Sydney weather: Bayview and North Narrabeen homes evacuated
There are fears northern beaches homes could topple into the street with the heavy weekend rain leading to the possibility of landslides. Several homes have been evacuated with residents left with just the clothes on their backs.
Manly
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Families on the northern beaches have been ordered from their homes amid fears that potential landslips caused by the torrential weekend rainstorm could send the houses toppling into the street.
Police have cordoned off houses at Bayview and North Narrabeen to stop occupants from returning to their homes after they were evacuated on Sunday afternoon.
One family, with three small children, has been told it could take up to two weeks before they are allowed back into their home to collect personal possessions.
The houses were evacuated after mud and soil cascaded down steep hillsides during a heavy downpour between 2pm and 3pm.
In Kookaburra Cl at Bayview the footings of a house have been exposed, prompting fears it could collapse onto neighbouring properties. Six homes have been evacuated.
And in Garden St, North Narrabeen, police tape has gone up in front of four homes after mud slipped off a rocky slope into back gardens at the southern end of the street.
Northern Beaches mayor Michael Regan has urged all homeowners, especially those living on a sloping property, to have the footings of their properties checked.
Ashlee Dowdall, 32, who lives in Kookaburra Cl, was forced to evacuate her home with her husband Steven, 33, and children Ireland, 8, Hendrix, 7 and Memphis, 4.
There are fears a house two doors down from her property could collapse after its footings were undermined during the storm.
“Our house is not in danger of slipping, but if the other house went down it could block our access,” Ms Dowdall said.
“There’s dirt and stuff which has slipped down onto the neighbour’s driveway and onto the road.
“And we can now see the concrete under their carport.”
Ms Dowdall who is 26 weeks pregnant, said they left in the clothes they were wearing and a large tree that has fallen across the entrance to the cul-de-sac means they could not even get their car out. Power to the street is also cut due to downed powerlines.
She said they were told it could be two weeks before they may be able to get back in the house.
“We are lucky to be able to stay with friends at Newport who are going to Bali.”
The owner of the property with the exposed footings said the house was still “solid”.
Ian Hughes, who lives in Garden St, Narrabeen, said engineers have been called to examine the land behind his home.
“I came back from Woolies and saw all this mud and soil at the back of the house.,”Mr Hughes said. “I had to quickly dig a channel to let the mud go down the side of the house.
“The street outside was flooded too. I was standing in the driveway with water up to my thighs.
“Then I grabbed our two girls (aged seven and 11) and carried them across the street. We were worried about their safety.
“We’re not allowed back in.”
Mr Regan said weather conditions were easing but residents should remain vigilant, to avoid travel if possible and not to drive through flood waters.
He also urged residents to be aware of possible landslips.
“Landslips are of particular concern and we are asking residents to be vigilant with their footings on their houses,” he said.