from Franklin oranother location. We are also considering re- scheduling/re-locating theWelcome Dinner and possibly continuing to provide meals for participants?? Wewill keep you informed as ideas develop. We realise that this is both disappointing and disruptiveparticularly for people travelling from interstate and overseas, however, wehave been heartened by the many understanding and supportive messages we havereceived from participants – thank-you. A very few people have asked us about refunds.If this is your priority, please read the ‘Refunds Policy’ section in the Termsand Conditions you were asked to accept at the time of booking. Although thepolicy states ‘No refunds will be allowed for days lost to weather’ the LBTcommittee will consider ‘requests for refunds outside these guidelines underexceptional circumstances’. Please understand this is not the Committee’shighest priority at the moment. I can assure you that when the Committee doesmeet to consider requests for refunds it will treat them reasonably andequitably. |