Manly Dam spilling over — urgent evacuation order pending for 800 homes
The SES has ordered the evacuation of residents in Narrabeen close to the lagoon as part of an unfolding emergency on the northern beaches. SEE THE STREETS UNDER THE ORDER.
Manly
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An evacuation order has been issued for properties surrounding the Narrabeen Lagoon, with residents warned they had to be out by 7pm as a flood emergency unfolds on the northern beaches.
The SES issued the evacuation order late this afternoon and warned people who were not out by 7pm they risked being trapped, possibly without power, water or other essential services.
The area affected by the order includes:
From Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen, bordered by The Esplanade, west of Pittwater Road from Goodwin Street to Albert Street then along Lagoon Street to Octavia Street, properties west of Lisle St, including low-lying properties of Emerald St and Malcolm St, Walsh Street west of Pittwater Rd towards Warriewood Rd along Macpherson St down Garden St to Pittwater Rd including low-lying properties of Nareen Pde, Gondola Rd, Rickard Rd, Windsor Pde and Bristol Lane.
The SES advises people in the area to head to Pittwater Rd and head either north or south. An evacuation centre has been set up at Mona Vale Memorial Hall (1 Park Street, Mona Vale).
An amber alert is in effect for low lying areas near the Manly Dam.
Residents have been instructed to monitor local conditions and heed warnings as they become available.
Initially the SES issued a red alert, warning those who in the area to leave the area immediately, but that was downgraded when the rain over the dam eased. But it had some locals worried.
Emesini Hazleden, who lives on Campbell Parade, Manly Vale, was stunned when she received the SES red alert to evacuate after the Manly dam started spilling over.
Ms Hazleden lives opposite the flooded Passmore Reserve, close to Mackellar Girls’ High School. She was so alarmed at the prospect of floodwaters entering her ground floor unit, she started moving precious belongings and important documents, ready for evacuation.
“I started putting important papers and things like that on higher shelves and on top of the wardrobe,“ she said.
“The water may not have reached our block of units but it does worry you and you want to make sure you protect the important things in your life.”
At the end of Campbell Parade closest to Manly Dam, neighbours Rob Marshall and Brad Collins also received the SES evacuation alerts.
While they had some concerns, they were pretty confident the water from surging Manly Creek would not reach their properties.
“But it does make you a little worried,“ Mr Marshall said.
“So I’ve come down there have a look at the creek. I’ve never seen it this high before.“
Mr Collins said he also wanted to check out the water level in the creek.
“We are okay, but I feel sorry for the people down the other end of Campbell Parade, down on the lower ground.”
Northern Beaches Council has opened the Freshwater Surf Life Saving Club and Seaforth Community Centre for potential flood evacuees.
At Narrabeen, surf lifesavers from across the northern beaches arrived to help with any rescue efforts should they arise.
Crews from Avalon Beach, Warriewood and Palm Beach were on standby with IRBs but they hadn’t been called upon as yet.
This afternoon, Northern Beaches Mayor Michael Regan said the flooding on the northern beaches was extensive and urged residents to follow instructions and stay safe.
“This is an evolving situation but what we are seeing so far is absolutely devastating. Manly and surrounding areas have been hit, as have many other areas around Balgowlah, Narrabeen and further afield,” the mayor said.
At 8.30pm, Pittwater Rd at North Manly was still closed between Condamine St and Collingwood St, and Wakehurst Parkway also remained closed.
“Our crews are working alongside and supporting local emergency services and preparing to set up relocation centres across the region.
“I encourage everyone to please listen to the advice from SES and other emergency services, stay off the roads as much as possible and not drove through flood water.”
Pittwater Road becomes Pittwater river with flooding in Dee Why #sydneyfloods#deewhy#northernbeachespic.twitter.com/9E9hFQu91N
— Road Less Travelled (@rdlesstravelled) March 8, 2022
EARLIER
Earlier this afternoon residents in low lying areas around Manly Vale and North Manly had to be rescued by the SES.
An elderly woman had to be taken from her house in Riverview Pde at North Manly after Manly Lagoon broke its banks.
The SES was also called to outside Mackellar Girls’ High School at Manly Vale after three parked cars were seen floating in floodwaters, again from Manly Lagoon.
Footage of the cars floating down the street was shot by students inside and quickly shared online.
Another person who was trapped by stormwater run-off had to be rescued from a home in Balgowlah Rd, Manly.
The rescues came as key roads including Condamine St, Kentwell Rd and Pittwater Rd at Manly Vale and North Manly have been closed due to heavy flooding.
Roseville Bridge on Warringah Rd was temporarily closed by surging stormwater.
Parts of the Manly CBD were also inundated by after overwhelmed stormwater drains could not cope with the volume of rainwater.
The day started with a morning downpour that inundated cars and sent garbage bins and rubbish floating down streets.
Blocked and swollen stormwater drains overflowed in Kangaroo Lane in Manly just after 8am, trapping water close to 1m high.
A number of vehicles were inundated with stormwater.
Several wheelie garbage bins were also set afloat, spilling their contents into the swirling water.
A resident, who lives nearby, said the drains around Kangaroo Lane regularly overflow during heavy rain.
Huge downpours in front of our office in Manly this morning. pic.twitter.com/w7AfOdtYjD
— 🌠Zali Steggall MP (@zalisteggall) March 8, 2022
“You’d think the council would have sorted all this out before this bad weather, wouldn’t you,” the resident said.
In the three hours from 9am, more than 32mm had fallen at the Weather Bureau station at Terrey Hills. The same amount was also recorded at Mona Vale in the same period.
Flooding was also seen on Warringah Golf Course at Manly Vale with water surging across busy Kentwell Rd, affecting morning peak hour traffic.
Swollen drains also left water across Pittwater Rd at North Manly.
Water from Manly Lagoon has also broken its banks at the end of Campbell Pde at Manly Vale and along Manly Lagoon Reserve at Queenscliff.
At Dee Why, traffic along Pittwater Rd was slowed to a crawl after an intense downpour at about 11.20am sent backed up stormwater across the road in the town centre.
Cars and trucks had to negotiate what looked like a set of white water rapids in the northbound lanes.
At North Manly, Nolan Reserves looked like an inland sea after the pre-lunchtime rainfall.
The morning flooding comes as authorities forecasted heavy rain across Sydney with between 120mm to 150mm expected on Tuesday.
There is also a Severe Weather Warning in place for much of the east coast with damaging wind gusts up to 90km/h possible over the metropolitan area.
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