FINAL UPDATE Saturday 12 noon:
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RESIDENTS are urged to stay at home and not hamper emergency services operations across the region as thousands of residents remain stranded while significant and severe flooding impacts the Hastings.
The Saturday morning tide is now rising and widespread inundation is occurring across the Port Macquarie CBD.
The Hastings River has surged into Short Street, Clarence Street, the Westport Club has been flooded and key roads into town are cut off.
Access to the Port Macquarie airport has been cut and residential properties in this area have been lost.
Settlement Point Road and the North Shore is experiencing river surges with residents on both sides of the Hastings advised to evacuate.
SES unit commander Michael Ward is asking everyone to avoid these areas and keep a clear path for emergency service personnel trying to do their job.
There are still more than 170 outstanding jobs to be attended to by the SES with the support of Fire and Rescue NSW, the NSW Police, Surf Life Saving NSW crews and other support agencies.
The Kindee Bridge peaked at 12.1 metres during the early hours of Saturday morning, breaking the 2013 major flood record.
The Wauchope gauge is nearing 8.7 metres and major flooding is now expected at Settlement Point with the river likely to peak at 2.1 metres.
The Oxley Highway is cut east of Long Flat. There has been a landslide on the road to Comboyne.
People in low lying parts of Wauchope and surrounding areas and low lying parts of Settlement Point and areas north of the Hastings River Drive should relocate immediately to family or friends outside the impact area.
The evacuation centre is now open at Port Panthers.
What you need to know now:
- Oxley Highway is cut east of Long Flat
- Bains Bridge is now closed
- Cameron Street, King Street, streets in the Kings Creek, Wrights Creek & Blackbutt Park areas is flooded.
- Roads to Rawdon Island - Narrow Gut Road and Freeman Road are closed
- Oxley Highway at Yippin Creek and Colonels Creek are closed, Other road closures may include Port Lane Rocks Ferry Road, Pembrooke Road, Ennis Road, Sarah's Creek and Stoney Creek Road
At Settlement Point and surrounding areas flood waters are inundating roads and properties in the following areas:
- Hastings River Drive and Settlement Point Road
- North Shore - Shoreline Drive, Wombat Close, Dolphin Court & Marlin Place
- Maria River Road
- Settlement Point, Hibbard Drive and Hibbard Ferries are not operating
- Water may close Hastings River Drive and affect low lying residential and commercial properties
- Low lying parts of the Aquatic Gardens and Marina Caravan Parks are inundated
- Water has entered the low lying parts of North Shore including North Shore Drive,
- Shoreline Drive, Wombat Close, Dolphin Court and Marlin Place
- Hastings River Drive may be cut near the Oyster Farm
- Lower floor of properties along Iluka Place may be inundated
- Low lying properties in the Hibbard area in the vicinity of Boundary Road will be inundated
- Water enters Marina Caravan Park
- Access to Port Macquarie Airport and nearby residential properties is lost.
- Low lying properties on the western side of Horton Street and north side of Clarence Street,
- Low-lying parts of the Port Macquarie CBD may experience inundation
- Westport Bowling Club, Essential Energy, Country Comfort Motel and Sundowner Caravan Park may be inundated
Rainfall observations from 9am Friday to 5am today (Saturday) include:
- Delward 373mm
- Redoak 343mm
- Logans Crossing 320mm
- Upper Rollands Plains 260mm (including 125.8mm in 3 hours)
- Koree Island 287mm
- Kindee Bridge 280
- Wauchope 264mm
- Mt Seaview 248mm
- Bowraville 210mm (including 124mm in 1 hours)
At Camden Haven
In the Camden Haven, the Bureau of Meteorology has reported that the Camden Haven River is experienced a second peak of 9.30 metres at Logans Crossing at 2am Saturday. Major flooding is occurring.
Major flooding is occurring at Laurieton and was expected to peak near 2.6 metres at 10am Saturday. This peak will exceed the 1978 record flood level.
This will result in major flooding along the Camden Haven River.
At Logan's Crossing flood waters will impact most low lying areas causing extensive inundation of low lying housing within Kendall, Kew and rural surrounds.
At Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan there is possible isolation of Dunbogan and will be widespread flooding of houses in Dunbogan, North Haven and parts of Laurieton.
An evacuation centres for residents in low-lying areas is at Laurieton United Services Club.
At Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan - Diamond Waters Caravan Park will flood; Diamond Head Road, Camden Head Road and The Boulevarde may close.
Flooding starts on Ocean Drive near Stingray Creek Bridge between Laurieton and North Haven.
Flooding starts on Diamond Head Road near Dunbogan Bridge closing the road to Laurieton.
Inundation of properties begins in Dunbogan along parts of Camden Head Road, Longsworth Road and The Boulevarde and there may be possible isolation of Camden Head, inundation of properties at Haven Circuit and Laurieton Gardens Caravan Park and inundation of properties in North Haven including Alfred Street, Pioneer Street, Eames Avenue, Ocean Drive and Brigadoon Caravan Park.
Regions isolated:
Thousands of residents are without power, some people have required airlifting from their homes which are now under water. Stock has been lost in swollen rivers while families in other properties require fuel for generators.
Anyone is these areas requiring urgent assistance should call the SES on 132 500. If it is a life threatening situation call triple zero (000) immediately.
