Australia is experiencing unprecedented fires across a number of its states.
Ausfilm and its members are devastated by the tragic impact these fires have had on our communities, towns, wildlife and our fire services. We thank all the volunteers fighting the fires and the federal and state governments for their support to help revive towns affected. Our gratitude also to the local charities and public figures from both Australia and the world who have raised money for the wildlife services and all the communities affected by the bushfires.
The affected bushfire areas, which at their peak scorched over 18.6 million hectares (46 million acres; 186,000 square kilometres; 72,000 square miles) included the loss of homes, farms, produce, business, recreational areas and incurred a vast toll on the animal population.
Significantly, most of this area was regional and covering large areas of bushland and forest which have adversely impacted Australia wildlife and their natural habitat. The fires did not impact Australian capital cities and their infrastructure, which include the screen productions sector’s nationally located studios, post-production VFX and animation houses.
There are still fire affected areas, however Australia is an enormous landmass and there are many areas that remain safe, welcome to visitors and available as filming destinations.
None of Australia’s five studio complexes were impacted nor were our capital cities. Indeed, the areas used for backlots close to the major studios are also not impacted.
All international and domestic airports in Australia are operating as normal. We will update this page weekly.
We welcome our international film community with open arms and Australia will stand together to rebuild what has been lost.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY
SCREEN CANBERRA
monica@screencanberra.com.au
The ACT is currently affected by bushfires to the south of the city of Canberra with conditions deteriorating and likely to worsen over the next few days (dated 29th January). There is heavy smoke haze and visibility is low. Please contact Screen Canberra for updates.
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Cities | |
| Canberra City | Not impacted, however, heavy smoke haze |
| Parliament House and Parliamentary Triangle | Not impacted |
| Canberra southern suburbs | Impacted, dangerous conditions loom |
| Regions | |
| Canberra bushland and farmlands | Not impacted |
| Canberra airport, light rail and other infrastructure | Not impacted |
NEW SOUTH WALES
SCREEN NSW
production@screen.nsw.gov.au
The recent rain in New South Wales has extinguished the fires in the state and reduced the overall fire risk to low.
The fires have occurred largely in wild forest country, like the Blue Mountains and Mount Kosciuszko National Park. The South Coast has also been severely impacted. It is too early to evaluate the overall impact on specific filming locations in NSW – please contact Screen NSW for more information.
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Studios | |
| Fox Studios Australia | Not impacted |
| Cities | |
| Sydney City & Greater Sydney | Not impacted |
| Regions | |
| Blue Mountains | Forests and railway line impacted – contact Screen NSW |
| Far North Coast/Northern Rivers (including Byron Bay) | Not impacted |
| Far West (including Broken Hill) | Not Impacted |
| Southern Inland – Jindabyne/snowy mountains | Forests impacted (ski resorts not affected) – contact Screen NSW. |
| South Coast | Impacted – contact Screen NSW |
NORTHERN TERRITORY
SCREEN TERRITORY
jennie.hughes@nt.gov.au
Updates to be advised. Please contact Screen Territory directly for updated information.
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Cities | |
| Alice Springs | Not impacted |
| Regions | |
| MacDonnell Ranges | Not impacted |
| Ayers Rock/Uluru | Not impacted |
| Bunda Cliffs | Not impacted |
| Litchfield National Park | Not impacted |
| Limmen National Park | Not impacted |
| Simpson Desert | Not impacted |
QUEENSLAND
SCREEN QUEENSLAND
gblack@screenqld.com.au
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Studios | |
| Village Roadshow Studios | Not impacted |
| Screen Queensland Studios | Not impacted |
| Cities | |
| Brisbane city | Not impacted |
| Brisbane metro suburbs | Not impacted |
| Greater Brisbane area | Minimal impact – Moreton Island, North Stradbroke Island |
| Regions | |
| Sunshine Coast | Minimal Impact – Noosa North Shore, Cooroibah, Peregian Beach |
