NSW floods: Premier Dominic Perrottet tours hard-hit Lismore
Exhausted northern NSW residents hit hard by floods have expressed their anger at “squalid” conditions as Premier Dominic Perrottet visited Lismore on Saturday.
NSW
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Premier Dominic Perrottet has denied his government is on the backfoot in response to NSW’s flooding disaster amid anger among locals who are living in squalid conditions and who say they feel forgotten.
Mr Perrottet visited hard-hit Lismore on Saturday and walked down the main drag of Molesworth St where he met traders whose businesses have been completely gutted by floodwaters.
His visit comes amid an outpouring of anger among exhausted residents across northern NSW – including in Lismore but also in smaller outlying towns – who have said they have been cut off from phone reception, power and petrol.
Many also have said they feel forgotten by authorities and have been finding it difficult to access help.
When asked if his government was on the backfoot in response to the disaster, Mr Perrottet said: “No”.
“I think this was an unpredictable, unprecedented, catastrophic event – I completely appreciate the anger because no one should feel like they don’t have support, I don’t want anyone in our state at any point feeling unsupported,” he told The Sunday Telegraph.
“When something like this happens there will always be failings – my job is to make sure that once we’re back on our feet … at the appropriate time, to look at what could have been done better and ensure situations like that never occur again.”
Mr Perrottet also said after being on the ground himself he could sense some residents were frustrated.
Another issue locals have repeatedly brought up is frustration over not seeing enough people in uniform, leaving others such as teachers and other ordinary people to step in to help co-ordinate the response to the floods.
Mr Perrottet conceded there needed to be more boots on the ground and said an extra 900 ADF personnel would be deployed to northern NSW on Saturday.
He also pointed to the Wollongabar TAFE site opening up as a base for emergency services and Lismore’s Southern Cross University being converted into an evacuation centre as signs that more help was coming.
“The fact the TAFE has opened up, the university has opened up – it’s been incredibly pleasing to see and people just went out of the way to make it work, that’s amazing,” Me Perrottet said.
“But we need more boots on the ground, we’re getting that (on Saturday), 900 ADF personnel … there will also be RFS coming through.”
Small reprieve before rain starts again
Jessica McSweeney
SES volunteers are taking advantage of a reprieve from the downpour to get urgent supplies to stranded residents along the Hawkesbury River.
Many homeowners have chosen not to evacuate and instead are relying on emergency services.
“At this stage there are a number of properties isolated by water and people have chosen to stay in their properties … we are supporting them and resupply those properties,” SES volunteer Andrew Turner said.
“Today everything is running pretty smoothly right now we have 16 boats out and about 65 operators here.”
The eased conditions are a welcome relief for SES volunteers who are starting to feel the exhaustion from the massive operation.
“We are reminding all our members to make sure they are safe and managing their fatigue.”
This morning boats have gone out to homes around Wisemans Ferry stocked with fuel, hay for livestock and medication for some residents.
Rain is set to return tomorrow however, with thunderstorms forecast for the state’s severely flood-affected north and wet weather expected to continue along the central and south coast until Tuesday.
A major flood warning remains in place for the Hawkesbury River, and the SES is warning renewed river rises are possible on Sunday.
Floodwaters claim fifth life in northern NSW
Emily Burley
The death toll from the northern NSW floods has risen to five after a man’s body was located south of Murwillumbah.
The body of the man, believed to be aged in his 40s, was found at Byrril Creek Rd, near Terragon, about 2pm on Friday.
He has yet to be formally identified and police will prepare a report for the coroner.
Tributes have flowed for other victims of the flood disaster that gripped the east coast this week.
Country singer Marge Graham and fellow Lismore resident Lorraine Hyman, both aged in their 80s, were located in their homes on Tuesday.
Ms Graham was a well-known member of the community. She founded The Cedar Guitar Country Music Festival and would regularly perform at nursing homes.
“Most people know her as a country music star and she’s a Lismore icon, but for us we knew her as family,” friend Susan Mills told The Daily Telegraph.
Ms Hyman was described by family as “such a quiet and private person”.
Lismore man Stuart Bock, 56, was found dead in floodwaters on Wednesday after he disappeared while helping fill sandbags.
His family had been trying to find him using Facebook but later confirmed the tragic news.
“To everyone who has helped in the search of our dad and has been reaching out, unfortunately we have identified his body,” Mr Bock’s daughter Crystal wrote on Facebook.
“He was swept away in the flood waters in Lismore on Sunday afternoon around 4.30pm.
“Thank you all so much for the kind words, well wishes and offers of hope in this unbearably agonising time … Thank you again for all that you have done in assisting us.”
A fourth man aged in his 70s, whose body was discovered in a flooded South Lismore unit on Wednesday, has yet to be identified.
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