Sad story behind skip bin full of food amid bushfire crisis
A supermarket employee’s photos of a skip bin full of spoiled food highlights the impact on local businesses in bushfire-ravaged communities.
The employee explained in the Facebook post he worked at Batehaven IGA, a small town just minutes away from Batemans Bay, which is still under threat from the Clyde Mountain fire.
Due to the bushfires ablaze on Saturday, more than 40,000 people in the area lost power that afternoon, with fires affecting the infrastructure.
The employee said on Facebook, one of the most “unfortunate” jobs he has had to do while working at IGA is to clear out the stock from the store, which was spoiled due to the power outages.
The employee estimates the stock he had to get rid of would have been worth “no less that $50,000” and there was enough to fill two skip bins. He added that the loss was not the only setback local owners have had to overcome.
The IGA is owned by three families, according to the employee.
“Most of you would know Jim and Dave who have been around for a long time and there’s Nathan & Kylie who have been there for a few years now,” he wrote.
“These guys wouldn’t tell the world what they have lost or how it’s impacted them personally but that’s what makes them humble.”
According to the post, Jim and Dave lost their homes in the fire, taking the possessions they could carry and losing everything else.
Nathan and Kylie’s home was spared, but the fires destroyed everything around their home, the only place they could seek shelter was the IGA store.
During a time of crisis, as the fire approached and eventually hit neighbouring towns, the store remained open.
“As the fires ravaged the coast, we lost power, communication with outside world and we had barely any supplies coming, the main priorities on a daily basis was to open the store and make sure everyone could get water and food,” the post reads.
“And not once have they [the store owners] complained about what they lost.”
‘Hundreds of stories like this’
The employee wrote the Facebook post was not for pity, or attention, noting there are “a hundred stories just like this”, where locals are doing their bit to help the community in a time of need.
Rather the post is to remind people the small towns which were devastated by the fires, and are still under threat, need support from tourists.
Batemans Bay is a popular tourist destination. The bushfires have impacted travel plans for tourists across Australia, with road blocks, evacuations and authorities advising caution.
The employee says the Batehaven community suffers when tourism in the area is lacking, especially during the warmer months.
“We are in the process of rebuilding but we need help from our community and from the tourists that love our beautiful coast,” the post says, before parting on a message which is relevant to all communities affected by the fires.
“Buy local, support small business, keep the community thriving.”
Farmer calls for increase in milk price
It’s not just retailers who were hit hard by the bushfires, Australia’s dairy industry is needing help and calling for an increase in milk prices.
About 160 hectares of Robert Miller’s pasture was destroyed in bushfires and he’s unable to feed his cattle because it’s too dangerous for trucks to bring hay in.
“I was saying $1.50 a litre but maybe it needs to go to $1.75,” Mr Miller told the ABC.
Woolworths told Yahoo News Australia the fires have not impacted their milk supply, but the head of NSW farmers’ body Dairy Connect, Shaughn Morgan, told The Guardian last week milk supply “could be impacted” by bushfires.
There have been appeals from farmers across Australia to increase milk prices, long before bushfires made their circumstances worse.
Customers still without power in NSW
The Batemans Bay and Batehaven area is still experiencing power outages.
The Essential Energy map shows there are still numerous unplanned interruptions along the NSW South Coast, many of the incidents report crews are investigating.
"The electricity network has sustained extensive damage with some areas being completely destroyed and needing rebuilding," Essential Energy said in a statement.
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"In many cases customers will be without power into late this week, some possibly longer."
The utility company is working with the NSW Rural Fire Service to access and inspect parts of the network.
In addition to the 35,600 Essential Energy users who did not have power in southeastern NSW on Sunday, some 6500 Endeavour Energy customers were also without power mainly in the southern Shoalhaven region.
with AAP
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