Locals, volunteers … and one officious cop in flood-hit northern NSW town

For flood battered residents in northern NSW, who had pleaded for help, the sight of a cop with a speed gun was the last straw.

An urgent call for help for residents in small towns near Mullumbimby in northern NSW went viral on social media on Thursday.

“There’s no police here, no help, it’s just volunteers,” the post read.

“There are landslides, and regular people are trying to scale cliffs to rescue pregnant people, babies and families.

“We need the army, we need police, we need services. So many people are missing.”

But when The Weekend Australian headed towards those towns, Main Arm and Wilsons Creek, the only policeman in sight was a NSW highway patrol officer with a speed gun, apparently clocking local motorists.

Thread: Heading towards one of the worst-hit areas in northern NSW, I spot a cop with a speed gun.

Just 30 mins away, residents are trapped inside their communities.

They say they’ve had no assistance from emergency services and are relying on helis and volunteers. pic.twitter.com/6uqIDzMx6O

— Liam Mendes (@liammendes) March 5, 2022

For those desperately seeking help, it was the last straw.

“It’s an appalling use of public resources in the middle of a crisis,” local Saul Fitton said.

NSW Police highway patrol checking the speed of drivers just outside of Mullumbimby, which has been obliterated by floods. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Ever since the deluge of rain on Monday – locals say more than 1000mm in 24 hours – they’ve been without power, communication, fuel and running water, and have resorted to using UHF radios to communicate.

They say they’ve had no assistance from emergency services and have relied on helicopters and volunteers to help.

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The road leading into one of the worst-hit areas at Main Arm and Wilsons Creek has been sealed off by a gigantic landslide. Hundreds of trees and mud cover the road for 50m. Residents are trapped inside their town.

Five days in, no emergency services have arrived.

Local Robin says some residents have not been able to leave their homes and have not been accounted for. “It’s frustrating to think we are forgotten,” she said.

As we arrive at a small intersection, a group of locals has gathered for a daily meeting. There’s a tarpaulin with food and necessities, dropped by helicopter.

As we speak to residents, an army of around 30 volunteers arrives. Some have driven from Queensland, some from Byron Bay.

Many are on working-holiday visas from overseas. But they’ve come to help, carrying chainsaws, fuel and backpacks with food and necessities – in particular for a two-year-old.

Volunteers and locals converge in Huonbrook, near Wilsons Creek. Following a call for help on social media, around 30 volunteers hiked for hours bringing food, medicine, chainsaws and fuel. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

Some have climbing gear.

Bruce Faber, a local of 33 years, was stunned.

“At one moment I turned around, and there’s an army of faces I’ve never seen, and it’s quite emotional to see this help, and very organised with all the gear, and I was like ‘wow, humanity is good, people are wonderful’,” he said.

But more help is required.

Mr Faber says the real army needs to be called in with heavy machinery to clear the hundreds of trees blocking the one road back to civilisation. “We need to be able to get in and out, that’s our major concern. It’s devastating, I’ve been here 33 years … the amount of erosion and devastation is just phenomenal.”

Adam Bullock is at his mate’s place where he’d left two cars, one a ute with all his tools.

“I put my cars way higher than I ever did in 30 years and it still got them.”

Adam Bullock where his friend’s house used to be. All that is left is the floor. He left two vehicles here believing they’d be safe but found them 2km away. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

A house which used to be at the top of the hill is now at the bottom following a landslide caused by flooding near Huonbrook in northern NSW. Picture: Liam Mendes / The Australian

The entire property is gone, just tiles and cement on the ground.

The owners are safe. Mr Bullock’s two cars are gone.

“They’re pretty much my business,” he said. “I found them about 2km from my place, smashed to pieces.”

Locals have been relying on helicopter drops. One pilot, Karl Mayne from Oceanview Helicopters on the Sunshine Coast, has flown 15 hours since Wednesday, dropping critical supplies.

Inspecting the damage from the air, The Weekend Australian saw multiple homes that had been completely destroyed in landslides. Later that afternoon, police were treading through the rubble of one house, presumably looking for bodies.