Rain forecast brings on sinking feeling
NORTHERN NSW is bracing for another potentially damaging flood, just two months after Tropical Cyclone Debbie devastated the region.
Towns were left underwater or in ruin when Debbie struck in April, and many residents and businesses are only just getting back on their feet.
A severe weather warning for heavy rainfall over the next 48 hours has been issued by the weather bureau as a menacing trough threatens to drench Lismore, Byron Bay, Ballina and other northern towns.
Lismore’s Deputy Mayor Gianpiero Battista said this latest wild weather is “nerve wracking”, and “stressful” for residents and businesses.
“As you can imagine, a lot of people are very anxious because they have spent the last two months rebuilding shops, painting and cleaning up. The last thing we want is more flooding,” Mr Battista said.
“But it will be different to Cyclone Debbie this time, it’s just going to be a big wet, with some minor flooding.”
The State Emergency Service said the worst is yet to come with up to 200mm of rain expected to fall in parts of the region. Thunderstorms may also lead to flash flooding, so residents are being urged to take precautionary measures.
NSW SES spokeswoman Becky Gollings said SES crews had already carried out 600 flood rescues this year and they don’t want that number to rise.
A number of Tweed residents were stranded in their homes yesterday following heavy falls exceeding 100mm in some areas at the weekend.
Gold Coast City Council yesterday urged motorists to be wary of flash flooding and water over roads.
Tweed Shire Council infrastructure manager Tim Mackney said rainfall at the weekend had already caused minor landslips and trees to fall across roads, and bridges and footpaths to be closed.
He said he hoped repairs would be completed by midday today.
“The temporary culvert, put in place at Shackells Bridge at Upper Burringbar was damaged in the April flood, is impassable to vehicles, with a small number of residents stranded in their homes,” he said.
A Gold Coast City Council spokeswoman said lifeguards would assess beaches today but conditions will be unsuitable for beachgoers with waves up to 1.5 metres.
Brisbane forecasters, who monitor Queensland, yesterday did not issue a warning.
Ms Yuasa said there was uncertainty about where the downpours would hit and their severity because of the bureau computer modelling.
“There are differences in the forecasts because the NSW forecasts are issued in Sydney,” she said.