Rain emergency: Northern beaches braces for flash flooding
Authorities and residents on the northern beaches are bracing for a potentially damaging and dangerous rain event during Friday and Saturday. See updated reports here.
Manly
Don't miss out on the headlines from Manly. Followed categories will be added to My News.
4.20pm: The council advises that Marine Parade, the walkway along Cabbage Tree Bay between Manly and Shelly Beach, will close at 5pm and barriers wll be in placeuntil at least 10am Saturday.
The Hop Skip and Jump community shuttle bus has stopped operating today and will recommence at 10am Saturday at the earliest.
The council has also closed all beaches and advises tha️t all events and outdoor activities have been cancelled and/or postponed. All fields will be closed on Saturday apart from Rat Park, Manly Oval and synthetic fields – to be reassessed tomorrow for Sunday status.
Netball has been cancelled for tomorrow.
3.40pm: An increase in the rainfall led to worsening driving conditions after water overflowed from drains across Pittwater Rd at North Manly.
The NSW State Emergency Service headquarters makes an annoucement advising people to stay indoors and avoid unnecessary travel as significant rainfall impacts much of the state’s east coast.
A “severe storm warning” is in place from Gosford in the north, to Batemans Bay in the south, across to Goulburn, with damaging winds and extremely heavy rain possible.
Latest figures from the Weather Bureau show that in the three hours to 3pm, Manly and Mona Vale each received 22mm of rain.
3pm: SES volunteers were in Maretimo St, Balgowlah, where a large tree fell across the road, narrowly missing a car.
2.30pm: Volunteers from the Manly SES have been called out to several homes reporting leaks.
2pm: Balgowlah Rd near Golf Pde, near the Harris Farm round-about is starting to flood.
Authorities are urging motorists to take an aternate route with more heavy rain on the way.
The council has confirmed on its website that a number of sports grounds and reserves are closed due to the wet weather Check here for details.
It is advised that people check with their local sports club or Association to find out whether their competition over the weekend has been cancelled.
1pm: Contactors were on site to keep the channel between Narrabeen Lagoon and the ocean open to allow water to escape to the ocean at North Narrabeen Beach.
The council had opened the channel on Tuesday night, but the channel closed again naturally because the lagoon level was roughly the same as the ocean.
Some water was released from Manly Dam to provide more flood storage and the council was expected to open Manly Lagoon to the ocean at Queenscliff this afternoon.
“The forecast is worsening, and we are expecting heavy rain and local flooding later today (Friday) peaking overnight, and into the weekend,” the council warned on its website.
12.45: Oxford Falls Rd, between Wakehurst Parkway and Aroona Rd at Oxford Falls, was kept closed due to flooding over the causeway that began just after 7.30am.
9am: Water went over the banks of Manly Lagoon in Riverview Pde at North Manly.
8am: Northern Beaches Council and the SES left free sand and sandbags at three locations — Balgowlah Golf Club, North Narrabeen Beach car park and Denzil Joyce Oval car park, Abbott Rd North Curl Curl — to assist locals to protect their homes against potential flooding.
The council also has an Emergency Preparedness page on its webite to assist residents cope with flooding, and other, emergencies. Click here for info
Former Waterhouse family member drove to cop shop while drunk
A former member of a famous Sydney racing dynasty and cancer nurse drove to a police station while drunk after being chucked out of a late-night northern beaches nightspot.
Tognetti strikes gold for launch of ACO’s 50th season
The ACO’s golden anniversary season got off to a cracking start with outstanding performances of two great works.