Evacuation orders for areas of Singleton as Hunter River continues to rise
As the Hunter River swells towards its predicted peak on Wednesday night, parts of Singleton have been forced to escape to higher ground.
Newcastle
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The Hunter River is predicted to peak at Singleton early on Wednesday night over the its major flood levels and impact some low-lying areas surrounding the town.
The Bureau of Meteorology predicted on Wednesday afternoon that the river would peak near 13.4m about 6pm, a level which the local flood plan says would see floodwaters entering the residential area of Dunolly but not inundate the entire floodplain.
Evacuation orders remain in place for some low-lying areas of Singleton including parts of Glendridding, Dunolly, Combo, Whittingham and Scotts Flat as the river passed levels which would begin cutting off roads.
All evacuation orders, centres and flood and weather warnings can be found on the State Emergency Service and the Bureau of Meteorology websites.
An evacuation order for parts of Scone made overnight on Tuesday was lifted after Kingdon Ponds failed to peak at predicted levels.
A deluge had quickly swelled the waterway late on Tuesday, prompting early predictions that it could pass the 1992 flood levels and inundated parts of low-lying Scone.
Kingdon Ponds was at 3.42m at 5am and rising with major flooding, with authorities not predicting it could reach about 3.7m late on Wednesday morning and pass the major flood level.
The floodwaters have closed roads across the region, including the New England Highway where diversions have been put in place.
“With flooding affecting parts of our local government area and some evacuation orders in place, this is a challenging time for everyone in our community but especially those people in low lying areas who must leave their homes or who have been isolated by the rising waters,” Singleton mayor Cr Sue Moore wrote on Facebook.
She also added: “I want to reassure everyone that it’s in times like these that our community bands together, and we are fortunate to have our emergency services, led by NSW Police Force and the NSW SES – Singleton Unit, community volunteers and council staff working around the clock to do their best to keep our community safe.
“I thank all of those who are giving up their own warm beds and donating their time and energy to respond to this emergency.
“Having said that, we all have a role to play in ensuring our own safety. Please, please do not enter flood water, including in your vehicle. It can be deeper than you think, contain harmful material and conceal damaged or missing parts of roads.’’
Downstream, moderate flooding is likely at Maitland from early Thursday morning. The Hunter River at Raymond Terrace is currently around the minor flood level with further rises possible during Wednesday.
Kingdon Ponds was at 3.42m at 5am and rising with major flooding, with authorities not predicting it could reach about 3.7m late on Wednesday morning and pass the major flood level.
The floodwaters have closed roads across the region, including the New England Highway where diversions have been put in place.
Moderate flooding is likely at Maitland from early Thursday morning. The Hunter River at Raymond Terrace is currently around the minor flood level with further rises possible during Wednesday.
Major flooding is occurring along the Wollombi Brook at Bulga and may peak at 7.5m about 7pm on Wednesday.
The Wollombi Brook at Wollombi peaked at 11.24m about 4.30am on Wednesday with moderate flooding and is now falling.
Minor flooding is only expected at Raymond Terrace and a final flood alert for the Williams and Paterson rivers was issued early on Wednesday after minor flooding had ceased on the Williams River.
TUESDAY NIGHT
As the Hunter River continues to rise, parts of Singleton located on its banks have been instructed to get out before 10pm or risk being trapped.
The SES has issued warnings for low lying areas of Glenridding, Dunolly, Combo, Whittingham and Scotts Flat, including the following areas:
GLENRIDDING AND DUNOLLY
— South of Victoria Street
— Army Camp Road to the rail line
— West to Putty Road
— Including Hueston Lane
COMBO
— Low lying areas of Combo
— All properties South of the Hunter River on Combo Lane
— East of Bridgmam Rd, between the New England Highway and Acacia Cct
WHITTINGHAM AND SCOTS FLAT
— From Combo, east from the Hunter River, south from White Falls lane to Golden Highway including Newington Lane, Haggarty’s Lane, Neofields Lane, Racecourse Lane, New Freugh Lane
— West from New England Hwy to Range Road, Matilda Drive, Airfield Drive and Sewerage Works Lane
An evacuation centre has been established at Singleton Diggers, Doorsman Drive, Singleton Heights.
The SES has asked people to be out of their homes before 10pm, warning they may become trapped by road closures with conditions possibly too dangerous for SES crews to mount a rescue.
