‘Mammoth task’: 10,000 homes damaged as NSW flood clean-up forges ahead

Premier Chris Minns says authorities face a “mammoth task” to clean up flood-stricken regions of the Mid North Coast and Hunter, where an estimated 10,000 homes have been damaged, as floodwaters abate and the slow clean-up begins.

The skies had cleared after a weather system that brought days of heavy rain to NSW, but Minns on Saturday said 24 emergency warnings remained in place, and soggy conditions meant road slippages and landslides posed a safety risk.

Taree businesses are cleaning up after the town was inundated by floodwater.Credit: AAPIMAGE

“Now we’re through the worst of the weather, and floodwaters are receding, we want people to be safe during the clean-up phase, and we’re seeing resilient communities doing just that,” Minns said.

Minns noted Taree, which was devastated by floods in 2021, had been “hit incredibly hard”, as residents, farmers and business owners across the affected regions came to grips with the scale of the crisis.

“We know this is a mammoth task ahead of us. We want to particularly acknowledge the enormous courage the local community has had to exhibit in the last few days,” Minns said.

Flood damage in Taree. Premier Chris Minns says the town was hit “incredibly hard”.Credit: AAPIMAGE

Five people have died in the disaster and thousands of residents in about 15 towns remained isolated on Saturday afternoon, as emergency services crews shifted their attention from flood rescues to delivering food and supplies and assessing the water damage.

Clean-up efforts were also underway in sodden parts of Sydney, including along the debris-lined banks of the Parramatta River, after the storms passed through on Thursday night and Friday.

About 2400 emergency services personnel are in the flood zones. They responded to 864 incidents – 44 of which were flood rescues – in the 24 hours to Saturday afternoon, prompting a reminder for motorists to avoid driving through floodwaters.

Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib said that although the flood dangers had not entirely passed, authorities were “moving towards a different phase of this particular incident”.

Floodwaters left piles of debris along the Parramatta River.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong

“Pleasingly, there have been a lot less flood rescues that are required, but we move now into other forms of incidents where people may need support, in terms of getting back into their home, in terms of assistance with the clean-up, but also in terms of assistance with other essential items.”

NSW State Emergency Services Deputy Commissioner Daniel Austin said river levels continued to drop, but the surrounding countryside would take time to drain and “that means there is still a risk”.

“We are asking people very much to monitor their circumstances, connect with the Hazards Near Me app, and stay current with warnings as the situation continues to change.”

Austin said an estimated 10,000 properties across the region would require damage assessment.

“That will take a significant amount of time. We have more crews coming in today to continue that work and move through the areas, and we will do that as quickly and safely as possible.”

Premier Chris Minns surveys the flood damage at Raymond Terrace earlier in the week.Credit: Dean Sewell

Minns would not commit to a buyback scheme to purchase homes from owners in flood-prone areas, as the former Coalition state government had implemented after the northern NSW floods in 2021.

He said the government would work with communities to assess the damage and boost their resilience “for the long haul”, but he was determined “not to repeat the mistakes of the past”.

“I’ve seen these programs, even with the best of intentions, be implemented and not actually work, or apply to just a small number of people, or the money runs out before it can make a difference.

“We need to make sure that whatever is approved for the Mid North Coast and the Upper Hunter region works. That’s going to take a little bit of time.”

Start the day with a summary of the day’s most important and interesting stories, analysis and insights. Sign up for our Morning Edition newsletter.