As the rain begins to clear and floodwaters recede, some NSW residents who were forced to flee due to rising waters have been given the all-clear to return home. The Warragamba Dam, which had been spilling in excess of 200GL per day, has slowed its outflows, indicating a decrease in the flooding emergency.
Emergency services had warned residents in flood-prone areas to be prepared for days of isolation, but as of Saturday, most affected river systems had peaked and were beginning to recede. The Hawkesbury River at Windsor was expected to peak mid-Saturday, causing moderate flooding, but would then gradually fall through Sunday and Monday.
While the rain has eased, emergency services remain vigilant, with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) acting commissioner, Deb Platz, cautioning that the risk of flooding is still present. The SES had been door-knocking and relocating resources to flood-prone areas throughout the week and had conducted 13 flood rescues in the previous 24 hours.
The community has responded well to evacuation warnings, with those told to leave doing so promptly. The SES is now conducting damage assessments, warning that communities may experience damage to infrastructure and roads once the floodwaters have receded.
Reservoirs had been swelled by heavy rainfall, causing dams to spill and rivers to swell. The Nepean catchment received over 140mm of rain, while Warragamba recorded over 100mm. The Hawkesbury-Nepean region had been particularly hard hit, with evacuation warnings issued to 600 residents in low-lying areas.
Warragamba Dam Flood’A low-pressure system that had been hovering off the east coast of NSW had moved away from the state, but flood warnings remain in place for several rivers, including the Hawkesbury and Nepean, Cooks, Deua, and Hastings, as well as the St Georges Basin.
Despite the easing of floodwaters, residents are still being cautioned to approach flooded areas with caution. Moreover, a number of minor flood warnings remain in place around Sydney, including the Cooks River at Tempe Bridge, which is expected to continue to experience minor flooding through Sunday morning.
As the region begins to recover from the devastating floods, the SES is working to establish an evacuation centre and conduct damage assessments once the waters have receded. The water supply remains a concern, with the WaterNSW chief executive, Andrew George, warning it may take a few days for the dam to return to normal.