Kangaroo Island Fires 2020 Frequently Asked Questions

Kangaroo Island Fires 2020
                     Frequently Asked Questions
1 . IS IT S A FE T O GO BACK T O KAN GAROO ISLAN D ?

Like with any bushfire and bushfire season, it’s important that you keep up to date with the emergency
warnings and alerts so you’re aware of any changing conditions. The risk of fire has reduced across the fire
ground. While there has been a small amount of rain across the island, it is not enough to extinguish the fire.
There will continue to be hot spots and smouldering material for many days and weeks to come, however
there is no threat to people or properties.

50% of Kangaroo island has not been affected by the Kangaroo Island bushfire.

Due to the ongoing improvement in fire conditions, more roads around the Island have been opened to
the general public. While this is great news, we encourage you to be cautious and take care as you travel
around. Some of these newly opened roads have been fire affected and may have damaged signage and
heavy traffic due to emergency services still present.

2 . WHA T IS T HE AIR QUALIT Y LIKE ON KAN GAROO ISLAN D ?

The air quality on Kangaroo Island is almost as pure as you can get. The smoke from the bushfires have
dissipated and there is no smoke that is affecting the air quality on Kangaroo Island. Instead, there are
bright blue skies, pristine oceans and the air is clean. Find out more information about Kangaroo Island's
air quality.

3 . WHA T WILL I SE E WHE N I GE T T O KANGAROO ISLAN D ?

The stunning Kangaroo Island you’d expect to see! The east end of Kangaroo Island has not been affected
and remains pristine and pure. In these areas you wouldn’t know that the Kangaroo Island bushfires have
impacted so much of the western areas of the island. You can still expect spectacular coastal views over
rolling plains, abundant wildlife, pristine beaches, wineries and local produce that Kangaroo Island is
known and loved for. You will need to travel for approximately 1 hour on arrival from the Ferry to see the
start of any scarred landscape.

4 . WHA T IS CLOSE D ON KAN GAROO ISLAN D ?

As a result of the bushfires, there are some attractions and accommodation offerings that have sadly
been impacted and are closed until further notice. These include:

 1. Flinders Chase National Park including: Admirals Arch, Remarkable Rocks, Flinders Chase National Park Visitor
     Information Centre and The Chase Café, and the Kangaroo Island Wilderness Trail
 2. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary
 3. Kelly Hill Conservation Park
 4. Cape Borda Lighthouse
 5. Southern Ocean Lodge
 6. Hanson Bay Wildlife Sanctuary Cabins
 7. Kangaroo Island Wilderness Retreat
 8. Western Kangaroo Island Caravan Park
 9. Vivonne Bay Lodge
 10. The Woolshed
 11. Flinders Chase Farm stay

Some areas are not accessible due to road closures. Please respect these road closures so emergency
personnel and locals are not interrupted in their relief efforts. You can monitor these road closures on
Kangaroo Island as they may change in the coming days and weeks.

5 . WHE N WILL I BE ABLE T O GO T O T HE WE ST E RN EN D OF KAN GAROO ISLAN D AGA IN ?

It’s unclear when tourists will be allowed into the western end of Kangaroo Island. As locals, CFS and
Army personnel work to assess the damage and start to rebuild, it’s estimated that the region will remain
closed for many months. We will update our information as soon as we know, but you can also reference
the National Parks SA website.

6 . HOW M UCH WILDLIFE IS LE FT ON KANGAROO ISLAN D AFTER T HE BUSHFIRE ?

Kangaroo Island is a big island, so big in fact that it’s six times larger than Singapore. Whilst the sad reality
is that a lot of wildlife have perished in the Kangaroo Island bushfires, there are wildlife and habitats
across the whole island, including the eastern areas which are open. Kangaroo Island is a mecca for
wildlife and you’ll most definitely be able to see a lot in the wild, at the KI Wildlife Park and on tour with a
guide. We recommend that you book a tour with one of the tour operators who will be able to show you
parts of the island that are not accessible to the public where you’ll get access to habitats for native
wildlife which is so exciting to see. We don’t recommend driving between dusk and dawn as goannas,
echidnas, kangaroos and wallabies are often crossing the road.

7 . WILL I BE GE TT ING IN T HE WAY OF THE RE COV E RY E FFORT ?

You are an important and welcome part of the recovery effort on Kangaroo Island. Locals are welcoming
visitors with open arms as it’s vital to these communities in the recovery and rebuild phase. Some
operators and accommodation providers are open for business but are in the no-travel zone so travel into
these areas may be required if you have booked with these tourism businesses. Please respect the
privacy and relief efforts that are in full swing in the western area of Kangaroo Island and do not travel
into the no-travel zone unless necessary. View our maps below for this information in detail.

9 . HOW M A NY P LACE S ARE ST ILL OP E N ON KAN GAROO ISLAN D ?

A lot! There are more businesses that are open than closed on Kangaroo Island. The variety of things to
see and do is vast. From wineries, distillers, honey farms, fishing charters, wildlife tours, to lavender
farms, pristine beaches, lighthouses, Seal Bay and incredible accommodation, there’s still so much to see
and do over a three or four day itinerary on Kangaroo Island. Check our interactive Map of things to see
and do that are open on the Island to help you plan and book your stay.

