All roads to Broke completely cut off as flood disaster hits Hunter, Mid North Coast
Severe rain is moving north, with a historic town in the state’s Hunter region now completely cut off due to floodwaters.
NSW
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A historic town in the state’s Hunter region is now completely cut off due to floodwaters.
Just before 5pm NSW SES Hunter Region issued urgent advice to Broke and Bulga residents to evacuate immediately and seek shelter on higher ground as the Wollombi Brook was inundated.
Residents were warned that once flood water began to inundate the area, road access, water, sewerage, power, phones and internet could be lost.
Residents unable to stay with friends or family were first directed to the Alroy Complex Singleton Heights Diggers at 8 Dorsman Dr Singleton Heights.
However, the Broke RFS has now advised all roads to Broke are completely cut off and residents in danger must now evacuate to the Broke and Bulga community halls.
The NSW SES Singleton branch posted on Facebook they had been informed by the Bureau of Meteorology that the Hunter and Wollombi catchments are now experiencing an unprecedented flood event, with emergency texts issued to affected residents.
It comes the Premier has warned, as more Sydney residents are evacuated and a second blast of torrential weather looms over the lower Hunter and Mid North Coast.
More than 100 evacuation orders have been issued, alongside another 55 evacuation warnings, with over 55,000 NSW residents impacted.
The lower Hawkesbury remains at greatest risk in the Sydney area, with major flooding occurring at Sackville, Wisemans Ferry and along the Putty Road similar to or above the March 2022 flood levels.
At Wisemans Ferry further rises are possible, with those in the vicinity of Mcdonald River and Webbs Creek told to move to higher ground now.
River levels at locations upstream of Penrith have begun falling, the Bureau of Meteorology says.
NSW RFS crews from across the Central Coast are currently assisting the @NSWSES with door knocking and evacuations around the Tuggerah Lake area. NSW RFS fire boats have also been deployed across several areas assisting with the evacuation efforts. pic.twitter.com/vvMHiRN423
— NSW RFS (@NSWRFS) July 5, 2022
Firefighters and SES workers showed a good dose of Aussie ingenuity when they used inflatable rafts to rescue six horses and two people who were trapped by floodwaters at a rural property in Sackville North.
Dramatic drone footage of the rescue showed some of the workers in a raft leading one horse by the nose to higher ground.
Several of the other animals then followed suit and waded through the water behind them to safety.
The dangerous weather system dropping a deluge on the state is moving north, resulting in evacuation orders for Hunter and Central Coast communities including Bulga, Broke, Wollombi, parts of Tuggerah Lakes, Budgewoi and Long Jetty.
A severe weather warning is in place for the Mid North Coast and parts of the Northern Tablelands, where the threat of localised heavy rainfall persists while easing throughout the Hunter.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has addressed the crisis, confirming at least 242 have been registered at the nine evacuation centres in operation across the state, 20,000 homes are without power and a further 1000 with no means of communication.
“This is the fourth flooding event we have seen in some of these areas like the Hawkesbury in the last 18 months. My heart goes out to people who have suffered again and again and again and again.
“Stay safe, keep vigilant, keep following the advice which is being given by emergency personnel.”
Asked whether it’s finally time to raise the endlessly debated Warragamba Dam wall, the Prime Minister said the issue is “controversial” and different views had to be considered.
“We need to get through the immediate crisis … and then we need to examine any policy response that is required.”
Dozens of cars have been destroyed, roads left caked in mud and homes devastated by floods waters in south west Sydney.
Communities along the Georges River at Lansvale and Chipping Norton either remained cut off or had started the painful process of clearing sludge and debris strewn through their home after floods peaked early Tuesday morning.
Thick mud, mixed with fuel from the dozens of ruined cars littered around the suburb, meant Lansvale residents were being left to pick up the pieces after being hit by floods on Monday as well.
Just three months after moving with his young family into their river-side home, Yousef Dirgham is left surveying the damage – including two ruined vehicles and thousands of dollars of damage to his tools.
“It’s always bad when you’re sleeping upstairs and you can hear water trickling down stairs,” he said.
“Last night I saw how quick it was coming up. In your head you’re like, ‘what the f-k are we in for?’”
He woke in the early hours to 40cm of brown water running through the bottom floor of his house.
He wasn’t yet finished renovating the home.
“Lot of blood sweat and tears (have already) gone into this house. I haven’t even finished it to enjoy it and then you get this shit.”
