Hunter Braces For More Wet Weather

 BY IAN CROUCH

Weather watchers will be looking to the record books this week as the Hunter continues to receive a soaking.

Almost a month's worth of rain has fallen in parts of Newcastle over the past 24 hours.

Nobbys has received 107mm while the State Emergency Service has been called to dozens of requests for help including a flood rescue at Tea Gardens where local roads were inundated.

Meanwhile, trains between Newcastle Interchange and Maitland have been stopped due to flooding on the tracks at Sandgate. Buses are replacing trains.

More rain is forecast through until Sunday, with falls likely to intensify towards the weekend.

It's prompted a warning from the SES, who are again urging residents and motorists not to take risks and not drive through floodwaters or roads covered with water.

Settlers Way at Tea Gardens is one of several local roads affected by flash flooding. Picture Stroud SES

Maitland residents warned for possibility of minor flooding

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Maitland residents are being warned to prepare for the possibility of minor flooding on Tuesday evening.

The Hunter River at the Belmore Bridge could reach 5.9m as rainfall continues.

Low-lying areas, roads, culverts, and causeways could be impacted by the rising water levels.

We're being reminded not to walk or drive through floodwaters.

MP reignites pleas for Wallsend flood fix

BY BILLIE KAAL 

Wallsend MP Sonia Hornery has hosted Shadow Minister for Water Rose Jackson on Tuesday morning to discuss the area's flood infrastructure problems. 

The pair walked along Ironbark Creek in hopes to raise awareness for improvement of Wallsend's stormwater assets. 

The area is prone to significant flooding roughly every 12 years, but Ms Hornery believes the community is not equipped for future events. 

She says she's disappointed at the lack of response she is receiving on the matter, especially from Hunter Water. 

"We in Wallsend get nothing back from Hunter Water," she said. 

"A succession of Liberal ministers have refused to acknowledge or take responsibility for the future of flooding and need for flooding mitigation in the Wallsend area."  

While Hunter Water owns and operates the infrastructure, it's understood, the Water Minister argues it's up to the City of Newcastle to address the issue.

Ms Hornery says she remains hopeful the meeting with Ms Jackson will spark awareness on the issue and ultimately provide the best outcomes for the community. 

Wallsend was inundated in the 2007 floods. Image credit: ABC.

Floodwaters Continue to Isolate Port Stephens Properties

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Following a week of heavy rainfall and rising rivers, many properties across the Hunter continue to be inundated with floodwater.

A number of residents in Hinton, Woodville and Osterley remain isolated today, however floodwaters have started to ease in Raymond Terrace, Maitland and Bulga. 

Port Stephens Mayor Ryan Palmer, said although it looks like the worst of the rain is over, the community is still not out of the woods.

"We're starting to move into the recovery phase. While the flooding still remains at a minor level, it is staring to fall which is good to see," Mayor Palmer said. 

"We're estimating here in Port Stephens that the damage bill will run into the millions of dollars which is devastating after the events of earlier this year and last year as well." 

Mayor Palmer also noted the hard work being done by crews over the past week, repairing potholes on high speed roads, monitoring river levels and closing roads. 

"We're working with communities to see what damage is out there at the moment, but a lot of the damage won't be known until the flood waters recede," he said. 

The Mayor said the top priority for now is ensuring the safety of isolated communities, and is encouraging impacted Port Stephens residents to seek financial assistance. 

"Last week on Friday we had the Disaster Declaration for Port Stephens, so it is important if you are affected and you are in need of financial assistance, that you get in touch with Services Australia to see if you are eligible for disaster payments. That declaration does mean that individuals and businesses may be eligible for financial assistance." 

"We'll continue to advocate to state and federal governments for their support to help- it's our job to help ensure we get the best possible outcomes for the Port Stephens community," Mayor Palmer said. 

Calls to Prevent Flooding in Wallsend

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Councillors, MP's and local advocates are calling on the NSW Government to help reduce the impact of future flood events in Wallsend. 

The call comes after the region recently acknowledged the anniversary of the Pasha Bulka storm. 

Newcastle Liberal Ward 4 Councillor Callum Pull, said fifteen years on, flooding is still the biggest concern for Wallsend businesses and residents. 

"The Wallsend CBD has some pretty unique risks because it's built on a flood plain. The water builds up from a critical pinch point at Federal Park and the current canal just doesn't have the capacity to carry all the water it needs to," Cr Pull said. 

Cr Pull recently acknowledged the loss of businesses, livelihoods, and homes caused by the 2007 and 2011 storms in a motion to this month's Newcastle Council meeting.

He said collaboration with Hunter Water and the NSW government will be vital in protecting the suburb from flood damage in the future.  