A full list of Kangaroo Island Tourism Food Wine and Beverages Association Members can be found back
on our website page. Please note this document changes daily so we strongly encourage you to check
for updates and changes.

We also recommend you check South Australia.com’s travel blog from more information and suggestions
on great things to see and do on Kangaroo Island.

For Accommodation, please check www.tourkangarooisland.com.au.

A new digital version of the Visitor Guide is now available on our website with revised information about
businesses and their operating status.
This can be found here - https://www.tourkangarooisland.com.au/visitor-guide .

1 0 . HOW M UCH OF T HE ISLAN D HAS BE EN AFFE CT ED BY T HE FIRE ?

48% of the Island, approximately 211,000 hectares has been affected including Flinders Chase National
Park and much of the western end of the island.

1 1 . A RE T HE RE ROAD CLOSURE S?

Yes, and these are regularly changing. We encourage all people to check Traffic SA for the most up to
date information. As this information changes quickly – please adhere to all road closure infrastructure in
place. These road closures override any information regarding access to an area.

1 2 . I WA N T T O HE LP ON KAN GAROO ISLAND , WHE RE SHOULD I GO?

To help/volunteer your efforts on Kangaroo Island please register with one of the two organisations listed
below
       KI Community Centre ki2020volunteer@gmail.com Ph 08 8553 2877

       Blazeaid
       Co-ordinators: 0427 616 323 Greg and 0429 349 980 Ann
       Email: blazeaid.kangarooisland@gmail.com

1 3 . WHA T IS T HE SITUAT ION WIT H WAT ER?

17th January: Normal production has now resumed at the Middle River Treatment Plant and is once again
supplying clean, safe drinking water for customers withing the Parndana to Kingscote regions. As this
water moves through the system, you may wish to continue to drink spring water until the discoloured
water exists the system.

1 4 . WHE RE IS T HE BE ST P LACE T O D ON AT E M ON E Y OR GOODS ?

      MONEY
      The Kangaroo Island Mayoral Relief and Recovery Fund is the official fundraising account for the
      Kangaroo Island community.

      KI WILDLIFE PARK
      GoFundMe Page

      HANSON BAY WILDLIFE SANCTUARY
      GoFundMe Page

      KANGAROO ISLAND LIGURIAN BEE SANCTUARY
      GoFundMe Page

      RAPTOR DOMAIN EVACUATION AVARIES
      GoFundMe Page

      KI WILDLIFE NETWORK
      BSB: 015 600
      ACC: 338 361 276
      SWIFT: ANZBAU3M
      REFERENCE MUST STATE: ‘Fire Relief’
      Kangaroo Island Wildlife Network

      ISLAND CARE
      BSB: 105 094
      ACC: 026 137 740
      SWIFT: SGBLAU2S
      REFERENCE MUST STATE: 'Bushfire'

      WESTERN DISTRICTS SPORTS CLUB
      GoFundMe page

      KANGAROO ISLAND GLOSSY BLACK-COCKATOO
      GoFundMe Page

      ISLAND CARE
      GoFundMe Page

      GOODS
      General goods, clothing, medical supplies and other donations
      For non-perishable food donations drop your donation to any FoodBank SA location

1 5 .I WA N T T O SUPPORT P ROD UCE RS ON T HE ISLAND , HOW CAN I P URCHASE T HE IR
P ROD UCT S ON LIN E ?

Direct Links have been supplied in the table below. If you would like a more comprehensive selection of
Kangaroo Island product please visit the Kangaroo Island Central Market Stall, or online at
www.kionline.com.au

       Wine

       Amadio Wines Kangaroo Island        www.amadiowines.com
       Bay of Shoals Wines                 www.bayofshoalswines.com.au
       Dudley Wines                        www.dudleywines.com.au
       False Cape Wines                    www.falsecape.com.au
       Hazyblur Wines                      www.kionline.com.au/products/hazyblur
       Kangaroo Island Estate Wines        www.kangarooislandestate.com.au
       The Islander Estate Vineyards       www.iev.com.au
       Springs Road Kangaroo Island        www.springsroad.com.au

       Spirits

       Kangaroo Island Spirits             www.kis.com.au

       Food Produce

       Cliffords Honey Farm                www.cliffordshoney.com.au
       Island Beehive                      https://www.organicbuyersgroup.com.au/ibh
       Kangaroo Island Living Honey        www.kionline.com.au/collections/ligurian-bee-honey
       Kangaroo Island Olives              www.kionline.com.au/collections/produce
       Emu Ridge Eucalyptus Distillery     www.emuridge.com.au
       Flavours of Petite Provence         www.flavoursofpetiteprovence.com
       The Figgery                         www.kionline.com.au/products/thefiggery
       Latitude 36                         www.kionline.com.au/products/latitude36
       Kangaroo Island Source              www.kangarooislandsource.com.au

       Other Products

       Solar Suit                          https://www.solarsuit.com.au/
       Fine Art Kangaroo Island            https://fineartkangarooisland.com.au/
       Shep’s Studio                       https://shepstudio.com.au/store
       KI & Co Australia                   https://www.kiandco.com.au/

Further information will be provided in regular updates during the day. Please check back for more
information