Army Bushmasters rolled out to help with flood evacuations

The same battle-ready vehicles Australia sent to Ukraine have been rolled out in Sydney to help with flood evacuations.

Heavy military vehicles and personnel were rolled out onto Sydney streets on Monday to assist with damaging flooding.

Over 100 Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel have been tasked with assisting evacuations and conducting welfare door knocks.

Two ADF helicopters were also deployed for the purpose of night searches as water levels continued to threaten communities.

Evacuation orders were affecting over 30,000 people, with suburbs on the Hawkesbury river including Richmond, Windsor, Sackville and Wisemans Ferry the hardest hit.

Bushmaster vehicles and ADF personnel have been deployed in Sydney. Picture: ADF Twitter

ADF members will assist with evacuations and welfare-check door knocks. Picture: ADF Twitter

The NSW SES continued to issue “leave now” orders into Monday evening for low lying areas in Woronora and Bonnet Bay.

Woronora residents on Harrison Avenue, McKinley Avenue, Washington Drive and Wilson Place were told to leave as soon as possible.

Those from Bonnet Bay on Johnson Close, Arthur Place and properties on Lower Washington Drive backing on to Johnson Close were also told to evacuate now.

The Bureau of Meteorology also issued a flood warning for Liverpool and Milperra as rapid river level rises were observed upstream of Liverpool, Milperra and Woronora Bridge.

Residents in Warwick Farm Racecourse, as well as parts of Chipping Norton, Georges Hall, Moorebank and Lansvale were ordered to evacuate by 9pm.

Some areas were experiencing their fourth major flood in 18 months.

Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the federal government was cooperating with flood relief efforts.

An east coast low that made landfall, bringing heavy rainfall to the region late on Sunday was easing, according to a BOM update.

Meteorologist Christie Johnson said continued lighter rainfall was expected throughout the afternoon.

“We do continue to have cloud streaming over the coast of NSW and bringing showers, mostly to the south of Sydney at this stage, but continuing to move northward into the evening,” Ms Johnson said.

“It’s important to remember that flooding does still occur after the rain has eased.

“We do have flood warnings across much of NSW. In particular major flooding is occurring in the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system and we could also see major flooding developing in the Macquarie river by Wednesday.”

A shocking image of a submerged service station in Sydney’s south west showed the depth of the state’s flood “danger”.

The photo, uploaded by the State Emergency Service (SES) on Sunday afternoon, depicted the desperate scene at the Shell Urbanista Cafe & Convenience in Chipping Norton.

Shell Urbanista Cafe & Convenience’s store front before and after the floods. Picture: Shell Urbanista Cafe & Convenience and NSW SES Kogarah Unit

SES boats can be seen approaching a man who is perilously sitting on a pillar above the water.

Miscellaneous items are floating in the background, with a subsequent photo showing the man being given a life jacket as he prepares to board a boat.

The man entering an SES boat. Picture: NSW SES Kogarah Unit

NSW Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said the flooding was “heartbreaking” for people across western Sydney, the Hunter and other regions who were only just recovering from the last heavy downpour.

“For many communities, this is the fourth flood they have seen in less than 18 months. Some of those images are truly heartbreaking, seeing people‘s homes, their lives turned upside down again and their livelihoods very much impacted,” she said.

“Our heart very much goes out to people and communities at this time, and I want to reassure those communities that we will be there with them right through the recovery process.”

A familiar sight in Windsor as the bridge is under floodwater for the fourth time in 18 months. Picture: John Grainger

In the last few days there have been 116 flood rescues, with 83 of those occurring since 9pm on Sunday night.

There has also been nearly 1600 requests for assistance.

“We are facing dangers on multiple fronts, including that riverine flooding,” Ms Cooke told 2GB’s Chris Smith.

“It’s fast-flowing water so we’re very concerned that people may find themselves trapped.”

Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke said residents remained at risk of being trapped by floodwaters. NCA NewsWire / Flavio Brancaleone

Ms Cooke noted the disaster fatigue felt by many residents impacted by floods across the state but urged people to remain alert and ready to act.

“It’s understandable that people are weary and quite frankly over it – particularly heading into school holidays,” Ms Cooke said.

“We just want people to get through this in one piece.”

Emergency services expect the Greater Sydney area will be the worst affected. Picture: John Grainger

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urged those affected by flooding in NSW to stay safe after returning from war-torn Ukraine on Monday afternoon (AEST).

Mr Albanese visited Ukraine over the weekend where he met President Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Prime Minister confirmed he had been briefed on the situation by NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet and Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt.

“Have crossed into Poland from Ukraine and left radio silence,” Mr Albanese tweeted.

“It’s a constantly changing situation. Check @NSWSES and @BOM_NSW for the latest advice and stay safe.”

He added that assistance from the Federal Government was being provided.

The same battle-ready vehicles Australia sent to Ukraine have been rolled out in Sydney to help with flood evacuations. Image: ADF Twitter

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet urged residents to stay safe and follow any evacuation orders or advice from the SES.

“I want to continue to ask people to follow the instructions of the SES. If there is an evacuation warning in place, please get ready to evacuate. If there is an evacuation order in place, please leave immediately,” he said.

“These instructions, warnings, orders, they are not in place for the sake of it. They are there to keep you and your family safe. As we have said, over the last couple of days, simply because of a past experience with a flood event, it does not mean that that will be the experience this time around.”

Seven evacuation centres have been established in the most high-risk areas in Canley Vale, Kasi Hill, Gosford, North Richmond and Richmond.

In addition to flash flooding, residents should be wary of landslides, coastal erosion and fallen trees.

The SES is urging people not to travel if it can be avoided, and to never drive through floodwaters.

Originally published as Army Bushmasters rolled out to help with flood evacuations