He estimated the bill for his ruined power tools, which he was unable to move in time, would be $10,000 alone, while he hoped his insurance would cover the two vehicles – including a six-inch lifted Hilux – destroyed despite sitting up on his driveway.
He said he was “100 per cent” in favour of raising the Warragamba Dam wall, saying the funds for the project paled in comparison to hundreds of homes around the Hawkesbury-Nepean system being inundated again.
“Look at all the money people are paying to fix their homes (now),” he said.
“If you know you can fix the issue, why don’t you fix it?”
Neighbours had spent hours clearing mud and debris yesterday – only for Tuesday’s peak to wipe away their progress.
Bassam El Dhaybi said his neighbours were caught out by rapidly rising flood waters starting yesterday afternoon.
“Everyone here yesterday and Saturday (was taken by surprise). But the water come in so quick,” he said.
He was among those who had cleaned for hours yesterday, to no avail.
“Every time you clean everything, a flood (happens) again,” he said.
Elsewhere, about 11.30am today, the threat of rising floodwaters prompted staff from Windsor Police Station, on Mileham St, to evacuate and move to Riverstone Police Station.
In the last 24 hours, 150 people have been rescued as the rising Hawkesbury River continues to swallow homes and businesses.
It was third time unlucky for Riverstone residents Bruce and Betty McCaull, who managed to avoid damages from the floods from earlier this year.
“The other two times it only came up to the floorboards, this is the first time it’s gone under,” Mr McCaull said.
It was a scary scene for the Riverstone Pde homeowner, who struggled to sleep as the waters slowly crept into his house.
“We didn’t sleep last night, we were packing up all night.”
SES ordered the couple to evacuate their home as the onslaught of rain showed no mercy on the region.
“It came up quickly. At about 10.30pm (on Monday) we were told to evacuate and at 12 o’clock we got another text,” he said.
“We brought the cars out but my wife is mobility impaired so she wanted to stay.
“But it kept on driving up and it’s (now) about three inches through the floors.”
Shortly after, Betty McCaull was rescued and escorted out of the home by SES services and is now safely staying at a friend’s place.
Now, Bruce’s mind is set on the next step.
“I’m just contemplating on how we’re going to clean it all up,” he said.
Professional rugby league player Tyler Cassel watched helplessly as the waters slowly devoured his Vineyard home on Old Hawkesbury Rd.
“I can’t get downstairs. It's completely flooded,” he said.
“Last night it was about a metre from coming into the top story. It was pretty scary.”
Less than two weeks after representing Malta in an International rugby league fixture, Cassel helped others as he canoed family and neighbours back to their homes through the submerged street.
“I was fine. I go out, make sure my house is okay and try to help everyone else,” he said.
A few doors down, married couple Melissa and Wade said this flood was “definitely the worst one we’ve been through” and would mean further renovations.
“We moved in February 2021, then that March flood hit,” Melissa said.
“We had to redo our kitchen and rip up the carpet, now we’re going to have to do it again. (However) we got all the animals out.”
Mr Perrottet warned against complacency as flood rescues were conducted in regions under evacuation orders.
“If those evacuation orders are in place, please leave,” Mr Perrottet said.
“This event is far from over. Please don’t be complacent, wherever you are.”
It comes as a complex trough system – made from a low and a high pressure system – is sitting over the Central Coast and is threatening communities with more rain and strong winds, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.
Sydney, Wollongong, Bulli, Port Kembla and Kiama are at high-risk while a separate hazardous surf warning is in place on the Central Coast.
Waves off Sydney’s coast are recording an average of 4.5m waves, following a 5.4m peak on Monday night.
The BOM delivered a fresh warning against outdoor coastal activities, such as rock fishing, as Norah Head recorded a 95km/h gust, and Sydney Airport saw 78km/h, in the early hours of Tuesday morning.
BoM’s Jane Golding said the focus of the rainfall on Monday was the Illawarra, Sydney and the southern Hunter region, the Central Coast, Lake Macquarie, Cessnock and Newcastle were now in the eye of the storm.
“We are seeing signs that there will be a load developed off the coast … which means we are now forecasting for some heavy rain to occur in the mid north coast tomorrow. Probably up to Coffs Harbour is the area at risk,” she said.
“We also saw quite a windy night for Sydney and the Hunter district.”
As for Monday’s deluge, she said “quite a few locations” saw an additional 150-200mm and that some had copped 500-800mm over the last four days.
Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said there was still major flooding across several rivers including the Georges River and the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley, but said the Hunter was now a key area of concern.
