Emergency Services Minister Tony Kelly and State Emergency Service Director General Murray Kear today visited the city to inspect damage and thank the emergency services for their work to help the community over the past two days.
Mr Kelly said the torrential rains throughout yesterday and last night had caused flooding and damage to infrastructure, homes and rural properties.
"The natural disaster declaration, covering the Tamworth Regional Council local government area, will provide for a range of assistance to residents, business owners and councils whose properties were damaged in the storms," Mr Kelly said.
"Most importantly, it ensures councils are reimbursed for the cost of repairing public infrastructure."
Mr Kelly said about 200mm of rain had fallen over the district in 36 hours, resulting in major flooding, with floodwaters on the Peel River peaking at six metres at 8am.
He said the SES had received 175 requests for help from the community, primarily for damage from leaking roofs and requests for sandbagging to prevent water entering premises.
"About 130 homes have been impacted in some way by the storms or flash flooding, with seven residents last night evacuated and receiving assistance from the Department of Community Services," he said.
"In a colossal effort by our emergency services, including the SES and the Rural Fire Service, 10,000 sandbags were filled last night to hold back rising floodwaters."
Mr Kelly said 11 people had been rescued from floodwaters overnight, including a grandmother and her 10-year-old grandson who were washed from their vehicle on a flooded causeway near Tamworth.
"I would urge people not to enter floodwaters under any circumstances. It is impossible to tell how deep or quickly floodwaters are flowing, particularly in the dark," he said.
"People are not only risking their own safety but also that of our emergency services personnel who come to their rescue.
"I want to pay tribute to the emergency services who showed tremendous courage and determination in performing these rescues in arduous conditions last night."
Mr Kelly said the floodwaters had caused extensive road damage, with many roads washed out. All access routes except the main bridge into Tamworth had been cut and the Oxley Highway had been closed for some time but since re-opened.
"A great deal of fencing is also down and there are reports of serious stock losses," he said.
"This flood will be a cruel blow for wheat farmers, some of whom had their best crop for 30 years. There is the potential for crop losses for farmers who had not yet harvested and now may find the ground is too sodden for harvesting equipment."
The SES is continuing to monitor conditions in Gunnedah and Manilla for potential flooding. SES volunteers are doorknocking up to 60 residents in Manilla as a precaution to alert them to the risk of flooding.
Mr Kelly thanked all the members of the emergency services who had come to the aid of the people of Tamworth and its surrounds.
"About 100 SES volunteers, including storm and floodboat teams from Tamworth, Narrabri, Boggabri, Nundle, Gunnedah, Tambar Springs, Armidale, Liverpool Plains and Lake Macquarie have joined this operation.
"The NSW Fire Brigades, Rural Fire Service, NSW Ambulance Service and Tamworth Regional Council staff are also supporting the operation.
"As always, our SES volunteers and other emergency services workers responded quickly to calls for help and have put in a huge effort."
Mr Kear said in times of trouble, whether it be storms, floods, other natural disasters or accidents, the SES volunteers and members of other emergency services were always ready to help those in need.
"Their hard work and commitment to protecting their community deserves the highest praise and I thank them for their efforts," Mr Kear said.
"I would urge anyone who still needs help from the SES to call 132 500."
Natural Disaster Assistance
The natural disaster declaration provides a range of assistance for families, businesses and local councils affected by the storm.
The assistance to areas declared a "natural disaster" include:
- Personal hardship and distress assistance - through the Department of Community Services - to people in distressed financial circumstances due to damage to houses and property.
- Low interest loans to primary producers and small businesses.
- Primary producers can obtain subsidies of up to 50 per cent of the cost of road transport of livestock and emergency fodder.
- Grants to local councils to meet the additional costs of emergency work to restore essential services.
- Assistance to sporting clubs to restore facilities damaged or destroyed.
- Loan assistance to churches and other voluntary non-profit organisations to restore facilities damaged or destroyed.
Minister for Emergency Services Media Contact: 02 9228 3999
More information on Natural Disaster Relief Arrangements
NSW Government - Office for Emergency Services News and Events
