Residents allowed to return home as flooding threat eases

Residents in suburbs north-west of Sydney have been allowed to return to their homes after evacuating early on Saturday morning as the flooding threat across NSW eases.

But road closures and diversions are in place for much of the region, causing a headache for those attempting to make the journey back.

Bells Line of Road is still blocked off by flooding debris.Credit: Nine News

Residents in parts of Windsor, Richmond, Sackville and Pitt Town are among the regions declared a reduced threat by the SES, who at about 10pm on Sunday gave the all-clear for residents to return, with caution.

The Bells Line of Road, connecting Richmond to North Richmond over the Hawkesbury River, is closed with tree and other debris covering the bridge. It was fully submerged when the river reached its peak of 10.52 metres at 9pm on Saturday.

The emergency service issued evacuation orders for suburbs along the Hawkesbury River early Sunday morning, warning of moderate to major flooding across the region.

But flooding was not as high as predicted in most of the region. NSW Premier Chris Minns on Monday said the government estimated about 30 homes had been inundated.

SES commissioner Carlene York said residents’ adherence to the evacuation orders was strong.

“All too often we put out these messages and people aren’t hearing them, or abiding by some of the messages,” she said on Sunday. “People have listened, they have prepared, and they have done what we’ve asked them to, particularly for these evacuation [orders].”

The SES has responded to more than 4900 incidents over the weekend, with over 5000 volunteers deployed across the state.

The wild weather also hit the Illawarra region, with train lines still affected.

“The South Coast line between Waterfall and Bomaderry is closed due to damage along the line,” Transport for NSW said in a statement. “Buses are replacing trains in both directions between Waterfall to Bomaderry, inclusive of Wollongong to Port Kembla.”

“Other public transport services will run to altered timetables as recovery from the rain event continues.”

Residents in the Hawkesbury LGA have been made exempt from the state government’s waste levy, meaning disposal of flood-generated waste and debris will be free until the end of June.

On Sunday, the state government declared the flooding event a natural disaster, triggering financial support from the state and federal governments for those who lost homes or had businesses impacted. Money will also be allocated to local councils to repair essential public infrastructure.

The money has been allocated to 13 local government areas: Blue Mountains, Camden, Hawkesbury, Kiama, Liverpool, Penrith, Shellharbour, Shoalhaven, Sutherland, Upper Lachlan, Wingecarribee, Wollondilly and Wollongong.

NSW Premier Chris Minns said the money, delivered under the federal government’s Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, would be focused on supporting people who lost their homes.

“Federal and state funds will flow to local councils, as well as to communities that have been knocked over, particularly those that have lost their houses, or those in a peril over the last 28 hours,” he said on Sky News.

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