Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers flooding: Moderate Flood Warning in place ahead of forecast deluge

Residents in Sydney’s western suburbs are bracing themselves for more flooding with multiple flood warnings currently in place for major rivers and tributaries.

With the flood warning in place and the rainfall relentless residents of the Nepean are bracing for what could be their fourth flood this year.

For those living on the river bank, feelings are a mixture of fear and frustration.

Emu Plains resident Jodi has spent all day watching the water rise, and her family have started pre-emptively sandbagging their verandah after the front of their property was flooded with chest high water in May this year.

“As soon as it gets dark that’s when I get scared, because you can’t see the water. Thank god for daylight savings because we have a few more hours of light.” She said.

“It’s a waiting game, but what can you do apart from trying to be safe.

“I can see the water rising, it’s coming.”

The Nepean river as seen from Emu Plains.

Kay McFarlane who also lives along the river, is particularly concerned about construction happening on the river bank, opposite her house.

“I don’t know if it’s restrained, or if it’s safe or what’s holding it in place, will it get washed away and end up on top of our house.”

“Last time all the rubbish from the river got washed up on our doorstep, masks, nappies, fish, it’s unhygienic, I tell my kids they can’t go out and play in the yard until it’s gone.”

A sign on the banks of the Nepean river is still bent from floods earlier in the year.

Ms McFarlane citesd the erosion of the land around her house as another concern, referring to multiple examples in her yard where the land has given way due to intense amounts of water.

“I won’t even let my husband mow the grass in that spot, it’s a sinkhole,” she said pointing to a trough at the bottom of her driveway.

“There are sinkholes all along the road and they fill up with water. Before the river even comes past the bank we are already underwater because of the stormwater.”

11AM FRIDAY: Recent rainfall and the grim forecast of more to come has the Hawkesbury – Nepean on high alert as residents are instructed by the SES to keep updated with predicted river risings.

As of Friday morning there remains a moderate flood warning in place for the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers, with heavy rainfall forecast to continue through the weekend with a chance this may cause renewed river level rises and significant flooding along the Nepean River, Hawkesbury River and their tributaries.

“The dams are full and our rivers are already swollen so any extra rainfall – no matter how minor – is likely to exacerbate existing flooding,” Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said on Thursday.

Multiple weather warnings are in place across Sydney.

The Nepean River at Menangle Bridge is currently at 3.92 metres and falling, which is below the minor flood level, meanwhile The Hawkesbury River at North Richmond is at 4.92 metres and falling, with minor flooding.

The Bureau of Meteorology stated that with rainfall expected to continue over the weekend there is a strong possibility the Lower Nepean River at Penrith may reach the minor flood level of 3.90m.

In March earlier this year evacuation warnings were issued for parts of Mulgoa, North Penrith, Jamisontown, Penrith, Emu Plains and Wallacia.