http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/07/15/2627089.htm?section=australiaTsunami leaves SE coast unscathedBy New Zealand correspondent Kerri Ritchie and staff
Posted 1 hour 57 minutes ago
Updated 54 minutes ago
A tsunami threat for the south-east Australian coast has passed without incident, following a 7.8 magnitude earthquake of the south-west coast of New Zealand.
The earthquake struck off the south-west coast of New Zealand's South Island shortly before 7:30pm AEST, prompting a tsunami warning for south of the Hunter in New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, Lord Howe Island and Norfolk Island.
Threat zone.. strong currents are expected. The Bureau of Meteorology has now downgraded the tsunami threat for Lord Howe Island, with a warning only current for the marine environment.
"A tsunami warning is now current for the marine environment for Lord Howe Island," a bureau statement said.
"However, there is still the possibility of dangerous waves, strong ocean currents and some localised overflow onto the immediate foreshore.
"Although major evacuations are not required, people are advised to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge."
A tsunami warning for the marine environment is also current for Norfolk Island, New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania.
The Bureau of Meteorology says there is not much danger of a tsunami flooding low-lying areas, but anyone who is out on the water should exercise caution.
"The main concern at the moment is a strong current," a spokeswoman told ABC Local Radio.
"We're not expecting anything in the way of major land inundation.
"We're not expecting it to increase to the extent of being a wave that comes onshore."
The spokeswoman says while people are not being evacuated, those in affected areas are advised to move off the beach.
"I'd recommend getting off the beach, it's not a matter of moving to really high ground," she said.
"The threat is on the water."
The Bureau of Meteorology has advised people to get out of the water and move away from the immediate water's edge of harbours, coastal estuaries, rock platforms, and beaches.
It says the conditions on the water could last for several hours.
"Strong currents can go on for several hours so to be on the safe side it really would be a good idea to moor the boat," the spokeswoman said.
"If there is anyone far away from the coast [out to sea] you might be better to stay there."
A good shake
Meanwhile, the earthquake which struck off New Zealand has given locals on the South Island a good shake.
People ran from restaurants in Queenstown as buildings cracked around them.
The earthquake struck the west-coast of the South Island.
Food fell off supermarket shelves in Queenstown and power and phone lines were cut, while tremors were felt as far away as Dunedin and Invercargill.
The Pacific Tsunami Warning Centre in Hawaii had predicted a magnitude 8.2 quake.
The centre's tsunami warning for New Zealand has now been cancelled.
The clean-up has begun in the South Island but there have been no reports of any serious damage.