“The weather system is now moving into the lower Hunter area. Throughout the course of today we are expecting to see significant rainfall in that area and then by tonight and into tomorrow, it will move up to the mid north coast,” she said.
“So we’re really asking communities today to bear with us, keep working with us. It has been a difficult four days, there’s no gilding that lily.”
Ms Cooke said some people had returned to their homes despite the evacuation orders not being lifted.
“We saw those rivers rise very quickly yesterday, and it’s caught some people unawares, and they’ve had to be rescued as a result,” she said.
“Our volunteers have been working around the clock now for days and days, and we need to continue working with them to make sure that we keep ourselves safe and also that they are also kept safe at this time.”
Today's rain forecast for #NSW. A number of minor to major flood warnings remain, please stay vigilant and don't enter flood waters. Rain expected to ease tomorrow for central parts of the coast. #SevereWeatherWarning still current.
— Bureau of Meteorology, New South Wales (@BOM_NSW) July 4, 2022
Warnings & Forecasts: https://t.co/SPHgGeisGZ pic.twitter.com/1Ixk4SMSLR
SES Commissioner Carlene York said she had to place volunteers at risk to save people who refused to leave areas under evacuation orders including Sutherland shire suburb Woronora.
“The evacuations orders had been issued many hours before,” she said.
“It is frustrating. We try and get those warnings out so people can get ready but an evacuation order is very serious.”
She also revealed there was a hoax on Monday night where there was a false report of someone being stuck on a roof.
“We had a hoax last night of a person on a roof who was in need of rescue. And it turned out to be a hoax…. We target our resources and try and get out there beside that person and that means we take them away from other areas,” she said.
Commissioner York said she was working with her counterparts in other states for flood support.
It comes as the Hawkesbury River has reached its highest level in more than 40 years, nearing record flood levels as NSW battles through a third day of torrential rain.
Residents in Windsor were told to evacuate as the river peaked 13.93m, which is the highest flood level since 1978 at 14.46m, outstripping the flood levels seen earlier this year.
The fifth - and worst - flood to hit the south west Sydney suburb of Chipping Norton this year has left entire neighbourhoods cut off after the Georges River burst its banks.
Residents were ordered to evacuate overnight but many stayed in place, with the majority of homes lining the river two-storey residences.
Newbridge Road was submerged under more than a metre of water in the latest floods, leaving residential streets isolated and the lower levels of homes devastated again.
Chipping Norton resident Angelo was one of those who resorted to punting across the flooded Newbridge Rd in a tinny, weaving between destroyed cars semi-submerged in flood waters.
He told The Telegraph this flood was the worst one to hit this year, with the lower floor of his home “pretty f-ked”.
In the Hawkesbury, footage from Brooklyn Ferry Services show fast-moving waters and strong currents of 4.3 knots between Dangar Island and Brooklyn.
At Little Wobby, currents measured between 4.8 and 5.3 knots, which has impacted services and likely to see further cancellations.
Castle Hill Showground has been opened as an emergency safe haven for livestock and domestic pets while residents in flood-stricken areas evacuate.
It comes as a state of natural disaster was declared for dozens of NSW LGAs as torrential rain and major flooding smashes Greater Sydney and regional NSW.
At about 11pm on Tuesday Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt declared a natural disaster in 23 NSW LGAs, with residents across Metropolitan Sydney, Hawkesbury, Central Coast and Illawarra eligible for disaster payments as widespread flooding continues to impact the state.
The LGAs include Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Canterbury Bankstown, Campbelltown, Central Coast, Cessnock, Fairfield, Georges River, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Kiama, Lithgow, Liverpool, Northern Beaches, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, The Hills, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong.
“We have seen some of these impacted communities being hit by floods for a third and fourth time in 18 months, which is extremely distressing to the residents of these communities,” Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Watt said.
“The Australian and New South Wales governments have worked very cooperatively through this latest flood emergency, to ensure defence and other resources were deployed early and fast.
“Similarly, we’re now working hard together to make sure that impacted communities get the financial and other assistance they need as soon as possible.”
It is the second natural disaster that the Australian Government has declared this year, following the devastating floods in February.
Assistance is being provided by through the jointly funded Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
NSW Minister for Emergency Services and Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the immediate support is crucial for people impacted in those areas and vowed to “work with communities to assess longer term recovery needs.”
On the condition of meeting certain criteria, the disaster payment may be available to people whose homes and belongings have been damaged by the recent floods, as well as businesses and affected local councils to help with recovery efforts.
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