Coffs weather: Flood water laps into inner-city tower block

Multi-storey life by the side of Coffs Creek provides great views of the city - but flood water can still find a way - a resident explains.

Coffs Harbour resident Chris Began wades in to check for mail.

As a volunteer firefighter, Coffs Harbour resident June Thompson is more used to battling the hot stuff than the wet.

But she’s a dab hand when it comes to floods through practise.

“Every time there’s a big event the water comes up from Coffs Creek and into the garages,” said Ms Thompson, who lives in an eight-storey apartment building in the heart of Coffs.

The residents are used to the pre-flood drill.

“We move everything that’s in storage and park our cars up the hill,” Ms Thompson said.

This week’s big downpour wasn’t a patch on the dump four weeks back.

“That time we had flood water come into the foyer and the lift well,” Ms Thompson said.

Photos reveal flood impact across Coffs and Clarence

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Nevertheless, the latest rain meant she had to assemble a parade of buckets to catch the drips on an enclosed balcony.

“There’s no flashing on the outside of my windows, so it leaks in,” she said.

“I’m now waiting for the abseilers to come from Sydney to install some flashing.”

Ms Thompson added the building was exceptionally well maintained, and the absence of flashing on her windows was a glitch that would soon be remedied.

But the storm the like which hit Coffs was always going to cause issues for all residents in the district.

“There’s not much that can be done as all of the stormwater flows into the creek, so when there’s heavy rain and a high tide it just comes in,” Ms Thompson said.