Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM has paid tribute to the efforts of emergency services crews during the recent weather event while calling on all levels of government to work together on “long-term, sustainable plans to deal with floods”.
The recent severe weather event resulted in flooding, road closures and evacuations in some parts of Blacktown City, with the city declaring a natural disaster area for the second time in six months.
“A huge thank you goes out to our volunteers, emergency services workers and our own Council crews for their efforts during the second major flooding event to hit our city in a matter of months,” Mayor Bleasdale said.
“We’ve had our local SES and RFS crews working around the clock, as well as SES crews from other areas, Australian Defence Force personnel, surf lifesavers, and Fire and Rescue crews all come together in this time of crisis.
“Council crews have been working around the clock on our roads and other areas of flood damage to assist our affected residents and businesses.
“My heart goes out to those people who have been affected, especially those who have experienced their third major flood in 18 months.
“I’m calling for coordinated, long-term flood-mitigation planning involving all three levels of government, emergency services, the ADF and the housing industry to provide some real solutions to this recurring nightmare for residents and businesses.
“Whether it’s management of water levels in Warragamba Dam, restricting development, house buy-backs, increased evacuation routes, large-scale water retention schemes, massive engineering works, increasing green space or a combination of all of these – we need the long-term plans now, not for the next five or 10 years, but for the next 50 years.
“Flood fatigue is real. It is having a devastating effect on the health and financial wellbeing of far too many residents, businesses and our volunteers.”
Blacktown has worked with Resilience NSW in opening a Recovery Assistance Point in Riverstone from 18 July and is providing a free clean-up service in flood-affected areas.
The Federal Government’s Natural Disaster Declaration for Blacktown City means Blacktown receives financial assistance to support the clean-up and road repair costs.
Summary of flood operations in Blacktown City:
* At the height of the flooding, the SES received 216 requests for assistance, undertook 24 flood rescues and 134 rapid damage assessments.
* The stormwater flooding in Blacktown City has been declared a ‘Natural Disaster’ by the NSW Government.
* Council closed about 15 roads due to localised flooding.
* Council supplied about 50 tonnes of sand to the SES to prepare sand bags.
* A large number of pot-holes have appeared throughout the city, particularly in the city’s north-west. Council crews are conducting temporary repairs at each location.
