'Toughest people in the country': Premier praises Hunter's flood resilience
The NSW Premier has thanked flood-affected communities for their patience and forbearance while speaking in Maitland about the severe weather situation.
Chris Minns said the "very serious storm front that's smashed through the coast into parts of the Hunter" had brought weather conditions many in the region would not have seen in their lifetime.
"We're seeing levels of rise in local tributaries, creeks, rivers that we haven't seen since 1920 and many people would have never seen this level of inundation or flooding in their communities," he said.
"We recognise that this is a new thing for many families and many communities. We want to make sure that they're safe during this period.
"To do that, we're going to give the most up-to-date detailed information that we possibly can."
Mr Minns said information would be provided through the Hazards Near Me app, emergency broadcast and local media.
"I you're in the flood zone, if you're in a prepare-to-evacuate zone, if you're in a prepare-to-be-isolated zone, it's really incumbent upon you to listen to emergency services to make sure that you're making decisions in the best interest of your family," he said.
Mr Minns said while there were 2500 emergency service workers deployed, the number of communities isolated and homes inundated "far exceed the amount of boats, the amount of helicopters, the amount of trucks that any government can provide".
However, he said the NSW State Emergency Service had not asked for additional resources from other areas or states.
"When you've got an area as big as we're looking at, particularly for the evacuation zone, 9500 houses, for example, there's not 9500 boats," Mr Minns said.
"It's not possible to coordinate that level of rescue. So, the Commissioner has said that the resources he's happy with. Replacements are coming in to give frontline workers a reprieve and some respite.
"Of course, if any of my emergency service commissioners said that they need more resources, we would give it to them immediately."
Mr Minns also praised the resilience of the communities affected.
"We're talking about some of the toughest people in the state, in the country," the Premier said.
"They're incredibly resilient, very proud people. A lot of the emergency volunteers are from this community and if they're not in the SES, they're in the RFS.
"They may be police officers or firefighters in any event.
"So they're tough, but we're going to need them to be because... after the cameras go, the focus moves onto some other drama in the country, this community will have to get back up on its feet, and we're determined to walk that road with them."
The NSW Premier has thanked flood-affected communities for their patience and forbearance while speaking in Maitland about the severe weather situation.
Chris Minns said the "very serious storm front that's smashed through the coast into parts of the Hunter" had brought weather conditions many in the region would not have seen in their lifetime.
"We're seeing levels of rise in local tributaries, creeks, rivers that we haven't seen since 1920 and many people would have never seen this level of inundation or flooding in their communities," he said.
"We recognise that this is a new thing for many families and many communities. We want to make sure that they're safe during this period.
"To do that, we're going to give the most up-to-date detailed information that we possibly can."
Mr Minns said information would be provided through the Hazards Near Me app, emergency broadcast and local media.
"I you're in the flood zone, if you're in a prepare-to-evacuate zone, if you're in a prepare-to-be-isolated zone, it's really incumbent upon you to listen to emergency services to make sure that you're making decisions in the best interest of your family," he said.
Mr Minns said while there were 2500 emergency service workers deployed, the number of communities isolated and homes inundated "far exceed the amount of boats, the amount of helicopters, the amount of trucks that any government can provide".
However, he said the NSW State Emergency Service had not asked for additional resources from other areas or states.
"When you've got an area as big as we're looking at, particularly for the evacuation zone, 9500 houses, for example, there's not 9500 boats," Mr Minns said.
"It's not possible to coordinate that level of rescue. So, the Commissioner has said that the resources he's happy with. Replacements are coming in to give frontline workers a reprieve and some respite.
"Of course, if any of my emergency service commissioners said that they need more resources, we would give it to them immediately."
Mr Minns also praised the resilience of the communities affected.
"We're talking about some of the toughest people in the state, in the country," the Premier said.
"They're incredibly resilient, very proud people. A lot of the emergency volunteers are from this community and if they're not in the SES, they're in the RFS.
"They may be police officers or firefighters in any event.
"So they're tough, but we're going to need them to be because... after the cameras go, the focus moves onto some other drama in the country, this community will have to get back up on its feet, and we're determined to walk that road with them."
The NSW Premier has thanked flood-affected communities for their patience and forbearance while speaking in Maitland about the severe weather situation.
