How much rain can our state take…
Is the question the NSW Mid North Coast and Hunter Regions are asking! River heights reaching new records, flood waters reaching landmarks not seen before.
How to put the destruction into words is incredibly difficult. Many dairies are under water, farmers are unable to milk or feed stock and some producers being evacuated from their farm by the State Emergency Services, neighbours and police rescue.
The East Coast Low, dumping regional rainfall in Gloucester (600mm), Taree (520mm), Port Macquarie (420mm), Kempsey (450mm) and the lower Hunter. The rainfall has only added to Mid North Coast’s increasingly wet conditions that have resulted from disastrous weather events since ex Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
Catastrophic flooding has impacted Gloucester, Taree, Wingham, and surrounding areas. Manning region being hit hard on Tuesday 20th May, with the flood levels exceeding the 1929 record level of 6m.
The Manning River reaching 6.45m at Taree on Wednesday evening. The Gloucester River reaching 5.83m. Along with the Lower Hunter also copping severe rainfall causing flooding that has exceeded historical levels. The rainfall has been relentless with constant rainfall for 48 hours with little reprieve and the devastation multiplying hourly.
Kempsey and the northern region hit with heavy rainfall causing flooding from the east coast low that tracked north from Taree. Hitting on the evening of Wednesday 22nd May. Flood levels reaching the 2001, 7m record before mid-morning on Thursday. At the time of writing, the flood levels in Kempsey had not yet peaked.
The flood waters have been slow to recede, proving it difficult to check and stock and feed them, with an unfortunate amount of stock being lost to flood waters. Focusing shifting to clean up and recovery once water have receded, with Hay being the next question of impact and at what cost. Victoria and South Australia in drought the hay stores that would have normally been drawn on are not available.
Government help is needed and is needed urgently. Farmers are severely impacted from Alfred and are yet to receive recovery assistance. Delivering support for immediate and long-term recovery must go on the front burner.
Abby McMillan - eastAUSmilk Member Services Officer