Latest news with #VICSES
7NEWS
09-06-2025
- Climate
- 7NEWS
Several trapped in cars at Victoria's Mount Hotham due to heavy snow
Several people remain trapped in their cars at Mount Hotham in Victoria after more than 50cm of snow fell in the area over the weekend. More than 20 people were stuck in their cars which became bogged on the Blue Rag Range Track near Dargo High Plains Rd at about 10.30pm on Saturday. Police and SES crews used snowmobiles to rescue 13 people, with a man in his 40s taken to hospital with minor injuries after his car rolled. Several people remain stuck on the mountain. The rescue operation is ongoing. As of Monday morning, 62cm of snow has fallen at Mount Hotham. Dargo Highway Plains Rd is closed to all traffic due to the extreme weather conditions. It's not expected to reopen until after the King's Birthday weekend. Those heading to the snow have been warned to monitor extreme weather conditions and potential road closures. 'Reconsider your travel plans in areas affected by heavy snowfall if necessary. Stay safe out there,' VIC SES said.
The Age
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Age
These iconic long-weekend pit stops have saved countless lives. But they are now harder to find
NSW reached a peak of about 98 sites in 2004, but this fell to 56 in 2025. The SES did not have historical figures for Driver Reviver volunteer numbers, nor total hours dedicated per year. Some SES numbers were also rough estimates due to incomplete records. Fast facts about the Driver Reviver program About 220 sites dotted Australia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, there are 175 sites and only 160 remain operational – a 27.3 per cent drop. New sites since 2023 include: Hinchinbrook (QLD), Campbelltown (TAS), Geurie (NSW), Mount Barker (WA), Springsure (QLD), Orford (TAS). Closed sites since 2023 include: Stawell (VIC), Gingin (WA), Kangaroo Valley (NSW), Port Pirie (SA), Williams (SA). Source: VICSES 'The main reasons for Driver Reviver closures over the decades is a combination of urban growth and road infrastructure upgrades, including bypasses and service centres with commercial operations that can substitute Driver Reviver with improved amenities,' the SES briefing note said. 'Shorter routes and speed limit increases are also getting people away from the city quicker.' Allan and Rhonda McCormac founded the national Driver Reviver network in 1989, bringing together a patchwork of independent roadside rest hubs before expanding further. The couple retired in 2022 and handed oversight to Victoria's SES, which works with Lions Clubs and other community groups to staff the sites. Allan McCormac, 83, says the decline in Driver Reviver sites was not necessarily a bad thing if roads were being made safer and people were resting elsewhere. 'It's dynamic, and it needs to change all the time to suit new roads,' he says. 'There are new freeways put in that mean that some of the old sites become redundant.' McCormac believes Driver Reviver still offers something unique compared to service stations. 'The people stopping are engaging with the volunteers, and that builds our culture,' he says. 'And that's something you don't get in a commercial operation.' Pandemic restrictions, however, hurt face-to-face volunteering and forced dozens of Driver Reviver sites to shutter. The SES says some sites, such as a stop in Stawell, permanently closed in the last two years as volunteering failed to recover after the pandemic. However, the agency says new and reactivated sites surpassed closures. 'Whilst overall volunteer numbers have remained fairly consistent in recent years, VICSES units across the state are always looking for new volunteers,' a spokesperson said. This King's Birthday weekend, the SES reports 71 sites will be active across Australia at different times, including 36 in NSW, 22 in Queensland, 10 in Victoria and three in South Australia. The Victorian sites are Avenel, Balmattum Northbound, Balmattum Southbound, Dimboola, Dunkeld, Lismore, Marong, Rushworth, and Seymour. Hot tea and coffee is served without a lid, so drivers must stick around and take a longer break to finish it, rather than hitting the road immediately.
