‘We need you’: NSW’s plea to rely on Defence in natural disasters

Premier Chris Minns has called for defence personnel to continue helping states during natural disasters despite a dozen troops being injured in a road accident near storm-hit Lismore on Saturday as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred leaves a trail of destruction across northern NSW and South East Queensland.

Late on Sunday, communities across large parts of NSW including the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands and the Mid North Coast were bracing for severe weather and possible flooding as the remnants of Alfred continue to dump torrential rain.

Lara Bowden, 10, playing in the mud in the wake of ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, at Skennars Head in northern NSW.Credit: Danielle Smith

There was relief in parts of northern NSW, including Lismore, on Sunday afternoon when flood warnings were downgraded. But large parts of South East Queensland, especially Hervey Bay north of Brisbane, were battered by high winds and local flash flooding.

Twelve soldiers remain in hospital – two in a serious condition – after two army trucks carrying personnel rolled on Tregeagle Road near Lismore on Saturday evening. Police said some victims had sustained spinal injuries.

Minns thanked the soldiers for their contribution and implored the federal government to allow military personnel to be involved in future disaster responses.

“When it comes to the involvement of the ADF [Australian Defence Force] in civil matters, particularly natural disasters, we are full of praise for the dedication and selflessness of ADF personnel,” he said.

One of the ADF trucks which rolled on its side on Saturday afternoon.Credit: Nick Moir

“We appreciate them being involved, particularly in relation to Alfred, and I want to see, if it’s at all possible, more of it in the future.”

Minns said he would hate to see Saturday’s accident “dampen federal government involvement” in future natural disasters.

“The bottom line is, we need you,” he said.

While Defence Minister Richard Marles said the accident would not affect the capability of the ADF, it will again raise questions about the extent to which military personnel should be involved in natural disasters.

A 2023 review of defence strategy concluded the ADF is “not structured or appropriately equipped to act as a domestic disaster recovery agency concurrently with its core function, in any sustainable way.”

The review said state and local governments, in partnership with the Commonwealth, must have necessary resources and capabilities in place to deal with all but the most extreme domestic disaster operations.

“Defence must be the force of last resort for domestic aid to the civil community,” the report said.

Marles said the ADF would continue to provide assistance to areas affected by Alfred.

“Defence will be there ready to provide support when they have unique assets that can be provided,” he said.

After lurking off the coast of South East Queensland for days, the tropical low finally made landfall about 9pm on Saturday between Brisbane and Maroochydore.

Late Sunday, Queensland Police issued an emergency declaration for Hervey Bay, about three hours north of Brisbane, where roads, properties and the local supermarket were flooded.

More than 230 millimetres of rain was dumped in the area in just six hours on Sunday. Some Hervey Bay residents in the area were trapped in their homes by rapidly moving floodwaters, and several motorists had to be pulled to safety from vehicles.

Intense rain in Brisbane disrupted transport services and caused road closures.

Fears that Lismore would see a repeat of the devastating floods of 2022 have eased; an evacuation order for Lismore CBD has been lifted and the advice is now “return with caution.”

But flood warnings remain in effect for the Richmond, Orara, Clarence, and Bellinger rivers.

The NSW SES warned the situation “remains dynamic and unpredictable” with widespread rainfall across much of the state and “renewed river rises possible across several catchments” over the coming days.

“I want to make it clear that we’re not out of the woods yet,” Minns said.

“We’re watching very closely the river systems in the Northern Rivers. There is still a lot of rain out there, there is still a lot of full, swollen rivers, although there are obviously some encouraging signs.”

Minns said there had been about 45,000 houses without electricity on Saturday, but power had been restored to all but 14,000, most of them in the Tweed region.

Authorities urged communities to remain vigilant despite the cyclone having been downgraded to a low.

NSW SES operations commander, acting chief superintendent Stuart Fisher, said there had been six rescues during Saturday night, including one in which a family of two adults and six children attempted to drive through floodwater.

There has been one fatality, after a 61-year-old man was washed away in floodwaters in northern NSW. He was identified as Tom Cook, who neighbours say clung desperately to a tree branch after his ute was swept away. His body was found on Saturday, and he was formally identified on Sunday.

More than 250 government schools across northern NSW which were closed on Friday will remain shut again on Monday.

It is too early to estimate the cost of damage to private property and public infrastructure caused by Alfred, but the Insurance Council of Australia says almost 3000 insurance claims related to cyclone damage have already been made across northern NSW and South East Queensland since the beginning of March.

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