More than 4,000 staff from NSW Government agencies are on-the-ground across the Hunter and Mid North Coast completing rapid impact assessments, coordinating a clean-up blitz, repairing roads and undertaking other recovery work.
The teams include 2,220 State Emergency Service volunteers assisting with recovery efforts, with 350 people supporting from the Rural Fire Service, and around 250 people from Fire and Rescue NSW. There are also 650 staff and contractors from Transport for NSW, working across the road and transport network to restore access to roads.
Crews have already removed more than 1,500 tonnes of debris from the state road network. So far around 5,500 pothole repairs have been completed including on major roads like the Pacific, Oxley, Gwydir and New England Highways.
“I’d like to thank the Transport for NSW crews who have been working day and night to get our roads moving again,” said Minister for Roads and Minister for Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison.
“This is a huge effort from our emergency services and volunteers, from within these communities, across the state and from around Australia,” said Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin.
“There are thousands of people on the ground, who have sprung into action to help people in need, and there are more to come.
“We are working on the clean-up as quickly as we can, but we know that is just one step in the recovery journey for these communities, but it’s a step we are committed to working on as swiftly and effectively as possible.”
More than 20 NSW Maritime staff are undertaking 63 urgent taskings ranging from evacuations, transfers and assessment of hazards, and carrying out 420 impact assessments of navigational aids on waterways that have been damaged or displaced on the Manning, Hasting and Camden Haven Rivers.
An additional 24 police have been sent to the region to bolster community confidence, including conducting proactive patrols to deter looting.
In addition to the 4,000-plus NSW Government staff and volunteers, there are also around 2,000 people from councils, electricity companies, telco companies and spontaneous volunteers supporting the recovery effort in impacted areas.
Importantly, the SES is coordinating these teams of community volunteers to ensure the goodwill and hard work makes the maximum impact with clean-up activities.
So far, more than 10,000 cubic metres of waste has been removed from impacted areas.
“The response to these floods has been led by our NSW SES volunteers, but all emergency service personnel have been assisting in partnership with local communities,” said Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib.
“This has been a mammoth effort with help arriving from across the state, across the country, and from across the Tasman.
“Although we can’t control the weather, we have been able to control the way we’ve responded to the impact of the floods.
“The work of teams on the ground, cleaning up and rebuilding lives, is inspiring. These are people who leave their families and put themselves in harm’s way for the good of the community.
“Amidst tragedy our volunteers inspire us. They represent the best of us. They stand with these communities as we will stand with them for the long recovery ahead.”
An additional 76 interstate personnel arrived yesterday from emergency services agencies across the country, bringing the total current interstate support numbers to over 230. In addition, a contingent has arrived from New Zealand.
Around 70 personnel from the Australian Defence Force are in the field, bolstering recovery efforts even further.
So far, at least 8,406 damage assessments have been carried out. Of these, 1,065 buildings have been deemed as currently uninhabitable, including 632 residential buildings. This also includes around 152 commercial and industrial properties and more than 253 outbuildings (sheds etc). Repairs will likely bring a portion of these properties back to an inhabitable state.
At least 30 homes have been assessed as having been destroyed.
While these assessments are progressing, it is important to remember there are around 10,000 properties that need to be assessed for safety, including homes, businesses and other infrastructure. Seven communities, or around 9,000 people, are still isolated, which will delay some assessments.
Residents are asked to remain patient and await advice from NSW SES that it is safe to return before heading home.
