Flood Stories
Hundreds of people were evacuated, roads were closed and people rescued as flash flooding inundated already flood-weary communities along the Hawkesbury River.
The floods were the seventh Hawkesbury residents had experienced over the past four years.
Endeavour Energy emergency crews responded to widespread damage caused by the storms overnight which left 8,200 homes & businesses without power.
The NSW SES has issued evacuation orders for people living in low lying areas along the Hawkesbury River including parts of Pitt Town Bottoms, Cumberland Reach and Sackville.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued its Initial Flood Watch on Wednesday, 3rd April,.
Flood waters reached Gronos Point, McGraths Hill, Richmond Lowlands, Oakville and Wisemans Ferry in the Hawkesbury and Annangrove, Cattai, Glenorie, Lower Portland, Maraylya, and Sackville North in the Hills.
By Friday, the region saw its heaviest rainfalls, submerging infrastructure such as Richmond Bridge, Webbs Creek Ferry (West), Wisemans Ferry Road, and Yarramundi Bridge, cutting community access. The Windsor Bridge remained open amidst the flood, becoming a crucial route.
On Saturday, 6th April, Oakville Rural Fire Brigade crews were alerted of a vehicle floating in flood water on Pitt Town Road, McKenzies Creek. The Oakville RFS requested assistance from the SES to ensure no occupants were in the vehicle.
Crews from the SES Hawkesbury Unit rescued a driver trapped in his utility on Old Kurrajong Road, Richmond, on Sunday morning (pictured).
Over the weekend, parts of Agnes Banks, Cornwallis, Cattai, Ebenezer, Leets Vale, Sackville, Sackville North, and the western part of Richmond Lowlands were directed to evacuate.
The BOM released its Final Flood Warning on Tuesday, 9 April, reporting decreasing water levels in the rivers.
The SES are still assessing the total damage caused by the multi-day rain and flood event. Overall, more than 5,000 SES crews were deployed across NSW to assist in rescues, recovery, and damage assessments.
As residents started cleaning up they vented their frustration over a lack of adequate flood mitigation and lack of action on improving evacuation routes.
A group of Pitt Town residents made their concerns public saying gates along evacuation routes were locked.
The State Government has extended the waste levy waiver to 22 Local Government areas meaning residents living in the Hills Shire Council can now dispose of flood-affected items at landfill sites without incurring the waste levy fee. Hawkesbury residents were exempted earlier.
The exemption covers waste on public and private land, including damaged building materials, furniture, carpet, gardening debris and any other flood-related products.
The Hawkesbury City Waste Management Facility is accepting flood waste free of charge from Hawkesbury residential properties impacted by the recent floods.
Flood waste should not contain prohibited items like soil, fibro, or asbestos. Loads will be checked at the weighbridge. The Waste Facility is open to Hawkesbury Local Government Area residents from 8am to 4pm, 7 days a week (excluding public holidays). Bring proof of address such as a Driver’s Licence or Rates Notice.
Charges apply for all other waste that is not flood waste and for residential properties that are not flood affected.
As both council areas were declared Natural Disaster Zones residents can access a range of State and Federal Government funding and support programs to help them recover and rebuild. Primary producers and small businesses can access concessional loans up to $130,000, as well as transport subsidies up to $15,000.
Sporting and recreation clubs can access concessional loans up to $12,000 and grants up to $2000. Notfor- profit organisations can access concessional loans up to $25,000 and freight subsidies for primary producers.
To apply for a concessional loan or primary producer grant, contact the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 or visit www.raa.nsw.gov.au.
Disaster Relief Grants are also available at: https://recovery.gov.au/NSWflood. For support with personal hardship, emergency accommodation and distress assistance, contact Service NSW on 13 77 88.