Chris Minns said the "very serious storm front that's smashed through the coast into parts of the Hunter" had brought weather conditions many in the region would not have seen in their lifetime.
"We're seeing levels of rise in local tributaries, creeks, rivers that we haven't seen since 1920 and many people would have never seen this level of inundation or flooding in their communities," he said.
"We recognise that this is a new thing for many families and many communities. We want to make sure that they're safe during this period.
"To do that, we're going to give the most up-to-date detailed information that we possibly can."
Mr Minns said information would be provided through the Hazards Near Me app, emergency broadcast and local media.
"I you're in the flood zone, if you're in a prepare-to-evacuate zone, if you're in a prepare-to-be-isolated zone, it's really incumbent upon you to listen to emergency services to make sure that you're making decisions in the best interest of your family," he said.
Mr Minns said while there were 2500 emergency service workers deployed, the number of communities isolated and homes inundated "far exceed the amount of boats, the amount of helicopters, the amount of trucks that any government can provide".
However, he said the NSW State Emergency Service had not asked for additional resources from other areas or states.
"When you've got an area as big as we're looking at, particularly for the evacuation zone, 9500 houses, for example, there's not 9500 boats," Mr Minns said.
"It's not possible to coordinate that level of rescue. So, the Commissioner has said that the resources he's happy with. Replacements are coming in to give frontline workers a reprieve and some respite.
"Of course, if any of my emergency service commissioners said that they need more resources, we would give it to them immediately."
Mr Minns also praised the resilience of the communities affected.
"We're talking about some of the toughest people in the state, in the country," the Premier said.
"They're incredibly resilient, very proud people. A lot of the emergency volunteers are from this community and if they're not in the SES, they're in the RFS.
"They may be police officers or firefighters in any event.
"So they're tough, but we're going to need them to be because... after the cameras go, the focus moves onto some other drama in the country, this community will have to get back up on its feet, and we're determined to walk that road with them."
The NSW Premier has thanked flood-affected communities for their patience and forbearance while speaking in Maitland about the severe weather situation.
Chris Minns said the "very serious storm front that's smashed through the coast into parts of the Hunter" had brought weather conditions many in the region would not have seen in their lifetime.
"We're seeing levels of rise in local tributaries, creeks, rivers that we haven't seen since 1920 and many people would have never seen this level of inundation or flooding in their communities," he said.
"We recognise that this is a new thing for many families and many communities. We want to make sure that they're safe during this period.
"To do that, we're going to give the most up-to-date detailed information that we possibly can."
Mr Minns said information would be provided through the Hazards Near Me app, emergency broadcast and local media.
"I you're in the flood zone, if you're in a prepare-to-evacuate zone, if you're in a prepare-to-be-isolated zone, it's really incumbent upon you to listen to emergency services to make sure that you're making decisions in the best interest of your family," he said.
Mr Minns said while there were 2500 emergency service workers deployed, the number of communities isolated and homes inundated "far exceed the amount of boats, the amount of helicopters, the amount of trucks that any government can provide".
However, he said the NSW State Emergency Service had not asked for additional resources from other areas or states.
"When you've got an area as big as we're looking at, particularly for the evacuation zone, 9500 houses, for example, there's not 9500 boats," Mr Minns said.
"It's not possible to coordinate that level of rescue. So, the Commissioner has said that the resources he's happy with. Replacements are coming in to give frontline workers a reprieve and some respite.
"Of course, if any of my emergency service commissioners said that they need more resources, we would give it to them immediately."
Mr Minns also praised the resilience of the communities affected.
"We're talking about some of the toughest people in the state, in the country," the Premier said.
"They're incredibly resilient, very proud people. A lot of the emergency volunteers are from this community and if they're not in the SES, they're in the RFS.
"They may be police officers or firefighters in any event.
"So they're tough, but we're going to need them to be because... after the cameras go, the focus moves onto some other drama in the country, this community will have to get back up on its feet, and we're determined to walk that road with them."
