A three-day heatwave bringing temperatures into the 40’s has prompted V/Line to put speed restrictions on trains and emergency services to warn of dangerous conditions.
An extreme heat timetable is in place for the Geelong, Warrnambool, Ballarat, Bendigo, Seymour and Gippsland lines for Saturday, Sunday and Monday, meaning trains that usually travel at up to 160kmh must not exceed 90kmh, and some services will be replaced by airconditioned coaches.
A total fireban is in place for much of the state, including the Wimmera, South West, North Central, Central, West and South Gippsland districts with the CFA warning that fire conditions are high, given there’s been little rain over the last month.
With forecast temperatures of 40 on Saturday, and 39 for Sunday and Monday, some event organisers have made the difficult decision to either postpone or cancel.
Anglesea Primary had already shifted its annual Village Fair from Saturday to Sunday to avoid expected extreme conditions, but a revised forecast has forced organisers to postpone the fundraiser that regularly attracts thousands of people to undecided date later in the year.
The Bellarine Agricultural Show has been cancelled altogether due to concerns over public safety, and the welfare of livestock and animals, with organisers saying the event will return in 2025.
The Golden Plains music festival is still going ahead, as is the Port Fairy Music Festival.
