Bass Strait plane disappears, two Tasmanians aboard, urgent search underway
Fresh details have emerged about the plane that disappeared while crossing the Bass Strait from Tasmania.
Tasmania Police Inspector Nick Clark, speaking on Sunday afternoon, said the pilot was a 70-year-old man and his passenger was a female in her 60s.
The pair were a couple and on their way to visit family in NSW, he said, when their plane disappeared while crossing the Bass Strait.
'At this stage, there are significant air resources and a significant number of boats on the water searching for the missing plane, as well as beach and land searches being conducted in northern Tasmania,' Inspector Clark said.
The desperate search was launched after family members raised the alarm when the couple did not arrive at their destination.
A desperate search is underway now for the missing plane. Picture: Tasmania Police
The plane – a two-seater – left George Town airport at 12.45pm on Saturday, setting off for Victoria and then on to Central NSW.
Inspector Clark said there was no radio contact or distress call prior to the plane's disappearance.
He said the pilot was 'very experienced' but was flying a plane that was 'relatively new' to him.
'(He was) heavily involved in aero club here in George Town,' Inspector Clark said.
'If you find some people in the water and it is safe to do so, please render some assistance.'
A multi-agency operation led by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority is now underway, with planes, helicopters and boats searching for the missing pair.
An urgent search is underway in the Bass Strait after a light plane carrying two Tasmanians went missing. Picture: Supplied
Several boats are patrolling the Bass Strait, off northern Tasmania, as the search continues for a missing light plane. Picture: Tasmania Police
A spokesman for AMSA said the alarm was sounded early on Saturday evening.
'Just after 5pm on Saturday evening, concern was raised after the aircraft failed to land in Central Western NSW,' the spokesman said.
'AMSA has tasked a Tasmania Police helicopter (POLAIR 72) to conduct aerial search efforts around Georgetown, and adjacent parts of northern Tasmania.
A rescue jet is also scouting the Bass Strait from the air.
'Search efforts are expected to continue throughout Sunday,' the spokesman said.
Tasmanian and Victorian police are assisting with the search.
The Spirit of Tasmania was reportedly diverted to assist the search. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Matray
'A search for a missing light plane with two people on board has resumed in Bass Strait this morning,' Tasmania Police said in a statement.
'The plane did not reach its destination as scheduled and authorities were notified by concerned family members that it was overdue.
'As a result, a search operation involving plane, helicopter and marine resources was activated last night.'
Tasmania Police advised that residents in the north of the state would see 'ongoing aerial search activities'.
The ABC reported that the Spirit of Tasmania was diverted to help with the search, but was later let go to continue its journey.
Originally published as Urgent search launched after two Tasmanians disappear in plane crossing Bass Strait
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The Advertiser
a day ago
- The Advertiser
Councils in the disaster front line
As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles.
Courier-Mail
a day ago
- Courier-Mail
‘Freak wave': Aussie reveals distressing moment boat capsized in Bali, killing three
Don't miss out on the headlines from Breaking News. Followed categories will be added to My News. One of the Australians on board a boat that capsized in Bali, which claimed three lives, has spoken out about the distressing ordeal. Liam Kerr was one of the 80 people on board the Fast Boat Dolphin II, which had crossed from Nusa Penida and was about 100m from its destination port in Sanur at about 5pm AEST Tuesday when it flipped and flew its occupants into the water. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told NewsWire four Australians were confirmed to be on-board when the boat capsized. Three people were killed, including two Chinese nationals and an Indonesian crew member. Three people died after the boat capsized in Bali, throwing the 80 people into the water. Photo by Dicky Bisinglasi / AFP Speaking to Today, Liam said the boat was returning to the shore when it was hit by a 'freak wave', flipping the boat 'instantly' and tossing people into the water. Standing on the top deck with his friends, the impact of the wave tossed the group off the boat, while others were stuck inside it. 'It was kind of within two, three seconds we went from being everything's fine and normal to (the boat being) upside down, and we're in the water,' he said. Liam Kerr was one of the 80 people on board when they were tossed into the water. Picture: Liam Kerr/ 9News As Liam returned to the surface, he noticed many others were struggling to keep above the water. 'I popped up and there was a younger Indonesian guy who actually couldn't swim and he grabbed hold of me, but I pushed him away because there was nothing I could really do,' he said. 'He was actually one of the guys who passed away, so that was pretty confronting for my mates and I.' The Perth man grabbed his phone and captured the moment the boat was flipped upside down, with the passengers floating nearby as the rescue team worked to pull them from the water. The Australian managed to capture footage of the moments after the boat flipped. Picture: Liam Kerr/ 9News It wasn't until he returned home to Perth yesterday that the reality of the incident sunk in. 