22.03.2021
4 min read

PREPARE FOR EVACUATION: New evacuation warnings for Sydney including Wetherill Park

The SES is warning these residents they need to get ready to leave. Here are the latest updates.
Alex Turner-CohenBy Alex Turner-Cohen

Evening Flood Update - March 22

Residents in the Sydney suburb of Wetherill Park have been told to prepare for an evacuation.

Around 3pm Monday, the NSW State Emergency Service warned that residents downstream of the Widemere Detention Basin might have to evacuate later on.

Watch the latest updates on the flood emergency in the video above

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The “warning area” includes properties in Wetherill Park, at Widemere Road, Davies Road, Hassall Road, Gipps Road, Blackstone Street, Lennox Place, Long Street and Sammut Street.

The Widmere detention basin is on an “amber alert”.

The SES said if it continued to rise, residents in those locations would have to flee.

Residents in Londonderry near Rickaby’s Creek in western Sydney have also been told to prepare for an evacuation.

The warning area is for all properties backing onto Rickabys Creek along Carington Roadfrom Bowman Road to Bennett Rd, and along Bennett to Blacktown Road.

Should an evacuation order come, the SES advised residents in both places to seek alternative accommodation with friends or family.

If that isn’t possible, an evacuation center has been established at Castle Hill RSL, 77 Castle Street, Castle Hill.

Flooded Old Hawkesbury Road near Pitt Town and Windsor in the North West of Sydney, Monday, March 22, 2021. Credit: DEAN LEWINS/AAPIMAGE

The new evacuation warnings add to a growing list of evacuated places in Sydney’s west.

On Sunday, 3000 people were evacuated around the Hawkesbury River amid the worst flooding since 1961,.

The river is expected to peak at around 15m on Monday night.

Across the state, more than 18,000 people have been evacuated, particularly from the Mid North Coast, Hunter and Sydney regions.

Homes are seen semi-submerged by rising floodwaters in South Windsor on March 22, 2021. Credit: Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images
The dam just outside Sydney is overflowing and causing flooding in nearby areas. Credit: 7NEWS

‘Worst flooding I’ve ever experienced’

Bureau of Meteorologist Flood Manager Justin Field said the flooding was the worst he’d ever seen.

‘“I’ve been a flood forecaster in the Bureau for 20 years and this is probably the worst flooding that I’ve experienced and I’ve had to forecast,” he said on Monday.

“We’ve got a flood watch that covers all the way from the Queensland border down to the Victorian border - all those coastal rivers.

“My thoughts really go out to those impacted communities and individuals.”

The rain is expected to last until Wednesday, at least.

The front yard of a property is partially submerged by floodwater on the corner of Landbury Ave in Penrith. Credit: BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE
People watch as cars drive through flood waters on March 20, 2021 in Pitt Town. Credit: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

Government aid

The federal government has activated 38 local government natural disaster zones areas across NSW.

Those affected are eligible to claim $1000 per adult and $400 per child.

A formal request for ADF help from the NSW government was expected on Monday, he said.

“The ADF is readying itself for this task that still lies ahead, particularly in the recovery phase,” Mr Morrison said.

Heavy flooding is seen along the Hawkesbury River at the Windsor CBD. Credit: Brook Mitchell/Getty Images

The council areas eligible are:

Blacktown, Blue Mountains, Camden, Campbelltown, Cumberland, Canterbury Bankstown, Fairfield, Hawkesbury, Hornsby, Inner West, Ku-ring-gai, Liverpool, Northern Beaches, Parramatta, Penrith, Sutherland, The Hills, Wollondilly, Armidale, Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie City, Maitland City, Mid-Coast, Nambucca Valley, Newcastle, Port Macquarie-Hastings, Port Stephens, Tenterfield.

Across NSW, 1400 SES personnel have responded to more than 7500 requests for assistance.

In southeast Queensland, more than 300 SES requests have been recorded.

A semi-submerged child’s playground on the banks of the flooded Nepean River at Trench Reserve at Penrith. Credit: DEAN LEWIN/AAPIMAGE

Evacuations so far

These are the current evacuation orders in New South Wales.

  • Hawkesbury River at Northern end of low lying areas of Agnes Banks
  • Hawkesbury River low lying areas of Freemans Reach
  • Hawkesbury River at Grono’s Point
  • Hawkesbury River at Pitt Town Bottoms
  • Low lying parts of North Richmond
  • Hawkesbury River at Cornwallis
  • Pitt Town North
  • Low lying areas of Central Wingham
  • Taree Estate, Dumaresq Island and Cundletown
  • Low lying areas of Laurieton and North Haven and Dunbogan
  • Low lying properties of Bulahdelah
  • Low lying properties in Kings Point and Macksville CBD
  • Low lying areas of Wauchope and Rawdon Island
  • Low lying properties in Kempsey CBD
  • Low lying properties on the Lower Macleay
  • Low lying properties in Port Macquarie
The front yard of a property is partially submerged by floodwater on the corner of Landbury Ave in Penrith. Credit: BIANCA DE MARCHI/AAPIMAGE

Key facts and figures

  • More than 18,000 people evacuated
  • 150 flood rescues overnight to early Monday
  • 2000 calls for help, taking the weekend total to more than 10,000
  • More than 200 schools closed
  • Rain not expected to ease until Wednesday.

MID-NORTH COAST:

  • 15,000 people ordered to evacuate low-lying areas including Macksville, Port Macquarie, Lower Macleay, Kempsey CBD
  • Communities facing the worst flooding in almost a century
  • Another 100mm of rainfall expected before Wednesday
  • The Macleay and Hastings rivers overflowing in many areas.

HUNTER REGION:

  • The immediate threat appeared to ease on Monday morning but more rain is on the way and the danger is not over
  • More flooding forecast along the Hawkesbury and Hunter rivers.

WESTERN, SOUTHERN AND NORTHERN SYDNEY:

  • 3000 evacuated from communities along the Hawkesbury River amid the worst flooding since 1961, with the river expected to peak around 15m on Monday night
  • Another 50-100mm of rainfall expected before Wednesday
  • Major risks remain for residents west of the city
  • Major flooding occurring along the Hawkesbury River which has risen to 13.11m
  • The Nepean River peaked near Penrith overnight at just over 10m, forcing evacuations
  • Towns affected included Windsor, Pitt Town, North Richmond, Freemans Reach and Colo
  • Fears up to 54,000 people could be displaced.

WESTERN NSW:

  • Parts of western NSW could receive a season’s worth of rain as another system moves in from the south
  • Moderate flooding expected on the Macquarie River at Bathurst
  • Moderate to major flooding also possible in the northwest of the state.

ILLAWARRA:

  • Two flood watch alerts in place for the Shoalhaven and Bega rivers and St Georges Basin
  • 200-300mm of rainfall expected in the next 24 to 36 hours.

- with AAP

Sydney residents use boat to search for kittens lost in flood

Sydney residents use boat to search for kittens lost in flood

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