Almost 800 properties on Mid North Coast deemed uninhabitable by SES, flood payments activated

About 800 homes have been deemed uninhabitable, and five people have died in the floods that hit the NSW mid-north coast last week.

Devastating images show piles of destroyed items piled high along residential streets in flood-ravaged neighborhoods.

About 800 homes have been deemed uninhabitable, and five people have died in the floods that hit the NSW mid-north coast last week.

Clean-up began this week, with walls of debris piled high outside homes and businesses.

Childrens toys covered in dirt have been discarded in the pile after being ruined by the floods.

There’s also furniture, clothing and linen - all tossed into the pile of unusuable items.

A business on River St Cundletown, has items piled high in the street. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

A view of a street that was hit by the flooding. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

A mattress is among the items discareded due to floods. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

Anthony Albanese visited flood affected communities in Taree on Tuesday. Picture: Dean Lewins/POOL/ NewsWire

$1k payments announced for flood-victims

Flood affected residents will be able to access a one-off $1000 payment after NSW Mid North Coast was battered by rain and flooding, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has confirmed.

Speaking from Taree on Tuesday, the Prime Minister confirmed the payments, which also includes a $400 payment for children.

The payments will be made available from 2pm Wednesday for people in the nine local government areas of Bellingen, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, mid-coast, Nambucca Valley, Port Macquarie, Hastings and Port Stephens local government areas.

The Disaster Recovery Allowance, which currently provides income support for 13 weeks, will also be extended to all local government areas who have previously been able to access government support.

Mr Albanese acknowledged the recovery was at the “really early stages” and said he wanted to ensure people were being “looked after in the immediate sense”.

“We recognise that people are doing it really tough. I’ve said that there’s more support that’s going to be needed,” he said.

“What we’re doing, is making sure that people have that immediate support that they need. And that’s what’s required at this point in.”

Mr Albanese recognised people were ‘doing it really tough’. Picture: Dean Lewins/POOL/ NewsWire

Mr Albanese said the mid-north coast floods would have a considerable effect on the dairy industry “right throughout Australia,” in additional to the impact on homes and residents.

“It is a point that while there are people who are directly affected here, every Australian is affected as well, by the fact that we’ve had a loss of dairy industries that will have an impact right throughout Australia,” he said.

Although he acknowledged the “economic impact” would be considerable, he said the government would “first and foremost” focus on the “human impact”.

Speaking to journalists, Mr Albanese also denied criticisms the government was too slow to deploy 100 Australian Defence Force troops, which he announced on Monday.

He said newly-installed Emergency Management Minister Kristy McBain had been on the ground “non-stop” and said defence personnel had responded to 15,362 calls and 795 flood rescues.

“There’s been 165 personnel deployed from outside New South Wales SES already and another 74 are due to arrive in coming days,” he said.

“This has been a massive effort from the authorities as well as from the community.”

Floodwaters have left close to 800 properties uninhabitable. Picture: SES via NewsWire

Properties destroyed by floods

Almost 800 properties have been deemed uninhabitable on the NSW Mid North Coast as the SES begins recovery efforts in the region.

On Tuesday morning, NSW SES spokesman Matt Heap said 794 properties – including residential, commercial and industrial buildings – had been declared uninhabitable after record-breaking floods inundated the region.

“NSW SES and interagency teams have conducted 5300 damage assessments,” Mr Heap said.

“Teams will continue working through those damage assessments, washouts and clean-out efforts over the coming days, and it is likely the number (of uninhabitable properties) will rise.”

The Taree Men’s Shed has been destroyed by floodwaters. Picture: NewsWire / Graeme Minett

It is estimated 10,000 flood-impacted properties will need to be assessed for safety.

“This has been an incredibly challenging event for many communities, and I want to sincerely thank our NSW SES volunteers and partner agencies for their unwavering dedication and commitment in responding to this crisis,” NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said.

SES members rescue trapped residents via boat. Picture: SES via NewsWire

“As we transition into the recovery phase of this operation, our priority remains on delivering essential supplies to the thousands of residents who remain isolated.

“As the water recedes, we are only now starting to see the true scale of the devastation communities are dealing with. We are carrying out rapid assessments and working with communities to wash and clean out properties where it is safe to do so, but with 10,000 properties impacted, this will take time.

Julie Keegan, Sue Allport, Heidi Anderson and Deb Brown are typical of residents rallying together as the recovery effort begins. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

“Recovery is a long process, but communities have demonstrated remarkable resilience and resourcefulness, and I have no doubt they can rebuild together.”

The recovery effort is set to be hindered by damaging winds, with the Bureau of Meteorology warning that average gusts of 50 to 65km/h and peaks of about 90km/h are set to hit the Mid North Coast, Hunter, South Coast and Central Tablelands on Tuesday.

The SES will conduct washouts and clean-ups across the coming days. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

Authorities have also warned that residents should be aware of looters after two men were charged after allegedly stealing from destroyed homes.

Deputy Commissioner Peter Thurtell warned anyone looking to try their luck picking through property that there was an increased police presence in the area.

“We have additional police on the ground and if we find anyone taking advantage of this community, we’ll throw the book at them,” Mr Thurtell said.

Taree resident Peter Lay begins the clean-up effort at his home. Picture: NewsWire / Scott Calvin

“The impact of this weather event has been unimaginable and to think they now have to be concerned about hanging on to whatever property they have left is a disgrace.

“Stealing from people vulnerable during hard times like these is un-Australian.”

The SES has advised residents taking part in the clean-up to be cautious of floodwaters containing dangerous debris and pollutants, such as garbage, chemicals, debris, sewage, germs such as bacteria, fungi and viruses.

Residents have been told to take photos of their properties before they begin cleaning for insurance claims.

They have also been told to wear protective clothing when touching or cleaning flood-damaged items and to leave waste on the kerbside, separating whitegoods and mattresses from other debris.

Originally published as Almost 800 properties on Mid North Coast deemed uninhabitable by SES, flood payments activated