Port Stephens residents and businesses adversely affected by storms, floods and torrential rain since March 10 may be eligible for NSW Government support.
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The Port Stephens local government area was one of at least 15 from across the Hunter, North Coast, Mid North Coast and Central Coast that was declared a disaster area on Sunday and would be eligible to receive recovery assistance.
The Australian Government activated the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment and Disaster Recovery Allowance on Sunday to support those heavily affected by the storms and flooding in NSW.
The NSW Minister for Emergency Management, David Littleproud, said the funding provides assistance to those who have suffered a significant loss, including a severely damaged or destroyed home, or serious injury.
"Severe winds, relentless rainfall and widespread flooding has damaged roads and properties, businesses and public assets right across NSW," he said.
"Through the DRA, a range of practical assistance measures are now available to help people get back on their feet and support councils with the clean-up and repairs to infrastructure.
"By making these payments available to the affected residents, the Australian Government will ensure that those who have lost or sustained damage to their homes or lost their livelihoods as a result of the floods will have the additional assistance they need."
Under the disaster declaration, residents, primary producers, business or property owners or volunteers that have been affected by a natural disaster may be eligible for financial assistance or other support.
Assistance available may include:
- Help for eligible people whose homes or belongings have been damaged
- $1000 per adult and $400 per child disaster payments
- Support for affected local councils to help with the costs of cleaning up and restoring damaged essential public assets
- Concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profit organisations
- Freight subsidies for primary producers, and
- Grants to eligible non-profit organisations.
To check go to www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster or call Services Australia on 180 22 66.
A Bureau of Meteorology severe weather warning remains in place for the Hunter, including Port Stephens, and most of the NSW coast.
"A low pressure trough lying along the NSW coast is generating widespread and persistent rain in many eastern districts, along with windy conditions," the BOM stated on Sunday morning.
"Very heavy rainfall, likely leading to flash flooding, presents a serious risk to the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter, Sydney Metropolitan, Illawarra, and Central Tablelands districts. In some areas, heavy rain and flooding may be life-threatening."
The Raymond Terrace-based Port Stephens SES said that since Thursday, the unit had responded to more than 100 requests for assistance, filled more than 1000 sandbags, door knocked on homes, responded to flood rescues and general land rescues, assisted NSW Ambulance paramedics, recovered assets floating down the Hunter River and provided assistance to many members of the community.
"Yesterday, we finished an already huge day with our rescue operators being dispatched to assist Ambulance and police [to] extricate an injured patient in Raymond Terrace," the unit stated on Sunday morning.
"As we were packing up from the job, we were responded to a flood rescue at Williamtown. Two of our in-water flood rescue operators responded to assist an elderly member of the community, after their house became surrounded by water."
Volunteers of the Port Stephens and Corlette-based Tomaree SES units have been working around the clock since Thursday to assist residents inundated by water.
Port Stephens-based NSW Rural Fire Service and NSW Fire and Rescue crews have joined SES members in the field across the past four days to tarp leaking roofs, sandbag houses and provide other help where needed.
Sandbags are available to collect from:
- NSW SES - Port Stephens Unit 31 Rees James Road, Raymond Terrace
- NSW SES - Tomaree 55A Sandy Point Road, Corlette
- Fingal Bay Rural Fire Brigade 24 Boulder Bay Road, Fingal Bay
- Anna Bay Rural Fire Brigade 1A Fishermans Bay Road, Anna Bay
- Williamtown/Salt Ash Rural Fire Brigade 2 Michael Drive, Salt Ash
- Soldiers Point Rural Fire Brigade 302 Soldiers Point Rd, Salamander Bay
A flood warning remains in place for the Hunter, Paterson and Williams rivers.
Minor flooding is occurring along the Lower Hunter at Maitland (Belmore Bridge) and Raymond Terrace. Belmore Bridge is currently peaking around 6.70 metres with minor flooding.
The Hunter River at Raymond Terrace peaked at 2.69m around 4am on Sunday with minor flooding, and is now at 2.66m and falling (minor flood level 2.50m).
