As the rain settled a little and the sun poked its head out this week, attention turned to mop up operations around the Central Coast.
After receiving more that 600mm of rain over a two-week period, the region was left with debris-strewn baches, major pothole issues and road damage as Central Coast Council swung into recovery mode.
Council set up a Recovery Committee to work with Resilience NSW as the water receded this week with Ausgrid addressing power outages and the Ambulance Service, SES, RFS and NSW Health continuing to assist with welfare checks and provision of support.
As flooding eased on the Wyong River and Tuggerah Lake the NSW SES issued an all clear and lifted evacuation orders, with an Impact Assessment for Tuggerah Lakes underway as high amounts of debris are expected to be flowing into the waterways.
Debris and mixed rubbish also continued to wash ashore on the beaches closest to the Hawkesbury River, including Umina, Ocean Beach, Patonga and Killcare.
Other beaches including Avoca and Macmasters were also strewn with debris.
Council crews have already collected over 35 tonnes of debris and will continue the clean up to make beach and foreshore accessways safe and stop rubbish returning to the waterways.
All 15 patrolled Central Coast beaches remain closed with pollution alerts in place for a number of them.
Daily pollution forecasts can be viewed online at the Beachwatch website.
Significant beach erosion has occurred, particularly to the north of the region, but there have been no reports of damage to private property and limited impacts to beach access infrastructure.
Residents are advised to remain alert for falling trees, with root systems likely to be impacted.
During the weather event Council attended more than 120 after-hour callouts and closed more than 80 roads across the Coast.
As at March 10, Council had repaired more than 5,300 potholes with repairs continuing this week.
Repair works on the water and sewer network continued as floodwaters receded and residents are asked to continue to conserve water while water treatment plants at Mardi and Somersby work to process highly turbid source water which entered the dams as a result of the rainfall.
Council is prioritising bulk kerbside collections for flood affected regions which is causing up to a two-week delay on standard bulk kerbside collections.
During clean-up activities residents are warned: not to enter a damaged building or structure, unless deemed safe to do so by authorities; to take great care around electricity, following SES Electricity Safety Tips; and to be alert to snakes, spiders, rats and other wildlife that may have taken refuge in the building, structure or furniture.
Meanwhile, Pop-up Recovery Hubs at Spencer and The Entrance are still operating.
The centre at Spencer Community Hall will be open from 10am-2pm on March 19, and from 10am-4pm on March 21 and 22.
The centre at Diggers at The Entrance will be open from 10am-2pm on March 20 and from 10am-4pm on March 23 and 24.
Terry Collins
