Flood watch issued for Macleay River
Published on 06 July 2022
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued an Initial Minor Flood Warning and further updates will be provided at the below link:
Update 11.45pm Wednesday 6 July 2022
The Macleay River remains on Flood Watch.
As rainfall begins to ease over the Macleay roads that were impacted by flash flooding are expected to open during the day on Thursday.
The Stuarts Point pumping has been highly successful in combatting the intense rainfall received throughout the afternoon and into the evening. .
Fire and Rescue Trucks assisted the pumping efforts during the heaviest rainfall on Wednesday evening, they have now departed but remain on standby.
Five Council pumps remain installed and pumping operations will continue overnight into Thursday.
The pumping effort has dramatically reduced the impact of the intense rainfall.
CLOSED ROADS
There is water over the road in many locations due to the localised heavy rainfall. Water over the road is impacting many key locations, including Crescent Head Road, South West Rocks Road and the Macleay Valley Way at Cooks Lane, First Lane and Sutherlands Lane.
Please limit travel to essential travel, drive to conditions and proceed with caution. Do not drive through flood waters.
Please note roads that are not officially closed may still be impassable but not inspected by staff as there is a high demand.
At present the following roads have been marked as impacted:
- Old Aerodrome Road, Aldavilla is CLOSED
- Gladstone Street Underpass is CLOSED.
- Wide Street Kempsey is CLOSED.
- Queen Street Causeway is CLOSED.
- Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon is CLOSED.
- Euroka Road at Theresa Street is CLOSED.
- Collombatti Road at the Tea Tree Farm is CLOSED
- The Armidale-Kempsey Road is CLOSED within the Armidale Regional Council Area.
Water may rise rapidly in some locations and lead to further road closures, please do not drive through flood waters.
RIVER CROSSINGS
All bridges that cross the Macleay River upstream of Kempsey are now CLOSED.
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is CLOSED
- Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
- Dungay Creek Causeway is CLOSED
- Dowlings Falls Causeway is CLOSED
Please do not cross any bridges that have water across the deck. There may be hidden dangers.
FLOODGATES
Council is closing floodgates on Wednesday as a precaution.
- The floodgates on Kinchela Creek, Belmore River, Christmas Creek and Euroka Creek are being CLOSED
- Flood relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River are CLOSED.
Staff inspected Big Hill and Ryan’s Cut ocean outlets on Wednesday evening and reported that water levels are not sufficient to permit opening. This will be reviewed as the situation progresses.
Update 10pm Wednesday 6 July 2022
All bridges that cross the Macleay River upstream of Kempsey are now CLOSED.
Update 5pm Wednesday 6 July 2022
The Macleay River remains on Flood Watch.
Water over the road is impacting many key locations, including Crescent Head Road, South West Rocks Road and the Macleay Valley Way at Cooks Lane, First Lane and Sutherlands Lane.
Update 2.30pm Wednesday 6 July 2022
The Macleay River remains on Flood Watch.
Roads and river crossings are now beginning to be impacted due to heavy localised rain.
Update 1pm Wednesday 6 July 2022
The Macleay River remains on Flood Watch.
There is still a risk of flash flooding on Thursday evening and into Friday morning with heavy to very heavy rainfall expected. Rainfall is expected to ease late morning on Thursday.
There is also a high risk of bridges closing over the coming days and low-lying areas being impacted.
Steuart Macintyre Dam is approaching 100% capacity. In line with the Dam Safety Management Plan staff have commenced a controlled discharge of water from the dam.
Stuarts Point update
Preparations are being made should pumping operations be required.
As the groundwater level has begun to rise, Council will install hoses on site at Stuarts Point as a precaution. This will mean we are in a position to pump flood waters if required on Wednesday night or Thursday.
We are also reinstating the sump holes so that we don’t have to excavate at night. Again this is as a precaution.
Update 8am Wednesday 6 July 2022
NSW Police and the SES have reported that they did not receive any flood related calls overnight Tuesday into Wednesday.
Council staff members were alerted to a log stuck in the Glenrock Drain via a community member on Facebook. Staff are removing the log.
Stuarts Point received 80mm at the Water Treatment Plant overnight. There was very minor standing water
The highest rainfall received from 9am yesterday to 9am today was along the coast.
The Macelay River upstream of Turners Flat remains relatively low due to the coastal focused rainfall. The river at Turners Flat had a rising trend overnight, however the water levels remain well below a concerning level.
Council is closing the flood structures as a precaution.
We are approaching, but still quite a way from the trigger level of 2.5m at Turners Flat however due to the potential for a rapid rise we have decided to close the gates while the weather & tides are favourable and we have daylight.
In the event the rainfall passes today and the river only has a small rise, we will re-open all structures later this week.
Read more about how Council uses flood gates on our Flood Information page.
Update 1pm Tuesday 5 July 2022
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Flood Watch for the Macleay River warning of potential minor flooding.
A Severe Weather Warning for Heavy Rainfall has been issued for parts of Mid North Coast and Hunter Forecast Districts.
The weather system may cause riverine flooding from late Wednesday.
This Flood Watch means that people living or working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings and be ready to move to higher ground should flooding develop.
RIVER LEVELS
Up-to-date river levels can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
For more information head to Council's flood information page or head to ksc.pub/flood
WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?
In the event of flooding, Council urges people to:
- refrain from driving or walking through flood water
- consider the impact of possible road closures and flood isolation on work, family and educational commitments
- monitor emergency warnings and severe weather updates on local ABC radio, the NSW SES Mid North Coast Facebook page and the Bureau of Meteorology website
- if your property is at risk of inundation, raise moveable items, such as furniture, as high as possible onto benches or tables, placing electrical items on top
- if you live in a low-lying area and are advised by an emergency services officer to evacuate, please do so
- secure outside belongings and before leaving turn off the power and water and take essential medicines and clothes with you.
Residents and visitors are urged to remain cautious on the roads for localised impacts and not attempt to drive through floodwaters or cross flooded bridges. Council's work teams are inspecting roads and any areas of concern will be advised.
Council welcomes advice from residents in outlying areas about any concerns which may be reported to Council on 6566 3200. However our Customer Service Centre is currently experiencing a high volume of calls so please check that your concerns have not already been addressed online.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500.
In life-threatening situations call triple zero (000) or from any mobile dial one one two (112) immediately.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
Check the comprehensive Kempsey Shire Disaster Dashboard produced by Resilience NSW.
Listen to local ABC, the emergency broadcaster, on 95.5 FM or 684 AM or listen online.
Follow NSW SES on Facebook or www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Latest weather, warnings, rainfall and river heights
Bureau of Meteorology www.bom.gov.au/nsw
Road closures
Road & Maritime Services 132 701
Check the list of NSW Traffic Hazards or a map at www.livetraffic.com