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If you find an animal injured, in distress, disoriented, heavily waterlogged, or in an unexpected location, you should seek advice from a trained wildlife rescuer or vet via the IFAW Wildlife Rescue app. Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife. To report a stranded, injured or entangled whale, dolphin, seal or other marine mammal, please contact the ORRCA rescue hotline on 02 9415 3333 or the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS). Those in flood-affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and check the NSW State Emergency Service website for regular updates via or the Hazards Near Me app. For assistance during floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500 or Triple Zero (000) for life-threatening emergencies. Myall Lakes National Park will remain closed for at least a month due to damage sustained from last month's wild weather. Severe erosion and flooding throughout much of the area, in addition to damage to infrastructure, have made much of the area inaccessible. A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said it was too soon to know when the park would reopen. "It's too soon to know how long it will take to reopen it, but we want to get it open as soon as possible," he said. It is among a number of parks and campsites across the Hunter that are likely to remain closed over the long weekend due to flooding, plus the possibility that strong winds will cause more damage. Park closures in the Hunter include: For existing campground bookings affected by severe weather, NPWS has notified customers and provided full refunds. If you find an animal injured, in distress, disoriented, heavily waterlogged, or in an unexpected location, you should seek advice from a trained wildlife rescuer or vet via the IFAW Wildlife Rescue app. Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife. To report a stranded, injured or entangled whale, dolphin, seal or other marine mammal, please contact the ORRCA rescue hotline on 02 9415 3333 or the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS). Those in flood-affected areas are urged to remain vigilant and check the NSW State Emergency Service website for regular updates via or the Hazards Near Me app. For assistance during floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500 or Triple Zero (000) for life-threatening emergencies. Myall Lakes National Park will remain closed for at least a month due to damage sustained from last month's wild weather. Severe erosion and flooding throughout much of the area, in addition to damage to infrastructure, have made much of the area inaccessible. A National Parks and Wildlife Service spokesman said it was too soon to know when the park would reopen. "It's too soon to know how long it will take to reopen it, but we want to get it open as soon as possible," he said. It is among a number of parks and campsites across the Hunter that are likely to remain closed over the long weekend due to flooding, plus the possibility that strong winds will cause more damage. Park closures in the Hunter include: For existing campground bookings affected by severe weather, NPWS has notified customers and provided full refunds. If you find an animal injured, in distress, disoriented, heavily waterlogged, or in an unexpected location, you should seek advice from a trained wildlife rescuer or vet via the IFAW Wildlife Rescue app. Do not put yourself or others in danger attempting to rescue wildlife. To report a stranded, injured or entangled whale, dolphin, seal or other marine mammal, please contact the ORRCA rescue hotline on 02 9415 3333 or the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service on 1300 072 757 (13000 PARKS). 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Waterspout appears over Anna Bay in day of rotten weather in the Hunter
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The uncommon waterspout at Anna Bay was captured by residents, who posted photos and videos on social media. The phenomenon is typically caused when wind blowing in contrary directions meet, creating a twisting action along the convergence line. The result forces air upwards, carrying water with it, and can result in localised heavy showers as it passes. It is not uncommon to see multiple spouts drifting in a line across the horizon, forecasters say, as the converging edge of the two wind gusts causes the air to twist at several points. The return to rain at the weekend came with a sense of trepidation as residents across the region and the Mid-North Coast recovered from widespread flooding last month. It comes as the state and federal governments expand disaster relief grants and funding this week, dating back to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February. 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But it needs to be done in a consistent way because the truth of the matter is, I can't guarantee there's not another one of these disasters next week, next month, next year." Residents of Port Stephens captured a waterspout over Anna Bay on Wednesday afternoon, as the grey and cold weather blanketed much of the region. Temperatures dropped on Wednesday as a cold front moved offshore, pushed by a high-pressure system drifting across the state. This brought showers to an already sodden region. Partly cloudy conditions dominated much of the forecast for the remainder of the work week, with a return to mostly sunny conditions on Saturday, but not before dangerous and powerful surf conditions battered the coast and the Upper Hunter braced for one of the first flushes of frost for the season. Newcastle was in line for a shower or two on Thursday, most likely in the morning, forecasters said, as a surf warning remained in effect until Friday, when conditions were expected to ease. The uncommon waterspout at Anna Bay was captured by residents, who posted photos and videos on social media. The phenomenon is typically caused when wind blowing in contrary directions meet, creating a twisting action along the convergence line. The result forces air upwards, carrying water with it, and can result in localised heavy showers