Rain emergency: Residents near Narrabeen Lagoon given flood evacuation warning

SES personnel were knocking on doors of homes in low lying areas around Narrabeen Lagoon on Wednesday night warning that they could be impacted by flooding overnight.

SES personnel were knocking on doors of homes in low lying areas around Narrabeen Lagoon on Wednesday night warning locals that they be impacted by flooding overnight.

Residents were told “water levels could get up to, or higher, than the devastating 2016 floods”. “We are giving you a heads up so you can prepare your property,” the SES said in a Facebook alert.

Residents being evacuated by Surf Rescue from their home in Mactier St, Narrabeen, near Narrabeen lagoon, due to flooding in February, 2020. Picture by Damian Shaw

A high tide was expected to peak at 1.56m at 9.30pm on Wednesday with another high tide due at 9.47am on Thursday.

Residents were advised to:

Prepare an evacuation bag that includes any medication or important documents, and your phone charger

Prepare to evacuate pets/animals

Lift items to higher levels, including items in your garden shed

If you have a boat, lengthen the rope or take it out of the water

Move vehicles to higher ground but keep it close enough I’m case you need to evacuate

Turn off any unused electrical items, including your garden shed/garage

Damage caused by wind and heavy rain has been reported on the northern beaches — even before the worst of the devastating weather that was expected to hit overnight Wednesday.

A car was crushed by a falling tree on Myoora Rd at Terrey Hills at about 11am, close to the Forest Coach Lines Depot.

No one was injured.

The damage comes as the Weather Bureau reported close to 16mm of rain falling between 9am and 12.30pm.

A a 50km/h wind gust was recorded at its Terrey Hills weather station on Wednesday morning.

SES units this morning SES units on the northern beaches this morning dropped off free sand and sandbags at two locations — North Narrabeen and Curl Curl — so locals could protect their homes.

Mona Vale couple Pawel and Magda were at the car park next to North Narrabeen Surf Club on Wednesday morning filling bags to place at the top of the driveway of their new home in Golf Ave.

Mona Vale couple Magda and Pawel were filling bags at the car park near the North Narrabeen Surf Life Saving Club on Wednesday morning. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“We haven’t even moved in yet,’ Magda said. “We picked up the keys yesterday and move in on Saturday.

“This shovel is the first thing we’ve bought for the new place.”

Pawel said they were worried that stormwater drains near Mona Vale Golf Course might back up with all the rain and flood into their property, which is below the level of the road.

“We’re following the SES advice to be prepared, just in case.”.

The flood gauge in Manly Lagoon, at the end of Riverview Pde, Manly, was already measuring close to 1.4m as water overlapping its banks on Wednesday morning. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Pile of sand at Denzil Joyce Oval at Curl Curl for people to use for sand bagging. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Some residents living around the edge of Narrabeen Lagoon also took the precaution os using sandbags to protect against possible flood inundation overnight Wednesday.

Northern Beaches Council also closed all its beaches from Palm to Shelly beaches until the weather event is over.

Residents of an apartment block in Robertson St, Narrabeen, on the eastern side of Narrabeen Lagoon, sandbagged the entrance on Wednesday ahead of an expected East Coast Low rain deluge. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Volleyball Australia has made an early call to can the 2022 Australian tour event at Manly Beach this weekend – just days after NSW surf life saving officials were also forced to cut youth events at the state titles short on the northern beaches due to the weather and a gastro outbreak.

Forecasted torrential rain and wild surf conditions and high tides were behind the decision.

“The safety of competitors continues to be our utmost priority, and the effect of the approaching weather pattern and surf conditions will make the beach dangerous and unplayable,’’ said Volleyball Australia CEO Andrew Dee.

Northern Beaches Council closed all its beaches, including Queenscliff Beach (pictured on Wednesday afternoon) ahead of an expected East Coast Low. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

“We would like to thank our community for their understanding, and our thoughts are with all those affected by the current flooding emergency in Queensland and New South Wales.”

EARLIER

Northern beaches residents are being warned to prepare for potentially “hazardous” conditions over the next three days as the weather system that is devastating the state’s northeast moves south.

Authorities are already releasing water from Manly Dam to increase flood storage ahead of forecast local down pours of up to 50mm a day.

A picnic area close to the dam wall at the Manly Dam reservoir at Manly Vale was inundated by floodwaters on Monday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

The Bureau of Meteorology said a large area of low pressure will form close to the NSW centra and southern coasts, including Sydney, on Wednesday with “potentially hazardous conditions” including high winds and large and hazardous surf.

Northern Beaches Council already has crews clearing drainage networks on local roads to help prevent flooding

It is also closely monitoring weather conditions and has its special emergency Incident Management Team on standby.

Water runs over the spillway below the dam wall at Manly Dam on Monday as authorities release water to allow for more flood storage in the dam reservoir at Manly Vale ahead of expected high rainfall in the coming three days. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Two significant landslips have already been reported to the council.

On Morgan Rd, Belrose, land that slipped onto a driveway was being cleared away on Monday so the residents can leave the property. Land has also fallen at the rear of two properties on Haigh Ave.

A public bench at the western end of Manly Dam reservoir at Manly Vale was inundated by high floodwaters on Monday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Swims swim around a war memorial plaque at the Manly Dam reservoir at Manly Vale that was surrounded by high floodwaters on Monday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

Palm, Whale, Bilgola, Long Reef as well as South and North Curl Curl beaches are all closed due to dangerous surf conditions and storm water pollution.

Queenscliff is closed due to storm water pollution.

A spike in the swell and dangerous sea conditions forecast from Wednesday through to Sunday has also forced major changes to the NSW Surf Life Saving Championships being held at Queenscliff, North Steyne and Freshwater beaches.

The Masters water competition, due to be held early this week, has been postponed with a new date to be decided.

A picnic table with a waterfront view at the Manly Dam reservoir at Manly Vale on Monday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

But beach-based events will go ahead this Sunday along with the March Past although the entire open water program for the Open championships has been moved to March 11-13.

Council CEO Ray Brownlee said on Monday there had been minimal local impact from the continued rainfall so far other than some flooding on local roads, which had subsided.

“(But) we’re advising residents to be prepared for continued rainfall this week with the Bureau of Meteorology indicating the heaviest falls in the next couple of days,” Mr Brownlee said.

A person on a paddle board on flooded Goodwin St, Narrabeen, near Narrabeen Lagoon, during a flood event in February, 2020. Picture: Damian Shaw

“Council crews are continuing to clear drainage networks on local roads and all lagoon entrances — Narrabeen, Dee Why, Curl Curl and Manly — are opening and flowing well with the situation continually monitored.

“We are also lowering water levels in Manly Dam to increase the flood storage ahead of the forecast rain.

Carole Lloyd her grandson Dekota Davidson, Huana Cleaveland, Tia Grace and Malia Cleveland being evacuated by Surf Rescue from their home at Mactier St, Narrabeen, when Narrabeen Lagoon flooded in February, 2020. Picture: Damian Shaw

A flooded Mactier St, Narrabeen, in February, 2020. Picture: Damian Shaw

“Locals can be prepared by checking what risks apply to their property on our website which also has tips on how to keep themselves and property safe.”

Authorities warn that if more than 70mm of rain falls in three hours, or 150mm falls over 24 hours, it will cause localised flooding and flood some roads.

For more information on how to prepare for the potential rain emergency click here.