A recovery operation is underway following a storm on Thursday afternoon with streets around the Dubbo CBD closed to traffic and pedestrians.
The storm caused significant damage across the Dubbo area, while a tower crane in the CBD fell.
A safety and recovery operation is underway with emergency services onsite for at least the next 24 hours.
The operation will involve the closure of part of the Dubbo CBD to pedestrians and vehicles, and businesses have been advised they will also need to close in some sections of the CBD on Friday 27 March.
Structural engineers will be undertaking a safety assessment of the crane before the components are recovered. This will involve heavy vehicle movements in the area.
NSW Police are advising people to stay away from the area, and police and DRC staff will be on site to ensure people and vehicles remain outside the exclusion zone.
Exclusion zones:
- Roads will remain closed to vehicles on Macquarie Street between Talbragar and Wingewarra Street.
- Pedestrians will be able to access Macquarie Street between Church Street and Talbragar Street.
- Bligh Street will remain closed to vehicles between Talbragar Street and Wingewarra Street.
- The Tracker Riley Shared Pathway on the river between Wingewarra Street and Talbragar Street will be closed to pedestrians.
Business closures:
Business accessed via Macquarie Street between Church Street and Wingewarra Street will not have access to open their businesses on Friday.
This impacts businesses on both sides of Macquarie Street in the exclusion zone. Business on the eastern side of Macquarie Street with rear access can trade using the rear entrance only and NSW Police will be on site ensuring the area remains clear.
Businesses on Macquarie Street north of Church Street are able to open on Friday, with pedestrian access only.
Businesses on Macquarie Street south of Wingewarra Street are unaffected and able to operate as normal.
The exclusion zone will be reviewed during the day, and further advice will be issued as changes are made.
