With parts of the MidCoast experiencing one in 500 year flood levels over the past week, the clean up is expected to be a long road for many of our communities who have experienced devastating impacts.
With recovery efforts in full swing MidCoast Council has been working closely with the NSW Police, Public Works Advisory, Fire and Rescue NSW, SES, EPA, LLS, NPWS and the NSW Rural Fire Service.
Over the weekend Council staff assisted business owners, residents and volunteers to start the large clean up.
Teams from Fire and Rescue NSW and the NSW Rural Fire Service have been undertaking rapid damage assessments and washouts while Council assisted in stripping out and removing flood damaged property and damaged building materials.
The localities visited by the teams include Gloucester, Bulahdelah, Taree CBD, Taree Estate, Taree Browns Creek area, Glenthorne, Manning Point, Croki, Oxley and Mitchells Island, Wingham Town, Wingham Peninsula and Cundletown.
In two days alone, thousands of tonnes of rubbish have been removed from parts of Taree and Wingham. There are many areas where waste is accumulating on the kerbside and Council with its contractors will get there to pick it up.
More than 1600 assessments of residential, commercial and industrial premises have been undertaken by Rapid Damage Assessment teams, with 488 buildings declared uninhabitable as of Monday morning with the expectation of many more.
Council engaged a fleet of over 50 private trucks and other plant on a daily basis to help remove waste from kerbsides. To facilitate the effective and efficient removal of Taree area waste, a temporary waste transfer site has been set up at Kanangra Drive, Taree with waste then transferred away by semi-trailer. We have established an identical facility in Wingham at the former Glenyarra quarry.
Below is some important information for the community on aspects of clean up and recovery.
Recovery hub
Keep up to date with flood information at Council's flood recovery hub which is updated regularly at www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/floodrecovery
Flood waste kerbside collections – phone hotline
Flood waste will be collected from kerbsides in flood impacted areas.
Residents or businesses can ring and register their pile for collection by calling MidCoast Council on 7955 7777 and take option 1, you will then speak to one of our customer service staff who will take details from you.
If possible the waste should be sorted into piles on the kerb into the following categories - green waste, whitegoods/ metal, household chemicals and general waste.
Free disposal of flood waste at waste management centres
Residents and business owners can also take flood waste to the Bucketts Way and Gloucester Waste Management Facilities free of charge until June 6.
Reconstruction Authority Recovery Centres
The Reconstruction Authority will be operating a recovery centre in Taree at the Manning Uniting Church in Albert Street from Tuesday.
The Recovery Centre will provide information on financial help, housing support, insurance issues, or emotional wellbeing support.
Hours are:
Tuesday 27 May: 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 28 May: 10am - 6pm
Thursday 29 May: 10am - 6pm
Friday 30 May: 10am - 4pm
Animal carcasses
For anyone who is in the unfortunate position of having to deal with deceased animals, requests for assistance regarding carcass disposal to be lodged via the Animal and Agricultural Services Hotline by calling 1800 814 647.
Beach closures
All beaches on the MidCoast between Old Bar and Seal Rocks are CLOSED while we work on clean up.
We are working with Local Land Services and National Parks to ensure the hazardous waste that is washing up, and the carcasses on our beaches, are dealt with safely.
We expect this waste to continue to wash up on our beaches for some time.
Flood water can be contaminated
Please take care when cleaning up after flood water has been through property