Sydney Morning Herald
06-06-2025
- Automotive
- Sydney Morning Herald
These iconic long-weekend pit stops have saved countless lives. But they are now harder to find
NSW reached a peak of about 98 sites in 2004, but this fell to 56 in 2025. The SES did not have historical figures for Driver Reviver volunteer numbers, nor total hours dedicated per year. Some SES numbers were also rough estimates due to incomplete records. Fast facts about the Driver Reviver program About 220 sites dotted Australia in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Now, there are 175 sites and only 160 remain operational – a 27.3 per cent drop. New sites since 2023 include: Hinchinbrook (QLD), Campbelltown (TAS), Geurie (NSW), Mount Barker (WA), Springsure (QLD), Orford (TAS). Closed sites since 2023 include: Stawell (VIC), Gingin (WA), Kangaroo Valley (NSW), Port Pirie (SA), Williams (SA). Source: VICSES 'The main reasons for Driver Reviver closures over the decades is a combination of urban growth and road infrastructure upgrades, including bypasses and service centres with commercial operations that can substitute Driver Reviver with improved amenities,' the SES briefing note said. 'Shorter routes and speed limit increases are also getting people away from the city quicker.' Allan and Rhonda McCormac founded the national Driver Reviver network in 1989, bringing together a patchwork of independent roadside rest hubs before expanding further. The couple retired in 2022 and handed oversight to Victoria's SES, which works with Lions Clubs and other community groups to staff the sites. Allan McCormac, 83, says the decline in Driver Reviver sites was not necessarily a bad thing if roads were being made safer and people were resting elsewhere. 'It's dynamic, and it needs to change all the time to suit new roads,' he says. 'There are new freeways put in that mean that some of the old sites become redundant.' McCormac believes Driver Reviver still offers something unique compared to service stations. 'The people stopping are engaging with the volunteers, and that builds our culture,' he says. 'And that's something you don't get in a commercial operation.' Pandemic restrictions, however, hurt face-to-face volunteering and forced dozens of Driver Reviver sites to shutter. The SES says some sites, such as a stop in Stawell, permanently closed in the last two years as volunteering failed to recover after the pandemic. However, the agency says new and reactivated sites surpassed closures. 'Whilst overall volunteer numbers have remained fairly consistent in recent years, VICSES units across the state are always looking for new volunteers,' a spokesperson said. This King's Birthday weekend, the SES reports 71 sites will be active across Australia at different times, including 36 in NSW, 22 in Queensland, 10 in Victoria and three in South Australia. The Victorian sites are Avenel, Balmattum Northbound, Balmattum Southbound, Dimboola, Dunkeld, Lismore, Marong, Rushworth, and Seymour. Hot tea and coffee is served without a lid, so drivers must stick around and take a longer break to finish it, rather than hitting the road immediately.
The Advertiser
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
'Locals blame us': rural SES volunteers 'hated' over emergency services levy
Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure. VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years. But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill. "It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said. One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country". "We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said. A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund". "How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy. "The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said. But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising. VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees. But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation. The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website. "This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said. The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through. "Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read. Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue. "That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said. Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers. "I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said. "Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected." But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet. Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15. But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations. A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it. Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical". These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling". "SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote. "However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria." A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical. "VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said. "VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods." But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate. "I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said. There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over. "My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said. One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed. "They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said. But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure. "It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said. "And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff. "You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy." Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure. VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years. But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill. "It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said. One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country". "We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said. A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund". "How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy. "The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said. But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising. VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees. But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation. The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website. "This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said. The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through. "Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read. Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue. "That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said. Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers. "I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said. "Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected." But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet. Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15. But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations. A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it. Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical". These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling". "SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote. "However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria." A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical. "VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said. "VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods." But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate. "I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said. There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over. "My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said. One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed. "They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said. But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure. "It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said. "And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff. "You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy." Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure. VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years. But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill. "It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said. One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country". "We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said. A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund". "How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy. "The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said. But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising. VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees. But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation. The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website. "This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said. The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through. "Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read. Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue. "That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said. Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers. "I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said. "Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected." But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet. Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15. But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations. A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it. Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical". These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling". "SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote. "However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria." A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical. "VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said. "VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods." But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate. "I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said. There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over. "My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said. One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed. "They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said. But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure. "It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said. "And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff. "You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy." Some State Emergency Service volunteers in regional Victoria say they are "hated" by many locals for the organisation's role in the government's Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. The volunteers said rural residents, especially farmers, blamed VICSES for the divisive new levy even though many rural VICSES members were strongly against the measure. VICSES has advocated strongly for the new levy and appears on track to benefit from the $2.9 billion in extra revenue to be collected over the next four years. But many rural VICSES members said they were sceptical the funds would reach their underfunded units and were "appalled" country residents were footing so much of the bill. "It's a bloody disgrace," one northern Victorian member said. One south-west unit controller said "we are very unpopular out here in the country". "We are hunted people now. I don't know how we are going to recruit," the controller said. A VICSES spokesperson said the organisation had "no role in the development or the specifics of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund". "How specifically VICSES and the emergency services sector is funded is a matter for the state government," the spokesperson said. The spokesperson said VICSES and its volunteers had been advocating for "greater support" from the government, but denied a role in the levy. "The suggestion that VICSES helped shape the levy is strongly rejected," the spokesperson said. But VICSES has long advocated for a new or expanded levy to bring it similar funding to the Country Fire Authority and reduce its heavy reliance on fundraising. VICSES executives and paid staff aren't allowed to lobby the government for money because they are Victorian government employees. But a group of volunteers had led a "Fund VICSES" campaign to specifically lobby for a levy to fund the organisation. The vision for a broader levy is explained on the Fund VICSES website. "This could be done by extending the existing Fire Services Levy to an Emergency Services Levy, or could be done separately. It would be collected alongside existing property rates by local councils," the campaign's FAQ said. The leader of the campaign - Footscray unit controller Michael Bagnall - spoke to the ABC to endorse the levy on May 15, 2025, the day it was voted through. "Members of Victoria's State Emergency Service hope a bill to boost their funding will be passed by the state parliament today," the article read. Many volunteers told ACM - publisher of this masthead - they were furious to see one person seeming to speak for all volunteers on such a divisive issue. "That bloke doesn't speak for me, I'll tell you that much," one northern Victorian volunteer said. Mr Bagnall told ACM he hadn't claimed to speak on behalf of all VICSES volunteers. "I understand there are a range of perspectives on the levy itself," he said. "Not all will feel the same impact from this levy and the views of those impacted, most need to be fully respected." But while Mr Bagnall was able to speak publicly in support of the levy, other volunteers told ACM they were ordered to stay quiet. Dozens of CFA brigades started going offline in protest as the levy was passed on May 15. But when VICSES units tried to do the same, they were told they "weren't allowed" by senior operations. A Melbourne-based volunteer said members had been "ordered to stay neutral" on the topic of the levy and not to comment publicly about it. Dozens of volunteers took to the closed VICSES Facebook page to express frustration at having to remain "apolitical". These volunteers all agreed VICSES desperately needed more funding, but said the levy would "cripple many who are already struggling". "SES are somewhat conflicted as we badly need the funding," one volunteer wrote. "However, I'm not supportive of the other changes to the levy, such as shifting the cost burden from general revenue to the levy and disproportionately being paid by regional Victoria." A VICSES spokesperson denied any order or request for volunteers to remain apolitical. "VICSES members are permitted to respectfully advocate for their needs," the spokesperson said. "VICSES acknowledges the growing pressures on rural communities, especially emergency services volunteers in those communities, where drought is having a profound impact on their livelihoods." But an internal message to all members from VICSES chief executive Rob Purcell on Friday May 16 specifically asked them to stay out of the debate. "I understand there are a range of passionate views on this topic and people have their personal political beliefs as well. I ask and remind us all to remain respectful [and] apolitical whilst representing VICSES and act in line with our VICSES values at all times," it said. There were also volunteers on the VICSES Facebook page who argued strongly for the levy and said the furore would blow over. "My advice is to keep calm. Wait three weeks and the news media will have moved on," one volunteer said. One rural volunteer told ACM this was the same advice he'd been given when he told VICSES senior staff about the hostility he'd experienced from locals since the levy passed. "They just said 'oh you know, we expected some push back from the regions, but they'll back down and it'll all happen come July'," the volunteer said. But the volunteer said he wasn't so sure. "It's really widened that gap between the city and the country. All those Melbourne members pushing for this levy when they knew it would be toxic," he said. "And it's the volunteers out here who get blamed. Well, we've had a gutful of this stuff. "You're not going to get new members to come if no one's happy."
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Abnormal' tides threaten state's coast
Residents in coastal Victoria are being urged to batten down the hatches ahead of Tuesday's expected storm surge, which is expected to bring with it abnormally high tides and possible flooding. A 'very strong' cold front is moving across Australia's southeast over the next few days and is forecasted to peak on Tuesday. Tides are forecast to exceed well above the highest astronomical tide of the year. Those living in the Gippsland and Central Districts areas are being warned to stay vigilant with sea water flooding of low lying areas expected. VICSES State Duty Officer Kate Turner said sandbag filling and collection points were open at the Lakes Entrance and Manns Beach on Monday, with preparation efforts already underway at several flood-prone areas. 'Community members should avoid swimming in beaches, tidal rivers and creeks as we go through this period of storm surge, and always keep away from any flooded drains, rivers, streams and other waterways,' she told NewsWire. 'Our volunteers are well trained and prepared for this weather, and are ready to respond to help their communities.' More than nine million people currently fall under a severe weather warning along Australia's south eastern coastline, he Bureau of Meteorology's senior meteorologist Jonathan How said. From Monday, damaging winds and hazardous coastal conditions are expected to extend into large parts of southeast Australia, he said. 'We can see a very strong cold front moving up from the south, reaching the mainland into Monday morning,' he added. 'Behind this cold front is a mass of cold air, and that's associated with vigorous winds as well as showers and thunderstorms. 'Waves are also building along the south coast … for Victoria, abnormally high tides over the few days, peaking on Tuesday.' Forecasted large waves will bring dangerous conditions both in the water and on the beaches. 'The latest computer model guidance shows that, for the rest of today, that cold front moving through towards the east, and the low pressure system behind it bringing very vigorous winds, showers, and isolated thunderstorms,' Mr How said. The wild weather is expected to ease by Wednesday afternoon.
