Manly Dam: SES says dam is full and there could be ‘minor overflow’

SYDNEY’S Manly Dam is being monitored closely as water begins to flow over the wall.

Storm Damage and Flooding Manly

SYDNEY’S Manly Dam is being monitored closely as water begins to flow over the wall but residents are being urged to stay calm.

Footage of the Manly Dam this morning shows there is a slight overflow of water but so far no evacuation orders have been issued for residents.

Last night residents in the areas next to the dam were advised that they should prepare to evacuate and an evacuation centre was opened at Harbord Diggers in Freshwater.

Where possible people were advised to stay with family or friends or arrange other accommodation.

The SES will issue a flood evacuation order if necessary but no order has been issued yet.

Steve Pearce of the SES confirmed that the dam was starting to spill.

“The dam is spilling but it’s designed to spill. The dam is at no risk of collapse,” he told Sky News on Wednesday.

Manly dam above North Manly is overflowing putting more stress on the Manly lagoon catchment area. Pic John Grainger

The war memorial at Manly Dam is almost completely under water. Picture: John Grainger

He said evacuation alerts, warning people they may have to prepare to move, would be rescinded later in the day. “There is no risk to the public.”

According to an online report on the SES website, an emergency alert was issued to 9000 residents in the Manly area due to the risk of flash flooding, but as of this morning “the immediate threat to the Manly community has passed, with tides receding”.

Emergency services door-knocked low-lying homes on Tuesday night telling residents an evacuation warning had been issued, a police spokesman said on Wednesday.

The tide is due to come in again at 11am on Wednesday.

Residents are being urged to follow the directions of the SES, stay calm and remain at home.

There were fears the dam would overflow and send a torrent of water onto dozens of homes, but SES spokeswoman Samantha Colwell said yesterday that while the dam was full and there might be some minor overflow, there was not an immediate threat.

“It’s not going to cause a downpour of water or anything like that, it’s something that would be slow and increase the water that’s already out there,” she said.

#Manly local wades through #floodwater after #Manly dam spilled over. @ManlyDaily #SydneyStorm #telephotos pic.twitter.com/aveE2JGg3e

— Chris McKeen (@McKeenPhotos) April 21, 2015

Some updates about the unfolding situation at Manly Dam. Heavy rainfall in the area is threatening properties adjacent to the dam.

Posted by NSW SES on Tuesday, 21 April 2015

Ms Colwell said the dam is not in any danger of collapsing and there was no release of water planned, despite ‘misinformation or miscommunication’ leading to some in the area to believe there was an imminent danger.

Golf Parade in Manly. Manly Dam is at risk of flooding surrounding streets. Picture: Richard Dobson

Police have also stepped in to try and calm concerned residents, with the top cop in the area, Detective Superintendent David Darcy, reassuring residents who live around the dam.

“While there is flooding in the area due to a combination of high tide, rain, heavy surf blocking the exit of water, and a number of small creeks feeding water to the area, Manly Dam has not spilt over or released any water at this time,” he said.

“We want to ensure that people in the area are safe and remain calm.

“State Emergency Services, Local Council officers and Police have personally spoken to all residents that are likely to be evacuated in the event of an emergency.

Police issue update about flooding around #ManlyDam http://t.co/Q9Ileools2

— NSW Police (@nswpolice) April 21, 2015

They must have let some water out of manly dam. Its definitely flooding in low areas in North manly #shouldhavemovedthecar #lazy

— Pip McConachie (@PipMcConachie) April 21, 2015

Of more concern to the SES were areas within the dam’s greater catchment area.

“We certainly do have a lot of issues in the Manly Dam catchment area — in North Manly, Manly Vale and Manly itself. There are several streets there and preparing people that might need to evacuate because there’s a lot of flooding in some of those streets,” she added.

Ms Colwell said there were no evacuation orders currently in place but some of the streets in those areas had become isolated and it may be required if the rain continues to fall heavily.

“There’s some rain sitting off the coast and we’re just waiting to see which way it’s going to go and where it’s going to fall.”

Surfs up: Manly local Paul Sawinski pictured on Golf Parade in Manly. Picture: Richard Dobson