‘Possible inundation’: Homes at risk as storms gather over Cuttagee

All eyes are on a historic bridge battered by storms in the state’s south as the local council warns that forecasted storms could inundate nearby homes.

A bleak warning has been issued for residents on the south coast as a historic bridge battered by recent storms is dragged back into the firing line.

The Bega Valley Shire council warned residents near the 100-year-old Cuttagee Bridge that with heavy rains forecast over coming weeks and days, nearby homes could be inundated.

Video widely shared online showed waves crashing against the prized, historic bridge last week, only months after emergency work was carried out on the structure.

Initial inspections by the council revealed the bridge had sustained only minor damage, according to a statement, with securing brackets on girders being effected.

“The additional steel piles and bracing recently fitted as part of the emergency safety works on the bridge, seem to have assisted in maintaining its lateral stability against the wave action,” the council said.

Cuttagee Bridge.

“Of immediate concern is the amount of sand that has been transported from the beach and dunes and deposited under and around the bridge effectively closing the lake entrance.”

The Bega Valley Shire Council said it anticipated that a major mechanical opening would have to occur to relieve the possibility of any inundation, but in response to questions from The South Coast News said any operation was weather dependent.

Further north, the Shoalhaven City Council announced on Wednesday it had mechanically opened Tabourie Lake after criticism from residents that the council had been too slow to open waterways at Shoalhaven Heads and in Tabourie during previous storm events.

“Although only 2mm of rainfall has been observed in the catchment during the past 48 hours, the lake level increased from 1.07m AHD to 1.35m AHD,” the council said.

“The Bureau of Meteorology has predicted a 50 per cent chance of more than 15 – 25mm of rainfall in the catchment on Wednesday and a 50 per cent chance of more than 25 – 50mm to fall on Thursday.

“The water level at Tabourie Lake, at 11.45am on 4 April 2022, was above the trigger level of 1.30m AHD. In accordance with the Tabourie Lake Entrance Management Policy, and subject to the safety of the machinery operators, council opened the entrance on the afternoon of 4 April 2022.”

Wild weather is expected to batter much of the state from Thursday, with more than 100mm of rain forecast for busy areas including Batemans Bay, Nowra, and Ulladulla.