Trees down on northern beaches as damaging wind warning now in place

Trees are starting to come down and 22 landslides have been recorded on the northern beaches with a damaging wind warning in place in wake of flood emergency.

Emergency services have been called out to clear fallen trees on Wednesday in the wake of the flooding emergency that smashed the northern beaches yesterday.

SES crews were in Baringa Ave at Seaforth this morning where a large uprooted gum tree blocked the roadway.

In Gulliver St, Brookvale, a tree fell just before midnight and damaged a car.

The SES was called to remove this tree that had fallen onto a car in Gulliver St, Brookvale about midnight on Tuesday. Picture: SES Manly

Work to clear the falling trees comes as the SES reminded locals that a severe weather warning for damaging winds and surf was still in place.

Wind gusts of up to 90km/h are possible on the northern beaches today.

The SES is advising people to not to stand near, or park vehicles, under trees on Wednesday.

The fallen tree in Gulliver St, Brookvale. The SES is advising to keep away from trees today. Picture: SES Manly. Picture: SES Manly

The Northern Beaches Emergency Operations Centre, made up of local emergency services and the council, has advised there had been 22 landslides overnight across the local government area.

Landslides, some blocking local roads, were recorded in suburbs including North Narrabeen, Newport, Avalon Beach, Bilgola Plateau, Mona Vale and Church Point.

Dave Parker begins the task of removing rubble from a landslide on his North Narrabeen property on Wednesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

Councillors have been told that geotech inspections have taken place across several sites allowing residents to return to their homes, but more property inspections will be needed.

“Council crews out assessing and repairing damage to roads, facilities and public assets,” it said in a statement.

“There are significant potholes, trees and landslips impacting the road network. The priority has been to reopen roads as soon as possible and while most are now open, some will take longer to make safe.

“Motorists should drive to the conditions and be aware of the potential hazards on all our roads.”

The council is also offering residents extra waste removal services for items damaged by flood waters. Call Customer Service on 1300 434 434 to register your address and details.

Authorities have advised that all the major roads that were closed by fast rising storm and floodwater on Tuesday — except for the Wakehurst Parkway between Oxford Falls and Narrabeen — are open to traffic.

An SES crew cleared away this large gun tree from Baringa Ave, Seaforth, that toppled on Wednesday morning. Picture; Jim O'Rourke

Pittwater Rd was blocked by major flooding at North Manly, Dee Why and Warriewood for several hours yesterday along with Condamine St at Manly Vale and the northbound lanes of the Roseville Bridge on Warringah Rd. Kentwell Rd at Manly Vale was also closed for some time.

The intersection of Belgrave St and Raglan St in Manly on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Twitter (annncarter)

Several schools are closed today due to flood issues including Mackellar Girls’ High School at Manly Vale and Narrabeen Sports High School. Narrabeen Public and Narrabeen Lakes public schools are also closed along with Stella Maris College at Queenscliff.

A flood evacuation order, for residents living in low lying areas around Narrabeen Lagoon to leave their homes by 7pm on Tuesday, was withdrawn last night and locals were allowed back into their homes at midnight.

INXS member Tim Farriss and son James outside their Narrabeen home on Tuesday night after an evacuation order was made. Picture: Jeremy Piper

A car in Gondola Rd, North Narrabeen at 7.30pm on Tuesday. Picture: Jim O'Rourke

But the residents were advised to “return with caution” and be on alert for possible further evacuation warnings or orders.

The evacuation order for 2000 people living below Manly Dam, which was spilling over yesterday, was also withdrawn on Tuesday afternoon.

A woman walks in front of the overflowing Manly Dam on Tuesday soon after an evacuation order was issued for residents living below the dam. The order was later withdrawn. Picture: Muhammad FAROOQ / AFP)

The SES units at Manly and Warringah/Pittwater received a total of 333 calls for assistance on Tuesday and have completed 229 of those jobs so far.

Charity store Lifeline remains closed in Manly on Wednesday after it was inundated by floodwaters on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

A special volunteer “community flood clean-up” has been organised to help business owners and residents in the centre of Manly who were impacted by flooding on Tuesday afternoon.

Central Ave in Manly flooding on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Steve Thomas

The Manly CBD, around Central Ave and the Sydney Rd pedestrian mall, was covered by up to a metre of water at the height of the downpour.

Volunteers are asked to meet outside Manly Wharf at 7am on Thursday and bring their own gloves and rubbish bags.

Tim Menzies sweeping out his F45 Gym on Central Ave in Manly on Tuesday afternoon. Picture: Tim Hunter.

Fallen tree branches lie on the footpath on Wentworth St at Manly after flash flooding caused havoc across the peninsula on Tuesday. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Jeremy Piper

The NSW Government has announced that small businesses and not-for-profit organisations affected by flooding can apply for to $50,000 in government support towards the cost of safety inspections, building repairs, cleaning equipment, materials needed to resume trade, disposing of debris and spoiled stock, or leasing temporary space.

To apply for the Flood Disaster Recovery Small Business Grants go click here.

For info call a Service NSW Business Concierge on 13 77 88.

Applications will remain open until June 30, 2022.