Ballina flood: residents of NSW coastal town face tense night as flood peak expected to coincide with high tide
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Loading... - Nathan Brooks
- 01 Mar 2022
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Residents of the north coast town of Ballina are preparing for a tense night as floodwaters from two saturated catchments converge on the town, following a week of heavy rainfall that has caused devastating flooding and cost nine lives across southeast Queensland and Northern NSW.
The State Emergency Service issued an evacuation order for the town centre on Tuesday afternoon, directing people there to leave by no later than 7pm.
Flood waters from the Richmond River are expected to peak in Ballina on Tuesday night about 9pm, coinciding with high tide.
The town has been on high alert since Sunday, with flood waters from the saturated Wilsons River catchment, which peaked at 14.4m at Lismore on Monday, and Richmond river catchment, which has caused major flooding at Coraki, Bungawalbyn and Woodburn on Tuesday.
Some houses in West Ballina were flooded on Tuesday, but the waters swiftly receded. They are expected to build again to coincide with a 1.3m high tide on Tuesday night and a 1.8m king tide on Wednesday morning.
Authorities are predicting a one in 500 year flood.
Upstream at Lismore, the flood waters have damaged hundreds of homes and businesses and are not expected to fully drain for several days, because water will have to be pumped out of areas surrounded by the flood levee.
It’s not known how many people remain stranded, and police have confirmed the body of an elderly woman was discovered by a concerned neighbour at a Lismore home on Tuesday morning.
The State emergency service conducted at least 230 rescues in the Northern Rivers area on Tuesday. Power and telephone access has been cut, with high floodwaters hampering repair efforts.
Water was lapping at the doorsteps of shopfronts in Ballina late on Tuesday morning as NSW police urged residents to stay out of the central business district.
The SES issued an evacuation order for South Ballina and low-lying areas of Ballina in the early hours. By 7am it said it was too late to move people away from the town and instead the SES advised people in low-lying areas to move to higher ground.
In North Ballina the canal has broken its banks, threatening homes and businesses and cutting off residents, with more rain expected into the afternoon.
“Rising flood water is beginning to make it unsafe to evacuate the area,” the SES said on Tuesday morning.
“Burns Point Ferry is closed and Wardell Bridge is inundated. You should immediately move to the highest safe place now, such as higher ground or inside a sturdy multi-storey building to upper levels as high above water levels as possible. Do not leave your location unless it is safe to do so.”
People were warned to take their pets, warm clothes, any medication they need, and insurance documents and move to the highest place in their area if safe to do so, and to keep moving as the water rises.
The emergency services agency warned that residents may be trapped without power, water, or other essential services, and “it may be too dangerous for NSW SES to rescue you”. Read More…
