NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet defends SES over flood response failings

Dominic Perrottet has conceded there will be a review into why SES choppers were left on standby while Lismore flooded, but praised the service and ADF.

Dimitria, 80, and George Volikas, 85, lost all their possessions in last week’s flooding in the western Sydney suburb of Vineyard. Picture: Nikki Short

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet has promised a review into the State Emergency Service’s response to the flood disaster on the NSW north coast following claims that the Australian Defence Force had offered help ahead of severe weather warnings but was told it would not be required.

Catastrophic flooding in the Lismore region occurred three days later, with major shortages of rescue boats and helicopters ­significantly hampering rescue ­efforts.

Private helicopter operators contracted to be on standby to ­assist emergency services around the state were also either not used or diverted to lesser-affected areas such as the NSW south coast, where a predicted deluge of rain failed to eventuate.

“There’s no doubt that this event was not predicted – it was not what the bureau was saying,” Mr Perrottet said on Sunday, referring to the “rain bomb” that hit Lismore and surrounding areas.

“Let’s use this to make sure next time an event happens … that there are better processes in place.”

Premier Dominic Perrottet visits flood-affected areas in the Hawkesbury Nepean. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

SES Commissioner Carlene York said the forecast conditions for the state meant certain resources were held back because of ­predicted flooding elsewhere.

“We spoke to the ADF on the 25th – the forecast we were relying on was … the Northern Rivers to (have) minor to moderate flood levels, and we resourced appropriately based on those levels,” Ms York said.

“Those levels went …. 2m above anything we’ve ever experienced.”

The Premier also noted that when it came to approving new housing developments in flood-prone areas, the state couldn’t “keep doing the same thing the same old way and end up in the same situation”.

“We need to have some fair dinkum discussions,” he said.

As clean-up efforts continued, George Volikas, 85, and his wife Dimitria, 80, returned to their Oakville home in northwest ­Sydney to find that they had lost everything.

The couple, both Greek migrants who moved to Australia in 1963, have lived with their daughter Irene Connelley and her husband, Frank, for 35 years, occupying the bottom floor of the house near the Hawkesbury River.

But not even living in NSW’s most flood-prone district prepared the family for last week’s devastation, with waters peaking at a ­record 13.74m on Wednesday morning.

“We know it always floods – but never did we think it was going to be so bad,” Mrs Connelley said, speaking to The Australian while carrying boxes of her parents’ waterlogged belongings out on to the street.

Dimitria Volikas, 80, tidies up after weeks flooding in the western Sydney suburb of Vineyard. Picture: Nikki Short

“This is their livelihood – it’s ­literally everything – nothing of theirs has survived – no heirloom, nothing.

“We’ve got them staying at Westmead for one week in temporary accommodation, and then after that, we’re just not sure.”

For Mr Connelley, there was no question of staying to help minimise the damage – with grandchildren and elderly in-laws to care for, an early evacuation was the only option.

“Once the power goes out, everyone has to go – there’s no way you can wade through water that deep to get to the car and drive off,” he said.

“ (Mr Volikas is) devastated – he can’t believe this has happened to him after everything we’ve been through.”

For Mrs Volikas, the downpour could spell the end of nearly four decades of family history in the home.

“I’m scared to live here now because I just don’t know – it might not be safe for us, my children, or my grandchildren,” she said. “Too many things – it costs too much money to salvage any of this – the whole house has been ruined.”

Mr Volikas was slightly more optimistic, offering “fifty-fifty” odds on whether he and his wife would return to the home.