SIGNIFICANT flooding has impacted the riverine communities of Bulahdelah and Nerong.
Two days after the May rains finally stopped, Nerong was living up to its historical former name of ‘Dirty Creek’, with the flooding of the marina and all surrounding low-lying properties and parks, including the Nerong Community Centre.
Nerong’s boat launch area was almost a metre under water, with Council bins floating on their holders, and the picnic table uprooted, while inside the Community Centre, essential appliances were hastily raised up on cinderblocks.
“Twenty-four properties are affected in Nerong, 12 evacuated, and septic tanks have flooded and spilled out,” Greg Snape, Deputy Commander of Stroud SES, told NOTA.
“Nerong is also receiving raw sewage coming out of septic tanks upstream, and waste flowing down from properties further up the Myall and Crawford rivers, including from Bulahdelah’s flooding.
“Most houses on the far side of Redbill Park, down Heron Street and Spoonbill Close, have suffered internal flooding; one local was seen using his dinghy to receive basic food supplies across the marina.”
Environmental hazards include direct contact with raw sewage, chemical waste in the water, and debris and submerged hazards.
Bulahdelah locals have reported minimal damage, with riverine floods being a fact of life in the mountain community, however the town’s main road was cut in half by stagnant flood waters, even after two days of sunshine.
Several properties were turned into islands during the heaviest rains, but locals had heeded the official warnings and sought supplies before being isolated.
Bulahdelah’s causeways suffered flooding, as predicted, closing off access towards Markwell and the hinterland, but the highway remained accessible, and Bulahdelah Golf Club was set up as an Evacuation Centre for those who needed it.
Bulahdelah Central School was closed most of the week.
Official closure information can be found on the NSW Education website, by searching “School operational status”.
School bus services to Tea Gardens and the rest of the Myall Coast were also affected, due to the bus depot at Bulahdelah being closed off when the Pacific Highway was inundated during the heaviest rains earlier in the week, closing off access south of the town.
By Thomas O’KEEFE