"The canal itself is an asset of Hunter Water. The Council has done it's bit and is in the process of doing it's bit; it's delivered mitigation works, bridge upgrades and things like the flash flood alert system. The critical next step is the widening of the canal which is an asset of Hunter Water," Cr Pull said. 

"I'm calling on all the relevant stakeholders to come to the table and deliver these critical upgrades."  

Wallsend residents are concerned about the suburb's risk of flooding.

Singleton floods steady, some residents to return home

BY DAKOTA TAIT

Evacuated residents in Dunolly, Glenridding, and Scotts Flat are now advised they can return safely to their homes, as the flood risk subsides.

As of Thursday morning, moderate flooding is still occurring at Singleton, but it's believed waters peaked last night and are now slowly receding.

A number of roads remain closed, including the New England Highway north of Singleton.

Image credit: Hunter NSW SES

Hunter residents encouraged to donate to flood appeal

 BY CHARLOTTE LLOYD

Lifeline is calling on local residents for support following the recent severe flooding targeting across the state's east coast. 

The Northern Rivers region has been the worst affected with residents of Lismore and surrounding areas facing severe danger and loss. 

Lismore Lifeline has been lost under floodwaters, including the call centre, warehouse and local shops.

Lifeline call centres across Newcastle and the Central Coast, will be taking calls on 13 11 14 from up and down the coast, for those in need during this time.  

Hunter's Lifeline CEO Robert Sams is asking locals of the area for good quality donations of clothes and accessories to distribute directly to those running the evacuation centres. 

Monetary donations are also being accepted at any local Lifeline Centre and Sams is urging anyone to get involved by donating what they can

A warehouse has been secured at 27/54 Clyde St in Hamilton North for all donation drop-offs, operating 8am-4pm Monday to Friday.

CEO Lifeline Hunter, Robert Sams
Image Credit: Lifeline Direct

Petition for Bridge Over Barnsley Weir

BY KAYNE STEPHENS

Calls for a bridge over flood-prone The Weir Road at Barnsley will be brought to Council in a petition started by Councillor Kevin Baker.

The road remains closed after Lake Macquarie Council carried out an inspection this morning, reporting water levels and clarity from the weekend rain are still too high for the road to safely carry vehicles.

Council also says it's working with Telstra to resolve issues with the traffic warning lights on the road.

Cr Kevin Baker opened the petition last night, and intends to present the signatures to Council asking for the construction of The Weir Road bridge to be a priority.

He says the road is a key link for the region and needs to be brought to standard.

"Someone's only got to flush a toilet and the road floods. The significant closures cause all sorts of trouble for trucks, locals, and commuters.

"It's a really key link between the Western side of Lake Macquarie and the Northern side of Lake Macquarie"

Council says it's considering detailed assessments and concept designs for the future of The Weir Road.

Cr Baker says he has spoken with residents who say the road hasn't been fit for purpose for decades.

"The locals identified it as one of the big key infrastructure priorities out on the north-western side of the lake," he said.

"While there other routes you can go around, they add significant travel time. It really is a key bit of infrastructure; locals rely on it, businesses rely on it, trucks rely on it, commuters rely on it."

Councillor Kevin Baker plans to present the signatures from the petition to Council and make the bridge a priority. Image: Cr Kevin Baker.

Push for better flood management in Wallsend

BY LAUREN FREEMANTLE

As yesterday's heavy rain system tracks north, Wallsend MP, Sonia Hornery says it was a lucky escape for the suburb, which encountered near-flooding.

150 millimetres of rain was received in Wallsend yesterday, while Ironbark Creek stormwater drains became full to the brim.

Some businesses in the town centre were forced to send workers home early, for fears they may have been trapped in rising water on the roads, while at Plattsburg Public School on Ranclaud Street, parents only just got children out in time.

Sonia Hornery believes a planned April visit to Wallsend by Utilities Minister, Don Harwin, cannot come soon enough.

"He's aware of the problem, but I want Don Harwin to see for himself the problems occurring, [there's been] eleven years of inaction, particularly from Hunter Water," she said.

The Minister was invited to inspect flood-prone areas in Wallsend, but so far has been too busy to attend.

Sonia Hornery said it will be good to finally get the wheels in motion after three major rain events in as many years.

"What we need to do is get Hunter Water on side," Ms Hornery said, "and the way we're working at doing that is, we're having a meeting with Minister Don Harwin and we're hoping to clinch immediate action and government funding.

"Of course then, we want Don Harwin to make sure he enables Hunter Water to do that work, so Newcastle Council CEO Jeremy Bath can get on with the work of building the bridges; he's hampered with inaction from Hunter Water at the moment."
 

A Wallsend drain around 2:30, March 21.