| Gold Coast | Not impacted |
| Gold Coast Hinterland (Scenic Rim) | Impacted – Lower Beechmont, Binna Burra, Sarabah, Lamington National Park |
| South East Queensland | Impacted – Tarome, Moogerah, Rosevale (Scenic Rim) |
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
SOUTH AUSTRALIAN FILM CORPORATION
programs@safilm.com.au
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Studios | |
| Adelaide Studios | Not impacted |
| Cities | |
| Adelaide city | Not impacted |
| Adelaide suburbs | Not impacted |
| Regions | |
| Wine region | Not impacted |
| Wine region – Barossa Valley | Not impacted |
| Wine region – McLaren Vale | Not impacted |
| Wine region – Clare Valley | Not impacted |
| Fleurieu Peninsula (McLaren Vale, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor) | Not impacted |
| Wine region – Adelaide Hills | Partially impacted – speak to SAFC |
| Yorke Peninsula | Not impacted |
| Eyre Peninsula | Minimal Impacted (Port Lincoln – Rain event 31/1/2020) – speak to SAFC |
| Flinders Ranges | Minimal Impacted (North West Lake Torrens – Rain event 31/1/2020) – speak to SAFC |
| Coober Pedy | Not impacted |
| Kangaroo Island | Impacted – speak to SAFC |
| FLOOD /RAINS | |
| Studios | |
| Adelaide Studios | Not Impacted |
| Cities | |
| Adelaide city | Not Impacted |
| Adelaide metro suburbs | Not Impacted |
| Regions | |
| Adelaide Hills | Not Impacted |
| Barossa Valley | Not Impacted |
| Clare Valley | Not Impacted |
| Fleurieu Peninsula (McLaren Vale, Port Elliot, Victor Harbor) | Not Impacted |
| Yorke Peninsula | Not Impacted |
| Eyre Peninsula | Minimal Impacted (Port Lincoln – Rain event 31/1/2020) – speak to SAFC |
| Kangaroo Island | Not Impacted |
| Flinders Ranges | Minimal Impacted (North West Lake Torrens – Rain event 31/1/2020) – speak to SAFC |
| Coober Pedy | Not Impacted |
TASMANIA
SCREEN TASMANIA
info@screen.tas.gov.au
Most of Tasmania has, so far, escaped the worst of the fires of 2020.
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Cities | |
| Hobart | Not Impacted |
| Launceston | Not Impacted |
| Regions | |
| South-West World Heritage Area | Impacted around Strathgordon |
| East Coast – Swansea | Areas inland from Swansea impacted |
| Midlands | Areas around Pelham and Elderslie impacted |
| Central Highlands | Areas around Miena and Tods Corner – impacted, recovering |
| North-East | Areas around Fingal and Rossarden impacted. |
VICTORIA
FILM VICTORIA
kirsten.badcock@film.vic.gov.au
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Studios | |
| Dockland Studios Melbourne | Not impacted |
| Cities | |
| Melbourne City | Not impacted |
| Melbourne Inner & Metro Suburbs | Not impacted |
| Geelong | Not impacted |
| Ballarat | Not impacted |
| Castlemaine | Not impacted |
| Bendigo | Not impacted |
| Daylesford | Not impacted |
| Warburton | Not impacted |
| Clunes | Not impacted |
| Regions | |
| Murray (bushlands & desert) | Not impacted |
| Grampians (mountains) | Not impacted |
| Goldfields (period townships) | Not impacted |
| Great Ocean Road (coastal) | Not impacted |
| Macedon Ranges (forests, plains & low rolling hills) | Not impacted |
| Yarra Valley & Dandenong Ranges (rolling hills & wine country) | Not impacted |
| Mornington Peninsula (rolling hills & wine country) | Not impacted |
| Phillip Island (coastal) | Not impacted |
| High Country (mountains & snowfields*) | Impacted |
| Gippsland (coastline, forests & snowfields*) | Impacted |
*Victoria’s snow season is June-Sept by which time these locations are anticipated to be open for filming.
WESTERN AUSTRALIA
SCREENWEST
gabrielle.cole@screenwest.com.au
| LOCATION | IMPACT |
| Cities | |
| Perth City | Not impacted |
| Perth Suburbs | Not impacted |
| Fremantle | Not impacted |
| Lancelin | Not impacted |
| Broome | Not impacted |
| Margaret River | Not impacted |
| York | Not impacted |
| Kalgoorlie | Not impacted |
| Regions | |
| South West Region | Not impacted |
| Great Southern Region | Partially impacted (Stirling Ranges, Shire of Katanning) – speak to Screenwest |
| Goldfields – Esperance Region | Partially impacted (Shire of Dundas, Northern Goldfields) – speak to Screenwest |
| Mid West Region | Not impacted |
| Peel Region | Not impacted |
| Wheatbelt Region | Not impacted |
| Gascoyne Region | Not impacted |
| Pilbara Region | Not impacted |
| Kimberley Region | Not impacted |
| Yanchep | Impacted |
| Berkshire Valley | Not impacted |
| Rottnest Island | Not impacted |
| Swan Valley | Not impacted |
| Pinnacles | Not Impacted |