Here is the latest, emailed to me from a friend in Healesville (I shall restrict my comments to the wine inductry)
Wine business proprietor Greg Leonard and his wife Gail died in the fires that swept through the Steels Creek area.
Wine distributor Rob Davy, his wife and their two children perished in the Kinglake fire.
Their deaths are part of the horrifying and rising toll of over 210 people killed on Saturday and Sunday 9/10 February.
29 vineyards have been damaged or destroyed, wholly or partially, by fire and this corresponds to an area of 154 ha (385 acres). Three small wineries - Roundstone, Yarra Yarra and Calders - have been destroyed.Tomlinson's lost winery equipment, while Immerse winery lost three accommodation buildings and a barn.
Punt Road winery lost a machinery shed, Domaine Chandon suffered fire damage to two warehouses.
35 other wineries and vineyards have suffered some asset damag.Even though weather conditions are milder, there remains the threat of further fires spreading from fires burning in the forested mountain areas to the north, east and south of the Yarra Valley.
About 25% of the Yarra Valley viticultural area (GI) has been directly impacted by grass or bushfires. The possibility of smoke taint is cause for concern.
Harvest has started and most wineries are operating normally and are open to visitors.
Crops harvested so far are much smaller than expected. Many are 30 to 50% below estimates. In some parts of the valley this is due to the effect of the late January hot spell which caused vine stress and sunburn.
Go well Swooper!
st.helier