Wauchope Showground is opening the gates for people needing to evacuate stock. They have over 100 new stables available and the 16 stallion stalls are also available. If there are cattle that need to get to higher ground the showground can accommodate those cattle which are most at risk due to limited space.
Showground contact number is 0474 780 546 or ring the president on 0418 762 599.
Video: Floodwater inundates Telegraph Point. Video: Ben MacInesker.
Evacuation: Camden Haven and Settlement Point
Once floodwater passes the moderate level at the Laurieton gauge, roads around North Haven, Dunbogan and Diamond Head and foreshore areas of Laurieton will begin to close.
The SES says once flood water begins inundating the area, road access, water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost. If residents remain in the area you will be trapped and it may be too dangerous for the SES to rescue you.
Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements. If you are unable to, an evacuation centre has been set up at the Laurieton United Services Club and Port Macquarie Panthers.
At Settlement Point, once floodwater passes 1.75m a significant number of properties will be inundated.
The areas affected are:
- Hastings River Drive and Settlement Point Road
- North Shore - Shoreline Drive, Wombat Close, Dolphin Court & Marlin Place
- Maria River Road - may become unsafe to travel on due to inundation
- Short Street and western end of Clarence Street (CBD)
- Westport foreshore area
- The Aquatic and Marina Caravan Parks
- Elford's Road, the Hatch
- Settlement Point and Hibbard Ferries due to high velocity river flows, flood debris and inundation of set down areas.
Road Closures
The Pacific Highway is closed in both directions between Coopernook and Glenthorne as well as at Mooreland between Hannam Vale Rd and Jericho Rd.
The Oxley Highway remains closed between Henry Street at Long Flat and Billabong Drive in Sancrox due to flooding as well as between Walcha and Mount Seaview due to a landslip.
Waterfall Way remains closed between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora due to a landslip in Thora.
Solitary Islands Road remains closed between Blackadder Road and Coral Street at Corindi Beach due to flooding.
Failford Road remains closed between Mill Road and The Lakes Way at Failford due to flooding.
Giinagay Way is closed between Warrell Creek and Nambucca Heads.
Current road closures are in place on the following Port Macquarie-Hastings roads and bridges as of 7.30am Saturday:
- Acacia Avenue, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Albert Street, Kendall - road closed
- Ballengarra Bransdons Road, Rollands Plains - water over road, avoid
- Batar Creek Road, Kendall - road closed
- Beechwood Road, Bain Bridge - road closed
- Beechwood Road, Yippin Creek Bridge - road closed
- Bellangry Road, Bellangry - water over road, avoid
- Black Creek Road, Upsalls Creek - road closed
- Blackmans Road, Blackmans Point - road closed
- Bolwarra Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Boundary Street, Port Macquarie - road closed
- Bulga Road, Elands - road closed
- Cameron Street, Wauchope - water over road, avoid
- Central Road, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Clarence Street, western end, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Comboyne-Wingham Road - road closed
- Fernbank Creek Road - water over road, avoid
- Flynn Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Hastings River Drive, between Winery Drive and Tuffins Lane - road closed
- Hibbard Drive - road closed
- Houston Mitchell Drive, Bonny Hills/Lake Cathie - road closed
- Jindalee Road, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Kendall Road, Kendall - road closed
- Kenwood Drive, Lake Cathie - water over road, avoid
- King Creek Road, Bridge - road closed
- Lake Road, between Ocean Drive and Central Road, Port Macquarie - road closed
- Lighthouse Road, Port Macquarie - road closed
- Logans Crossing - road closed
- Long Point Drive, Lake Cathie - water over road, avoid
- Lorne Road (Sullivans Road), Lorne - road closed
- Maria River Road, Maria River - road closed
- Milton Circuit, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Mooney Street, Telegraph Point - water over road, avoid
- Ocean Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Oxley Highway, between King Creek Road and Randall Street Wauchope - water over road, avoid
- Oxley Highway, between Pacific Highway and King Creek Road - water over road, avoid
- Oxley Highway, between Sancrox and Long Flat - roads closed
- Oxley Highway, near Wrights Road, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Pacific Drive, between Flynns Beach and Shelly Beach - road closed, power lines on trees
- Pacific Highway, Kundabung (North and South) - road closed
- Pembrooke Road, at the viaduct - road closed
- Pipeclay Road, near Hartys Plains Road - road closed
- Rawdon Island Road, Rawdon Island - water over road, avoid
- Rollands Plains Road - road closed
- Sancrox Road, Sancrox - road closed
- Seafront Circuit, Bonny Hills - water over road, avoid
- Settlement Point Road - water over road, avoid
- Short Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
- Stoney Creek Road, Wauchope (near Secombe Lane) - water over road, avoid
- The Boulevarde, Dunbogan - water over road, avoid
- Wesley Avenue, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Ferries
- Settlement Point Ferry - ceased operation at 8pm Friday.
- Hibbard Ferry is not operating.
Council has advised of a number of surcharges in the wastewater schemes at Port Macquarie, Camden Haven, Bonny Hills, Wauchope and Kew/Kendall.
Power Outages
Essential Energy has confirmed there are power outages impacting thousands of people across Port Macquarie-Hastings. They include:
- Pappinbarra and Hollisdale
- Rollands Plains
- Toms Creek
- Comboyne
- Telegraph Point
- Yippin Creek
- Huntingdon
- Mount Seaview
- Kindee
- Cooperabung
- Ballengarra
- Gum Scrub
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