Floods in southern New South Wales, Australia

Australia: Evacuations continue as rain floods NSW south coast

Continuing heavy rain has forced the evacuation of more than 300 people from their homes in St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet on the New South Wales south coast.

Radio NZ,

26 August, 2015

The State Emergency Service (SES) said there have been more than 1300 calls for help and 57 flood rescues due to the severe weather

Homes and buildings have been damaged, schools closed and there were fears the Jerrara Dam would fail west of Kiama. However, the all-clear has been issued for properties downstream of the dam.

SES Deputy Commissioner Greg Newton said flood waters were expected to inundate up to 80 properties this afternoon.

"At Saint George's Basin, the bureau [of Meteorology] advised us the flood warning for that area is now from moderate to major. That has got potential impacts on a number of properties in that area," he said.

"At this stage we have 300 properties evacuated in the Saint George's Basin/Sussex Inlet area.

A farmer moves his cattle out of flood waters near Kiama, New South Wales.   Photo: AAP

"We expect about 80 of those to get flooded and that will probably be realised in the course of the day.

"At this stage we're looking at a flood peak around 3 or 4 this afternoon. Probably out of sync with the tide but with all coastal flooding you always have an interaction with tidal flows."

Deputy Commissioner Newton said most residents remained calm in the face of evacuation requests.

"We've had a mixed response. A large number of people evacuated when we put the initial warning out last night," he said.

"We have, through the day, been in communication with other residents who decided to stay and look after their properties and a number of them have subsequently evacuated in the course of the morning as the water's risen around them."

SES spokesman Phil Campbell said people had had to take refuge at the bowling club in Sussex Inlet or at the country club in Sanctuary Point.

"We've now had around 1300 calls for emergency assistance, that's statewide, since this Sydney weather began a little over 24 hours ago, 57 flood rescues now," he said.

"We are pleased to see that the number of flood rescues has been declining."

Rescued

Mia Hill and her two children were rescued by the SES after their Sanctuary Point home was threatened by the flood waters.

Ms Hill said she made the call early to get out.

"It's completely engulfed our house. We're high rise but we're flooded in," she said.

"The weather was meant to stay here all night and I just didn't want to take the risk. The deeper it gets the more dangerous it gets, so we had to get out."

Sussex Inlet resident Matthew Donnelly lives near the caravan park and said the rain has not stopped.

"[It's been] constant heavy southerly rain, it's been coming in in sheets. I think we've had 10 minutes where it's stopped," he said.

"I woke up and it was pouring down, so it hasn't stopped."

Residents of Shoalhaven Heads said flooding in the area could have been prevented if the local council acted more quickly to mechanically open the Shoalhaven River opening to the ocean.

Forty residents have been evacuated from the town because of rising flood waters.

Resident Phil Guy said his home on Hay Avenue was already inundated.

"They would have had more than ample time yesterday but obviously it's too late now," he said.

Mayor Joanna Gash said engineers were at the site.

"They are desperately trying to get the contractor on site to open it," she said.

The SES said it could be another 24 to 48 hours until residents are allowed to return home.

Mr Campbell said there would still be heavy rain throughout today.

"We are expecting a second high tide peak at around 5 this evening but until that peak goes down and rain eases we won't be able to let those people to return to their homes," he said.

Up to 360 millimetres of rain fell in the 30 hours up to 6pm on Tuesday in the St Georges Basin, while Kiama had its wettest day in 13 years with rainfall of 230mm.