TUESDAY AFTERNOON
Major flooding is expected across areas of Singleton from early on Wednesday as multiple flood peaks along several rivers and tributaries combine to swell the Hunter river to significant levels.
Authorities predict the levels will still only inundate low-lying areas and rural properties on the outskirts of town, with the flood peak not expected to threaten the town’s levee bank.
Evacuation warnings were still being given to residents in danger zones such as low-lying areas of Glenridding, Dunolly, Combo, Whittingham and Scotts Flat on Tuesday while several evacuation centres have been set up in Singleton.
There had been no evacuation orders given by early Tuesday night.
Major flooding had occurred at Bulga on Tuesday, similar to the flooding scene in March last year while moderate flooding is expected at Maitland on Wednesday night.
Minor flooding is still expected at Raymond Terrace from Tuesday night.
The Bureau of Meteorology said multiple flood peaks had been observed travelling down the Goulburn River, Hunter River, Wollombi Brook and local tributaries.
“These peaks are likely to combine to cause major flooding at Singleton, moderate flooding at Maitland and minor flooding at Raymond Terrace,’’ the BOM predicted about 4pm on Tuesday.
“Further rises are possible at Raymond Terrace from additional flows of the Paterson and Williams Rivers. Once upstream peaks are observed, predictions will be updated.’’
Minor flooding was no longer likely in the Upper Hunter.
The Wollombi Brook at Wollombi is likely to reach the moderate flood level (8.60m) around 06:00pm Tuesday. Wollombi may reach around 9.00 metres late Tuesday evening.
The Wollombi Brook at Bulga is expected to remain above the major flood level (4.60m) during Tuesday. Renewed rises may reach around 6.50 metres early Wednesday morning.
The Hunter River at Singleton was likely to exceed the moderate flood level (11.50m) late on Tuesday afternoon. Singleton is likely to exceed the major flood level (13.00m) early on Wednesday morning and may reach around 13.50 metres during Thursday, with major flooding.
The Hunter River at Maitland (Belmore Bridge) was likely to exceed the moderate flood level (8.90m) Wednesday evening. Maitland may reach around 9.50 metres Thursday afternoon.
TUESDAY MORNING
Evacuation warnings have been made to some low-lying and semirural landholders near Singleton and Maitland as the Hunter’s rivers continue to swell from the big wet.
Significant falls of almost 100mm have been recorded in pockets of the Hunter in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday, although Newcastle and surrounds only received less than 20mm.
The Bureau of Meteorology reported about 9am on Tuesday that the Wollombi Brook at Bulga was approaching a major flood peak.
Wollombi was approaching a minor flood level peak although further rises remained possible.
There was minor flooding occurring along the Lower Hunter River at Maitland and was expected at Singleton, with major flooding still “possible” and moderate flooding also possible at Maitland.
The BOM reported on Tuesday morning that the Hunter River at Singleton was expected to exceed the minor flood level (10m) about 10.30am and was likely to exceed moderate flood level (11.5m) late on Tuesday afternoon before possibly reaching the major flood level (13m) on Wednesday.
The Hunter River at the Belmore Bridge at Maitland may reach the moderate flood level (8.9m) on Thursday morning, with the BOM warning that further rises were possible.
A prediction for Raymond Terrace will be made once upstream peaks were observed.
Further moderate rainfall was forecast for Tuesday, which may result in renewed or further rises along the Hunter River, Goulburn River and Wollombi Brook, the BOM reported.
Minor flooding was no longer likely in the Upper Hunter “though rises are still possible with forecast rain Tuesday into Wednesday”.
An evacuation centre had been set up at Dungog on Monday as a precaution as the town and Williams River catchment received more than 50mm of rain in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.
The river peaked at Dungog at 6.25m about 1am on Tuesday and was falling and the river was likely to remain above the minor flood level on Tuesday morning, the BOM said.
On the Paterson River, minor flooding was occurring at Gostwyck Bridge.
Milbrodale (115mm) received the most rain in the Hunter in the 24 hours to 9am on Tuesday.
Phil Williams, of the State Emergency Service, said low-lying, semirural landholders around parts of Maitland and Singleton were receiving evacuation warnings as authorities continued to watch the river levels.
He said an increase in wind speeds later on Tuesday could be the next enemy, with trees on soaked ground susceptible to falling over.
All the warnings can be found on the BOM website.
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