Central Coast floods: Flood warning downgraded to moderate for Tuggerah Lakes
A Chittaway Point resident has taken drone images of localised flooding after the overnight high tide. It comes as the flood warnings are downgraded.
Central Coast
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Flood warning for Tuggerah Lakes have been downgraded to moderate.
NSW SES – Wyong Unit has advised that there is moderate flooding expected for Long Jetty on Friday with rainfall and high tides overnight causing Wyong River and Tuggerah Lake levels to further rise.
While a flood watch is still in place for the Central Coast region, the level is unlikely to hit the predicted 1.6m mark. Tuggerah Lake at Long Jetty is likely to reach 1.5m.
Chittaway Point resident Marcus Donsworth sent his drone up at 6.30am on Friday morning.
Mr Donsworth has captured impacts to Chittaway Point, in particular Geoffrey Rd, Royale St and Henry St. He said the tide came in overnight and he managed to get the drone up during a brief sunny period this morning.
Mr Donsworth has lived around Tuggerah Lakes for 10 years.
“We know it floods now and again,” he said.
“We’ve seen four floods in our street, Geoffrey Rd in that time. Our property backs onto reserve straight into the lake, but the house itself has never been flooded since. Last year 2021 was the worst, but this year was not as bad. Still this is life as we know it. This is the Central Coast. We still love it. We love the lake, sunrises and the beaches.”
It comes as evacuation warnings have been issued at Wisemans Ferry. Residents are being urged to evacuate in the next few hours.
The flooding is expected to impact properties along River Road from Douglas Creek to the edge of the Wisemans Ferry town centre as well as properties along Singleton Rd from the Wisemans Ferry town centre to the western edge of Laughtondale.
Central Coast Council has advised that many road closures remain place in areas such as Berkeley Vale, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Dooralong, Empire Bay, Matcham, Ourimbah, Terrigal, Holgate, Tacoma South, Umina Beach, Woy Woy and Widemans Ferry.
Earlier – March 3 2022
Around 1000 houses have been door knocked as part of evacuation orders in place for low lying areas around Tuggerah Lakes.
NSW SES – Wyong Unit Commander Matt Le Clerq said local SES crews, with support from Surf Life Saving clubs, the Rural Fire Service and Volunteer Rescue Association, had knocked on up to 1000 homes to check on residents, advise of the evacuation orders and help with preparations.
The evacuation orders were handed down on Thursday morning after the BOM issued a major flood warning for Long Jetty, with predictions the flood level will reach 1.6m by Friday.
“By this afternoon, we had door knocked all of the houses from historical data in low lying areas,” Mr Le Clerq told the Express.
“Around 20-30 people have self evacuated (to The Entrance Diggers) which isn’t a significant number but we know that a lot of people have gone to their families and friends.”
Mr Le Clerq said the Lake was currently sitting just over one metre.
“We are just past the minor flood level,” he said. “I know the BOM has advised it could reach 1.6m but we’re not sure it will get there. Currently the east coast low is tracking north of us but that’s not to say it’s not going to come back.”
Mr Le Clerq praised the community for their help in terms of sandbagging and getting prepared early. He said between the Gosford and Wyong SES units, more than 600 tonnes of sand had been bagged.
“That’s around 20,000 bags,” he said. “The community response has been amazing and showed that the community is more aware of the impacts of floods having been through them in 2021 and 2020. They have been preparing earlier.”
It comes as Central Coast Council issued a warning to Woy Woy residents indicating that a high tide is expected for Brisbane Waters on Thursday afternoon which will see flooding in Woy Woy and the Woy Woy Town Centre.
“Streets will be passable, however you can expect to see large amounts of water on the road surface,” the council advised.
Multiple Olympic medallist Darren Bundock and his family were on Thursday preparing to evacuate their lakeside house at Berkeley Vale close to a year to the day it also flooded.
Budock received a text message to alert them there was an evacuation order for the area.
He and his partner and son were moving as much furniture and boxes upstairs as they could.
“They are saying it could rise 15cm to 1.6m,” said the Sydney and Beijing Olympic sailing silver medallist who is now an Australian sailing coach.
“Last year in March it got to 1.4m.
“This is now the third year in a row we have had flooding.’’
More than 100 volunteer surf life savers have put themselves on standby to relieve others who have been assisting in the NSW floods across the state as the weather situation continues to develop
On Thursday volunteers who had been deployed to the Shoalhaven area to assist emergency services were being deployed to the worsening situation in Sydney’s west.