'But now I'm back, it all kind of hit me pretty hard last night, I'm just really grateful that we're okay, it could have been a lot worse for one of us,' he said. 'We are kind of just in disbelief and shock that it happened.' He said the reality of the situation didn't sink in until he returned home to Perth. Picture: Liam Kerr /Today Maritime accidents are common in Indonesia due to poorly regulated safety rules, overcrowding and rough sea conditions. Smartraveller warns Australians travelling to Indonesia to be cautious of rough seas and strong rips at tourist beaches. In March, a 39-year-old Australian woman was killed and two others were injured after a snorkelling boat capsized off the coast of Bali. Originally published as 'Freak wave': Aussie reveals distressing moment boat capsized in Bali, killing three
ABC News
2 days ago
- ABC News
Bass Coast locals camping in the bush due to high rents and scarce social housing
Former nurse Veronica has lived in public housing at Wonthaggi on Victoria's Bass Coast for the past eight years. It is a picturesque part of the state, where rental properties are almost impossible to find. Veronica, whose surname has been withheld to protect her privacy, lives in public housing in the region. She said she was lucky, as more than 500 people in Bass Coast were waiting for some form of public or social housing. Veronica is not shy about telling people where she lives. It is part of her own effort to dismantle stigma around public housing and to call for improved funding for the sector. Veronica said security of tenure was a basic right that should be afforded to all people. "It really is a beautiful concept, that nobody is denied a place to live," she said. "People say to me, 'Why should we pay? Why should this be public housing? Why should we pay for these people?' "One day, you never know your circumstances … people who live in public housing are human beings, and they have a right to be accepted. "They're good people, you know." There are 388 social housing dwellings in Bass Coast, according to the Bass Coast Shire Council. According to the Victorian government, social housing is made up of public housing and community housing. A Victorian Housing Peaks Alliance report shows the Bass Coast local government area needs close to 2,500 social housing properties by 2051 to meet growing demand in the area. Data from the Victorian Housing Register shows there are 535 applications for social housing in Wonthaggi, accounting for about 10 per cent of the town's 5,000-strong population. Applications for public housing in other Gippsland areas, such as Morwell and Traralgon, are also strong. About 6.24 per cent of Traralgon's 26,907 population has their name down for some form of social or public housing. A winter shelter providing meals and accommodation on Phillip Island was due to open in early June, but was delayed until late July. Twelve one-bedroom units in Wonthaggi will provide supported mental health care when construction is complete. Founder of Housing Matters advocacy group Jessica Harrison said she had heard stories of people doubling their cooking to provide warm meals to people sleeping rough in the area, while others had resorted to camping in nearby bushland to avoid spending the majority of their pay on rent. Ms Harrison said "chronic underfunding" meant the region was unable to cope with the increasing number of people experiencing homelessness. Carol Maygar is a Wonthaggi-based volunteer spearheading the Owl Ute Pantry, a resource for people to stock up on food and basic necessities. Ms Maygar said she had noted an uptick in people coming to collect food from the pantry in recent months. "We don't ask [why], we only ask if people want a bag. You don't know what someone's situation is," she said. The number of people accessing homelessness services in Australia each month has increased by 10 per cent since May 2022. Homelessness Australia chief executive Kate Colvin said the problem just kept getting worse. "If I just look at one region, like Gippsland, we have had rents go up by 7 per cent a year for the last seven years," she said. Ms Colvin said the longer people were stuck in homelessness, the more it negatively impacted their lives. "People who are homeless have a much higher risk of early death … often suicide is the leading cause of early death for people who are rough sleeping," she said. "People just end up in despair for their future, and we see the awful consequences of that." Ms Colvin said turning the tide would require sustained investment in social housing, stronger income support, and more frontline homelessness services — especially in regional areas where support could be thinly spread. "Right now, homelessness services are turning away 72,000 people a year, just not able to provide support to them, and a further 48,000 people, we've estimated, not even getting through the door [to seek help]," she said. "What we're seeing across the country is local government responding to spikes in rough sleeping with punitive responses and moving people on. In a background statement provided to the ABC, the office of Housing Minister Harriet Shing said further funded projects would be announced in the future. A state government spokesperson said the government had invested more than $19 million in the Bass Coast to build 37 homes. Only 11 have been completed, with further projects to be announced. A Bass Coast Shire Council spokesperson said the council adopted an affordable housing strategy in 2023, and it would continue to advocate for more social and affordable housing for the region.
