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The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flood watch for along the Macleay River. The following updates are from our reporters, Kempsey and Nambucca councils, the SES and the Weather Bureau.
For more information see Council's flood information page. Up-to-date river levels can be found on the Bureau of Meteorology website.
This was the latest on conditions in the region on Wednesday, July 6.
6pm: From Nambucca Council.
- Scotts Head Road is CLOSED
- The Highway Bridge (under overpass) is CLOSED due to water over the road.
- Barber's Flat on Scotts Head Road is OPEN but caution should be taken due to localised flooding and debris over the road.
5pm: From Kempsey Shire Council.
There is water over the road in many locations due to the localised heavy rainfall. Please limit travel to essential travel, drive to conditions and proceed with caution. Do not drive through flood waters. Water over the road is impacting many key locations, including Crescent Head Road, South West Rocks Road and the Macleay Valley Way at Cooks Lane, First Lane and Sutherlands Lane. Please note roads that are not officially closed may still be impassable but not yet inspected by staff as there is a high demand.
- Old Aerodrome Road, Aldavilla is CLOSED
- Gladstone Street Underpass is CLOSED.
- Wide Street Kempsey is CLOSED.
- Queen Street Causeway is CLOSED.
- Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon is CLOSED.
- Euroka Road at Theresa Street is CLOSED.
- Collombatti Road at the Tea Tree Farm is CLOSED
- The Armidale-Kempsey Road is CLOSED within the Armidale Regional Council Area.
We have received the following updates for bridges that cross the Macleay River upstream of the Kempsey Traffic Bridge:
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is OPEN
- Sherwood Bridge is OPEN but expected to close soon.
- Dungay Creek Causeway is CLOSED
- Dowlings Falls Causeway is CLOSED
Please do not cross any bridges that have water across the deck. There may be hidden dangers.
4pm: Reporter Ellie Chamberlain has captured footage of the heavy rainfall around the South West Rocks area.
3.30pm: Kempsey Shire Council has started pumping in Stuarts Point to remove surface water. This pumping is happening to remove the water that may seep into the ground, not because the groundwater has reached the surface. With the ongoing intense rain it is expected that the groundwater will rise to high levels.
2.30pm: Kempsey Shire Council says preparations are being made in Stuarts Point in case pumping is needed. There is now water over roads in several locations. Take care as some may still be open but have not yet been inspected due to high demand. The following roads have been marked as impacted:
- Old Aerodrome Road is CLOSED
- Gladstone Street Underpass is CLOSED
- Water is approaching the road at Rudders Lagoon on Crescent Head Road and it may require closure this afternoon.
- Armidale Road is CLOSED inside Armidale Shire from the Forest Way intersection to the Kempsey Shire Council boundary
Water may rise rapidly in some locations and lead to further road closures.
It is anticipated that most bridges that cross the Macleay River upstream of Kempsey will begin closing this afternoon.
- Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
- Toorooka Bridge is OPEN
- Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
- Turners Flat Bridge is OPEN
- Sherwood Bridge is OPEN
- Dungay Creek Causeway is CLOSED
The following NAIDOC events have been postponed due to the heavy rain.
- Elders Barefoot Bowls - the new date has not been announced.
- Kempsey Toyota NAIDOC Golf Day - the new date is Friday July 15
- Kempsey NAIDOC Men's Lawn Bowls - the new date is Friday July 15.
2pm: Kempsey Shire Council's flood cameras show how much river levels are rising. Manly Hydraulics Lab maintains a flood monitoring camera on the Macleay River at Kempsey as part of the Kempsey flood warning system. Camera images are updated every hour in normal conditions. The Sherwood Bridge flood monitoring camera displays the bridge deck so residents can see if the bridge is affected by flooding of the Macleay River. The Sherwood Bridge flood monitoring camera displays the bridge deck so residents can see if the bridge is affected by flooding of the Macleay River. The time stamp on the Sherwood Bridge camera uses Australian Eastern Standard Time, NOT Australian Eastern Daylight Time.
10:30am: A flood warning has been issued for the Nambucca River. Moderate flooding is likely at Bowraville from this afternoon. Minor flooding is likely at Macksville See BOM NSW warnings/
10am: Kempsey Shire Council has closed its floodgates as a precaution. This includes the floodgates at Kinchela Creek, Belmore River, Christmas Creek and Euroka Creek. The flood relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River are also closed. The Macleay River upstream of Turners Flat remains relatively low due to the coastal focused rainfall. The river at Turners Flat had a rising trend overnight, however the water levels remain well below a concerning level. Should the current rain pass quickly and result in only minor river rises, the floodgates will re-open later in the week.
In the event of flooding, Kempsey Shire Council urges people to:
- refrain from driving or walking through flood water
- consider the impact of possible road closures and flood isolation on work, family and educational commitments
- monitor emergency warnings and severe weather updates on local ABC radio, the NSW SES Mid North Coast Facebook page and the Bureau of Meteorology website
- if your property is at risk of inundation, raise moveable items, such as furniture, as high as possible onto benches or tables, placing electrical items on top
- if you live in a low-lying area and are advised by an emergency services officer to evacuate, please do so
- secure outside belongings and before leaving turn off the power and water and take essential medicines and clothes with you.
Residents and visitors are urged to remain cautious on the roads for localised impacts and not attempt to drive through floodwaters or cross flooded bridges. Council's work teams are inspecting roads and any areas of concern will be advised.
Council welcomes advice from residents in outlying areas about any concerns. These can be reported to Council on 6566 3200.