Minor flooding is continuing along the Williams River. Moderate flooding is possible from later on Sunday.
The Williams River at Dungog is currently above the minor flood level (4.90m) and rising. The Williams River at Dungog may reach around 6.50m from 6pm on Sunday with minor flooding. Higher levels are possible, the BOM warned.
Moderate flooding is occurring along the Paterson River. The Paterson River at Gostwyck Bridge is currently at 9.94m and falling with minor flooding.
A number of roads around Port Stephens remained closed on Sunday due to torrential rain. Many other roads have large volumes of water over them.
Port Stephens Council has advised of the following closures on Sunday (as of 11am), and where water is reported to be over the road:
Road closures
- Foreshore Drive, Corlette - road collapsed
- Hinton Road, Hinton
- Lily Hill Road, Nelson Bay
- Marine Drive, Fingal Bay - near Barry Park
- Moorooba Crescent, Nelson Bay - near Stockton Pond
- Newline Road, Raymond Terrace to Seaham
- Old Swan Bay Road, Twelve Mile Creek - Medowie Road to Pond Road
- Riverside Drive, Karuah
- Teramby Road, Nelson Bay - land slip onto car park
- Tomaree Headland - Shoal Bay Road to boat ramp
- Wallalong Road, Wallalong - from Morpeth Street to Paterson Road
Water over the road
- Adelaide Street, Raymond Terrace
- Clarence Town Road, Seaham - from Dixon Street intersection (connects to East Seaham Road) - beware of debris on road
- Ferodale Road, Medowie - near Campvale Drain
- Gan Gan Road, One Mile
- High Street, Wallalong
- Hunter Street, Raymond Terrace - near Glenelg Street
- Kangaroo Street, Raymond Terrace - Aldi supermarket carpark
- Lemon Tree Passage Road, Salt Ash - just after Michael Drive
- Nelson Bay Road and Medowie Road roundabout, Williamtown
- Nelson Bay Road at Frost Road, Nelson Bay - one lane closed
- Shoal Bay Road, Shoal Bay - our crews are currently repairing significant potholes in this area, drive with caution
- Wards Way, Salamander Bay - near Wanda Avenue
Other closures
- Fingal Bay boat ramps
- Green waste drop off day at Lemon Tree Passage - cancelled on Sunday
- Kingfisher Reserve, Corlette
- Raymond Terrace boat ramp access
- Roy Wood Reserve, Corlette
- Samurai Beach
- Tilligerry and Tomaree Aquatic Centres - closed on Sunday
- Tomaree Library car park
- Visitor Information Centre, Nelson Bay
- Windeyers Creek pedestrian bridge, Raymond Terrace
The NSW State Emergency Service advises that people should:
- Move vehicles under cover or away from trees.
- Secure or put away loose items around your house, yard and balcony.
- Keep at least 8 metres away from fallen power lines or objects that may be energised, such as fences.
- Trees that have been damaged by fire are likely to be more unstable and more likely to fall.
- Report fallen power lines to either Ausgrid (131 388), Endeavour Energy (131 003), Essential Energy (132 080) or Evoenergy (131 093) as shown on your power bill.
- Don't drive, ride or walk through flood water.
- Keep clear of creeks and storm drains.
- If you are trapped by flash flooding, seek refuge in the highest available place and ring 000 if you need rescue.
- Be aware that run-off from rainfall in fire affected areas may behave differently and be more rapid. It may also contain debris such as ash, soil, trees and rocks.
- After bushfires, heavy rain and the loss of foliage can make the ground soft and heavy, leading to a greater chance of landslides.
- Stay vigilant and monitor conditions.
- For emergency help in floods and storms, ring your local SES Unit on 132 500.
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Ellie-Marie Watts
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
A journalist with 10 years experience, Ellie-Marie connects readers to the stories that matter in their communities. A Port Stephens-based news, sport and event writer and photographer with a passion for human interest features.