Four IRB crews of 10 people were heading back towards Sydney to help emergency services in any way needed, including assisting getting the elderly and sick the help to safety and medical attention.
Surf Life Saving NSW said 20 IRB’s and around 80 volunteers are currently working in various flood zones, including the Hawkesbury, Liverpool and George’s River.
Surf life savers from Central Coast clubs like Umina and North Entrance deployed to the Shoalhaven are the ones heading to western Sydney.
“Crews from down south are on their way back to western Sydney to relieve crews who have been out since yesterday,’’ a Surf Life Saving NSW spokesperson said.
“IRB’s are rescuing people, helping with evacuations and helping emergency services in any way they are needed.’’
Very few Long Jetty residents were out and about walking along the normally busy waterfront, sticking to the back streets and waiting for further news.
Some residents facing the lake had packed up their belongings and left the area on Thursday morning, while others were still hesitant to evacuate.
John, who chose to withhold his last name, said he’d survived staying at his home the last three times that flood waters had reached his property on Tuggerah Pde.
He said he felt more confident this time around as the council has opened the channel to alleviate the pressure of the fast filling lake and save properties from flooding.
Amid the optimism, he still spent the morning cleaning out his entire garage, putting sandbags at the front of his garage doors and moved his car to the street behind his property.
“I’m a little concerned. I’ve spent the morning cleaning my garage and I feel the sandbags from last time,” John said.
“The road here becomes flooded at 1.05m and impossible at 1.15m. In the last flood, I could get out using the back gate.
“It’s not very nice when the water gets under the house. Since last year, I’ve got updated drainage … but it doesn’t work when the lakes are flooded. Also the drains on the street are clogged.”
On the other side of town at The Entrance waterfront, most pubs and cafes were closed as the water threatened to breach the sea wall.
Manager of The Entrance Hotel Tanya Maio was packing sand into large garbage bags and then into straw bags with a handful of staff.
They spent Wednesday night and Thursday morning placing them around the glass doors and windows.
Previous flooding events from 2007 and two years ago had her worried that the water could make its way into the pub again, especially when renovations were underway.
“I’m a little bit worried because it happened in 2007 and two years ago,” and Maio said.
“If it comes up will try and save the pub and get the water out. We have new floorboards and we are renovating. Also the cellar actually goes underground and it’s at risk.”
It comes as Berkeley Vale Public School was being evacuated while other school closures included St Peter’s Catholic College, Wyong Creek Public School, Jilliby Public School, St Peters Catholic College, Kincumber Public School, Central Coast Grammar School and Wyong Christian Community School. The University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah campus was also closed.
NSW SES – Wyong Unit issued the evacuation order this morning, stating that people in low-lying areas of Tuggerah Lake need to evacuate by 10am on Thursday.
“NSW SES is directing people in the low-lying areas of Tuggerah Lake and the surrounding areas to evacuate the high danger area,” Wyong SES stated.
“No need to panic but you need to move away from the lake by 7am due to predicted rising floodwaters.
“Once flood water begins inundating the area road access water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost. If you remain in the area, you will be trapped, and it may be too dangerous for SES to rescue you.”
The areas affected include Berkeley Vale, Chittaway Bay, Chittaway Point, Long Jetty, Tacoma, Tacoma South, The Entrance North, South Tacoma Road, McDonagh Street, Pollock Ave, Wolseley Ave, Panonia Road and Wyong Aged Care Facility.
This also includes low lying areas around Wyong Racecourse and the Kooindah Waters Golf Course, along with Allison Road, Old Maitland Road, Yarramalong, Collies Lane, McPherson Road, Gavenlock Road, Mike Jennings Road, River Road and Gavenlock Road.
People are being asked to stay with family or friends or the evacuation centre which has been set up at The Entrance Diggers, 315 The Entrance Road.
Locals have been cut off from homes in Wyong Creek, Bungalow Flat and parts of Yarramalong as Alison Rd became consumed by around one metre of water.
A detour through Mangrove Mountains and Kulnura was the only option for some as heavy rain smashed local farms.
Two daring young boys wearing minimal clothing were seen with zipping around on a jetski at the front of a flooded property opposite Treetops Adventure Park in Ourimbah.
One local woman arrived at the flooded part Alison Rd, fearing she would not be able to cross it in time for her wedding rehearsal later today – or even worse, for her wedding on Saturday.
People in low-lying areas need to:
■ Lift possessions and important items above the predicted flood height
■ Take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you.
■ Leave as early as possible to avoid restricted roads.
■ Share this information with family, friends and neighbours and help others where possible.
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