NT pastoralists blast those illegally lighting fires in Barkly region
PublishedOctober 15, 2023
A major highway in the Northern Territory has been closed because of a monster fire in the Barkly region that has been burning for weeks and scorched more than two million hectares.
The fire started in early September on Epenarra Station and quickly linked with another fire near the Barkly Homestead before spreading into vacant Crown land and threatening the town of Tennant Creek.
Strong south-westerly winds are now pushing the blaze towards the Queensland border and the Barkly Highway has been closed between the Barkly Homestead and Avon Downs Police Station.
Pastoralist Amber Driver, who runs Elkedra and Annitowa stations 270 kilometres south-east of Tennant Creek, said the fire had spread onto both her properties via two fronts.
A major highway in the Northern Territory has been closed because of a monster fire in the Barkly region that has been burning for weeks and scorched more than two million hectares.