NSW Floods: Photos from Windsor, Camden reveal wreckage facing disaster victims

Broken Hawkesbury residents are returning to see homes and community institutions all but destroyed by floodwaters. See photos of the wreckage here.

Thousands of western Sydney residents face an agonising week-long wait before they access their flooded homes, while others have vowed to pack up and leave for good following the worst floods to strike the region in 40 years.

Waters began to recede around Windsor and Richmond in the city’s northwest and Camden in the southwest by Wednesday afternoon, but hundreds of residents will be isolated for days.

Michael Cook’s South Windsor home will be inaccessible – except by kayak – for days after the water cut off his street.

By midday Wednesday it was “neck height” at the end of his driveway, with the forklift driver predicting more than $10,000 worth of belongings, not including his cars stuck in the driveway, had been destroyed by the muddy water.

Michael Cook, his partner Ellisha and their kids Ellenna, 6, Lachlan, 9, Colin, 13, and Shannon, 12 are completely surrounded by flood water and can’t leave the house. Picture: Richard Dobson

“We were planning on getting out of here, but it just come up so quick,” he said.

“Within three hours the house was flooded, when it didn’t look like it was going to flood.

“I’m dreading seeing my garages. I opened the door once and saw my shit floating around, all my stuff is gone. Irreplaceable stuff.”

Mr Cook, who plans to shelter with his family on the top floor of his island home until the water recedes, said the flood was the final straw for many who experienced it last year.

“My next door neighbours said they’re selling straight away, they don’t care how much they lose. We’re all over it,” he said.

Ryan Jacka and Craig Arthur spent the night sandbagging and bucketing out water from Ryan’s home nearby.

“I woke up at 3am with no power … There was bubbling water in the corner (of his downstairs room). I just thought, we’re f-ked,” Mr Jacka said.

South Windsor resident Lauren Smith has resorted to paddle boarding down her street. Picture: Richard Dobson

The Hawkesbury River peaked at 13.8 metres in Windsor around midday Wednesday, eclipsing last year’s floods which struck the town, in the worst flood event since 1978.

But it’ll be days before the clean-up for can begin for desperate residents, Hawkesbury Mayor Patrick Conolly said.

“The Bureau of Meteorology are telling us the river to be at least up for the rest of this week and possibly next week,” he said.

“I learnt this last year, people are desperate to see the damage to their homes and start cleaning up.”

In Camden, where hundreds of homes and vehicles were destroyed as flood waters swept past 12 metres on Tuesday, the daunting task of recovering has begun for some.

At Enzo’s Cucina restaurant falling floodwaters revealed the devastating damage to the popular local eatery on the banks of the Nepean.

Enzo's Restaurant in Camden as co-owner Rina Maruzza returns to the premises and sees the flood damage for the first time.

Co-owner Rina Maruzza arrived to see tables and chairs strewn across the neighbouring vineyard and the business’s large glass doors ripped from their brackets.

“This is truly devastating. It looks like a scene from the Wizard of Oz,” she said.

“I’ve cried all night. It’s so hard.

“My son and I and my staff have put so much work in to build this restaurant. I didn’t think it would be this bad.”

Co-owner Rina Maruzza was overwhelmed as she returned to survey the damage. Picture Julian Andrews

The family owned business, which provides jobs for about 30 staff, was meant to celebrate its four year anniversary this Saturday.

Ms Mazurra is confident the community will come together to help her rebuild. Picture: Julian Andrews.

Nearby Camden Bowling Club is facing a costly rebuild after the bottom floor of the club house was submerged under a metre of water.

Club President Alex Matheson said it was the worse flood the club had experienced in over 30 years.

“The damage is extensive. To be honest, it’s a bit depressing,” he said.

Members of the Hobbity RFS ripping up and removing saturated and ruined carpet at The Camden Sports Club in Camden. Picture: Julian Andrews

RFS volunteers from Gledswood Hills washed mud off the bowling greens. Picture: Julian Andrews

Terry Gordon, Chairman of Camden Sports Club chairman Terry Gordon, with bar stock saved from spoiling in the floods. Picture: Julian Andrews

“It was all covered in dirt. Like all small clubs, you work on volunteers and people put their heart and soul into it.

“A lot of our stuff will have to go. The hardest part is going to be furniture (because) it’s the expensive stuff.”

Restaurant front of house manager Caroline Brook said the kitchen was “totally destroyed”.

“We lost everything,” she said.

“We are thinking (the clean up) could take months (but) we have a really good community here.”