Jihad Dib
Minister for Customer Service and Digital Government
Minister for Emergency Services
Minister for Youth Justice
Janelle Saffin
Minister for Recovery
Minister for Small Business
Minister for the North Coast
MEDIA RELEASE
Recovery continues for Mid North Coast communities as NSW SES hand over to NSW Reconstruction Authority
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has concluded its operational response after heavy rainfall and severe flooding caused extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure on the Mid North Coast and in the Hunter.
Floods in some areas were the highest ever recorded, including in Taree, where the Manning River exceeded a century-old record.
The SES led an extensive emergency response with volunteers and partner agencies – including NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW, NSW Police, NSW Ambulance, Surf Life Saving NSW, Marine Rescue NSW, and VRA Rescue NSW – working tirelessly to protect and support impacted communities.
During the response the SES carried out resupply operations to isolated communities, delivering essential supplies including food, water and medicine, as well as conducting hundreds of flood rescues.
Hundreds more emergency service partners and community members have tirelessly assisted with damage assessments, as well as undertaking cleanout and washout of damaged properties.
Since Wednesday 14 May, in response to the heavy rainfall and severe flooding, the NSW SES has:
- Received 17,679 calls for assistance
- Responded to 8,895 incidents
- Completed 806 flood rescues
- Issued 1,206 warnings
- Completed 416 resupply missions to isolated communities
- Conducted more than 12,020 damage assessments
- Mobilised more than 2,200 NSW SES volunteers to assist communities, alongside:
- 836 emergency service partner personnel from NSW and across the country
- 70 emergency service personnel from Australian Defence
- 6 emergency service personnel from New Zealand.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority will now assume responsibility for managing clean-up and repair efforts in the impacted communities as part of the recovery process.
Recovery Access Points are up and running in Taree, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Macksville and Maitland.
Residents affected by the Mid North Coast floods can now claim financial assistance for essential costs related to the natural disaster.
Eligible individuals will receive a one-off payment of $180 or up to $900 per household to help cover costs such as food, clothing, medicines and emergency accommodation.
For more information on impacted suburbs and to prepare to apply, visit: www.service.nsw.gov.au/east-coast-personal-hardship
Minister for Emergency Services Jihad Dib said:
“The floods on the Mid North Coast have devastated communities, and once again the NSW SES has answered the call to support local communities during the worst of times.
“We’ve seen thousands of people come together in support of one another with many more putting their hand up to join our volunteer ranks.
“I’ve met dozens of volunteers on the ground in Kempsey, Maitland, Port Macquarie, Taree and Wingham in the past week, and witnessed first-hand the exceptional support from across NSW, as well as interstate and internationally.
“As we move from the response phase into the recovery phase, we reiterate our message to the community that we’ll continue to walk the road ahead together.”
Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin said:
“A big thank you to the SES for the work they did in response to the floods. The work that they did saved lives.
“The NSW Reconstruction Authority will now lead recovery operations, and we already have teams on the ground helping people get back on their feet so they can return to their daily lives.
‘We have appointed former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens as Recovery Coordinator responsible for co-ordinating clean-up and repair efforts in the affected communities.”
NSW SES Commissioner Mike Wassing said:
“I want to thank SES volunteers, and our emergency service colleagues from across Australia and New Zealand for their dedication and commitment during this crisis.
“As we transition into the recovery phase of this operation, our priority remains delivering essential supplies to residents who remain isolated.
“While the SES hands over the recovery operation to the Reconstruction Authority, I thank the thousands of community members who mobilised to support and assist with the clean-up.
“Many SES volunteers responding to this event live in impacted areas, leaving their families and loved ones to help their communities, and I’m certain they’ll rebuild stronger than before.”
MEDIA:
Cameron McAloon | Minister Dib | 0437 100 681
Leon Fry-Kontaxis | Minister Saffin | 0417 962 370