With record breaking flooding across the MidCoast over the last few days isolating communities and causing havoc to infrastructure, Council crews are on the ground today attending to emergencies and closures across the road network.
Widespread flooding across the Council area has placed pressure on the already vulnerable road network and a number of other services are impacted as a result of the conditions.
"Our staff have been working around the clock on road closures and assessments, but limited accessibility is making it difficult to understand the full extent of the damage," General Manager Adrian Panuccio said.
"As we are able to get into areas our focus will be on securing essential access and then assess damage so we can prioritise repair work."
Members of the community who wish to report issues should do so via Council's website or by calling 7955 7777.
Waste services have also been impacted but all MidCoast Waste Facilities will open as normal from today, Monday 22 March.
"We know access to waste management centres will be a priority for our community once they are able to start to clean up and transport waste," Mr Panuccio said.
"As a result we have worked to ensure that all of our waste management facilities will be open as normal from today including the Gloucester facility, road access permitting."
To assist residents impacted by the floods and widespread power outages, Council is allowing food waste from flood damaged premises to be disposed of at waste management centres free of charge, due to the public health risk.
Kerbside collection services will be undertaken as normal from today, where road conditions and access permits.
Residents who have lost their bins in the flood event can call Council on 7955 7777 to organise a replacement.
The current bulky waste collection in the Manning has been suspended while Council talks with contractors to ascertain how quickly this can resume.
Council services that will be operating as normal include:
- Customer Service Centres
- Garbage collection – road condition and access permitting
- Waste Management Centres (Gloucester open on Monday)
- Libraries – Tea Gardens, Stroud, Forster – normal operating hours
While there will be changes to operations for:
- Bulky waste collection – suspended
- Burials and cemetery services – suspended
- Libraries at Gloucester, Hallidays Point, Harrington, Nabiac, Old Bar, Taree, Wingham – closed Monday 22 March
