NSW floods: Southwest Sydney families sick of Georges River floods
After three major floods in four months, families in southwest Sydney are sick of picking up the pieces, and want things to change.
Liverpool
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After three major floods in four months, families in southwest Sydney are sick of picking up the pieces and want things to change.
While some are waiting on the voluntary acquisition of their home, others say they have been knocked back by council when applying to raise the level of their houses.
Meanwhile, they’ve been left once more to pick up the pieces as flooding from the Georges River becomes more frequent.
Rabia Taslak lives on Newbridge Rd with her parents and child. The family had moved out of their home of 10 years when the March floods left behind a trail of destruction.
The walls were stripped and the house was in the process of being repaired when the river rose again on the weekend, bringing water into their home once more.
“My house is gone now. There’s no way to describe it,” Ms Taslak said, describing the stench and mould left behind.
Her biggest frustration is with Liverpool Council, which she said had refused the family’s applications to raise the level of their home, while approving other developments upstream which put her home at risk.
“Council doesn’t want to approve anything, but they’re building the marina on a former flood zone”, Ms Taslak said.
Bernard King has lived in his home for 65 years. Once the water started rising, it was less than two hours before it reached his waist height.
“These floods are getting worse. They run faster. It’s probably due to climate change, and all the new buildings and developments up Brickmakers Drive,” Mr King said.
His only goal now is to get his home acquired by the state government due to its flood prone location but that’s been a slow process, and he’s still waiting on an offer. According to Mr King, offers for nearby homes have been too low for years, which is why many still live there.
As southwest Sydney families begin their third flood clean up in four months, the frustration is evident.
— Paul Brescia (@pwbrescia) July 4, 2022
Bernard King has lived in his home for 65 years, and says climate change is making floods worse. #sydneyfloodspic.twitter.com/nSWmo6kHiS
Considering the astronomical cost of Sydney real estate, the money just wasn‘t enough to start a new life elsewhere.
Now, he’s fed up with floods, and said he only wants to move to a home on top of a hill.
For Irena Ibrahim, who has lived in a Milperra unit by the Georges River for seven years, the sense of community in her building has kept her there even after multiple floods.
“We like it here. The neighbours have been here between 12 to 18 years.” Ms Ibrahim said.
Combined with a landlord that treats the tenants well, it’s a living situation she isn’t keen to leave, particularly in a fickle rental market like Sydney.
One of her neighbours was rescued by the NSW SES last night, with two boats arriving to take them to safety.
Occupants of the other three units remained in the house after moving all the valuables they could to both balconies.
When asked whether it had denied requests from residents to raise their homes, a spokesperson from Liverpool Council said, “Given the high hazard flooding risk around the Moorebank Floodway, Council is in the process of acquiring all the properties in the area under the Moorebank Voluntary Acquisition Scheme in collaboration with the NSW Government.
“Council has progressively acquired around 120 of the 175 properties under the Scheme since its inception in 1984.
“Council will not permit any type of development that is inconsistent with its longstanding commitment to the Scheme.”
The NSW SES Liverpool Unit said it was expecting up to 120mm of rain over the next two days in the area and as such, will contribute to continued and renewed river rises and flash flooding.
Flood warnings, road closures
There is currently a minor flood warning at Liverpool and Milperra with renewed moderate flooding possible, according to the NSW SES.
Heavy rainfall since Saturday has caused river level rises across the Georges and Woronora River catchments. Flooding is easing along the Georges River at Liverpool and Milperra, where minor flooding continues.
Possible heavy rainfall is forecast for the remainder of Monday into Tuesday, which may cause renewed river level rises. This situation is being closely monitored and revised predictions will be provided as necessary, according to the Liverpool NSW SES unit.
The below roads are currently closed.
Austral
Gurner Ave
Rossmore
May Ave
Belfield Ave
Greendale
Wolstenholme Road
Greendale Road
Edmonson Park
Jardine Drive
Chipping Norton
Newbridge Road
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