Coffs Harbour floods: Bellingen, Urunga hit by heavy rain, wind

Roads are crumbling and trees are down as the flood situation unfolds across the Coffs region. More than 300mm of rain has fallen in some parts while evacuations are underway.

Authorities have described Coffs Harbour as an incredibly wet and dangerous as they head into yet another day on flooding, evacuations, road damage and likely power outages.

As predicted the saturated catchments coupled with high winds have also led to trees down on roads across the region.

The low weather system responsible will continue to impact throughout Wednesday with heavy rainfall, flash and riverine flooding all expected.

The Bureau of Meteorology said Coffs Harbour and Dorrigo will be focus points for Wednesday, as rain continues to hammer the Mid-North Coast.

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said rain will continue to move down the mid north coast over the coming days.

“Rivers are rising very quickly, some areas will see flooding for next 48 hours,” she said.

She warned of a similar pattern over April.

“We are still expecting wet periods over the coming months, we may be in this situation in a weeks time,” she said.

Major flooding is occurring along the Bellinger River at Thora and Bellingen with minor flooding at Repton and Urunga.

Multiple evacuation warnings and orders have been issued by the State Emergency Service including parts of Yellow Rock, North Macksville, North Bellingen, East Bellingen, Urunga, Newry Island, Lower Macleay, Mylestom, Sawtell and the Bellinger River Tourist Park.

SES Acting Unit Commander Coffs Harbour Ian Horncastle reported 84 call-outs for storm related jobs since this morning.

The incidents are largely to revisit damage from previous events such as tarping but also extends to water inundation.

There has been a total of 149 call-outs from Corindi in the north to Urunga and Bellingen in the south since the flooding began.

Some of the highest rain totals in the last 24 hours were at Bellingen – 305mm; Coffs Harbour – 227mm; and Kempsey – 110mm.

Dean Narramore from the Bureau of Meteorology warned that even if rain halts, the rivers are full and will still be prone to flooding.

“If you live on rivers, even if the rain stops, the water will make its way into those rivers, with continued river level rises on or near rivers,” he said.

Rural Fire Service crew collecting sandbags near Coffs Skatepark on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Chris Knight

Trees are down including a huge tree across the road near St Augustine’s school in Coffs Harbour and the Waterfall Way, leading up to Dorrigo, is closed again after extensive work to reopen one lane after the deluge in late February.

Tree down at Coffs Harbour March 30.

Bellingen has been hit hard and while locals are accustomed to flooding, the river at Lavenders Bridge dividing north and south Bellingen, went under late on Tuesday afternoon catching some off guard.

Flooding in north Bellingen reached the top of the hill leading over to the showgrounds on Wednesday morning, March 30.

Andrew Woodward who has lived there for many years says it is the worst he has seen it and captured images of the showground under water and sections of Hammond Street also impacted.

Moderate flooding is occurring along the Nambucca River at Bowraville and minor flooding at Macksville.

Boaters are urged to stay off waterways on the Mid-North Coast until the dangerous conditions subside.

Destructive winds and intense rain have resulted in several vessels breaking their moorings in areas in the Clarence River and Coffs Harbour.

NSW Maritime Executive Director Mark Hutchings said boaters avoid waterways in these hazardous conditions.

“Submerged debris, strong currents, wild weather, strong winds and big seas are causing treacherous conditions along the coast,” Mr Hutchings said.

Paul Boutris took this photo of serious damage to Newee Creek Rd on the afternoon of March 29 about 100 meters after Richards Rd. Half the road has fallen down the valley.

The deluge reached south to the Nambucca Valley on Tuesday, where the renowned Island Golf Course was on tenterhooks after being almost completely inundated by floodwater 12 months ago.

Farmers along the Orara River at Coramba were desperately moving cattle to safety on Tuesday afternoon as they braced for a second flood in a matter of weeks but “the ground is so wet, cattle are sinking” said one farmer Eliezer Robinson.

A Minor to Moderate Flood Warning remains in place on Wednesday morning for the Macleay River at George‘s Creek, Bellbrook, Kempsey and Smithtown.