as it passes. It is not uncommon to see multiple spouts drifting in a line across the horizon, forecasters say, as the converging edge of the two wind gusts causes the air to twist at several points. The return to rain at the weekend came with a sense of trepidation as residents across the region and the Mid-North Coast recovered from widespread flooding last month. It comes as the state and federal governments expand disaster relief grants and funding this week, dating back to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February. During question time in the NSW Parliament on Wednesday, Premier Chris Minns, said the state and its federal counterpart were providing a slew of relief funds, including disaster recovery grants, hardship payments up to $900 for families, income support payments, one-off federal government disaster payments, and support for councils, emergency services and roads and infrastructure recovery. "I genuinely do accept that this is a start," Mr Minns told the Parliament. "We need to do this in conjunction with the Commonwealth government. It needs to be 50-50, payments." "This shouldn't come down to dollars and cents, but I need to make sure that this is sustainable." "In the period between 2019 and today, we've spent more than $6 billion, and we wouldn't take any of that money back. It's absolutely essential that we spend it. But it needs to be done in a consistent way because the truth of the matter is, I can't guarantee there's not another one of these disasters next week, next month, next year." Residents of Port Stephens captured a waterspout over Anna Bay on Wednesday afternoon, as the grey and cold weather blanketed much of the region. Temperatures dropped on Wednesday as a cold front moved offshore, pushed by a high-pressure system drifting across the state. This brought showers to an already sodden region. Partly cloudy conditions dominated much of the forecast for the remainder of the work week, with a return to mostly sunny conditions on Saturday, but not before dangerous and powerful surf conditions battered the coast and the Upper Hunter braced for one of the first flushes of frost for the season. Newcastle was in line for a shower or two on Thursday, most likely in the morning, forecasters said, as a surf warning remained in effect until Friday, when conditions were expected to ease. The uncommon waterspout at Anna Bay was captured by residents, who posted photos and videos on social media. The phenomenon is typically caused when wind blowing in contrary directions meet, creating a twisting action along the convergence line. The result forces air upwards, carrying water with it, and can result in localised heavy showers as it passes. It is not uncommon to see multiple spouts drifting in a line across the horizon, forecasters say, as the converging edge of the two wind gusts causes the air to twist at several points. The return to rain at the weekend came with a sense of trepidation as residents across the region and the Mid-North Coast recovered from widespread flooding last month. It comes as the state and federal governments expand disaster relief grants and funding this week, dating back to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February. During question time in the NSW Parliament on Wednesday, Premier Chris Minns, said the state and its federal counterpart were providing a slew of relief funds, including disaster recovery grants, hardship payments up to $900 for families, income support payments, one-off federal government disaster payments, and support for councils, emergency services and roads and infrastructure recovery. "I genuinely do accept that this is a start," Mr Minns told the Parliament. "We need to do this in conjunction with the Commonwealth government. It needs to be 50-50, payments." "This shouldn't come down to dollars and cents, but I need to make sure that this is sustainable." "In the period between 2019 and today, we've spent more than $6 billion, and we wouldn't take any of that money back. It's absolutely essential that we spend it. 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Primary producers who are eligible of recovery help will have access to grants up to $25,000 for clean-up and operations recovery, a figure matched for small businesses and no-profits. Rural landholders will be able to access $10,000 for repairs, including fixing damaged fences and equipment. The suite adds to grants and other relief already announced dating back to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February, and tacks on to individual hardship payments of up to $900 for families that were made available last week. The federal government has urged Hunter and Mid North Coast farmers and landholders to complete the state's disaster assessment survey for primary producers to assess their eligibility for funding access. "We know how tough this period has been for so many across NSW, and this funding is about making sure people get the support they need to recover and rebuild with dignity," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement Tuesday. The grants have been made available according to local government areas impacted by the floods, from the Mid North Coast to the Central Coast, taking in the Hunter. "This funding ensures people get the support they need now, whether it's a roof over their head, financial assistance or help rebuilding," Premier Chris Minns said. The relief comes as the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Monday that last month's weather set new May rainfall records at Williamtown and Swansea at some five times the 77-year monthly average. Farmers and rural landholders inundated by flooding across the NSW east coast last month will have access to federal grants to help cover costs of damages and recovery, the Prime Minister has pledged. Primary producers who are eligible of recovery help will have access to grants up to $25,000 for clean-up and operations recovery, a figure matched for small businesses and no-profits. Rural landholders will be able to access $10,000 for repairs, including fixing damaged fences and equipment. The suite adds to grants and other relief already announced dating back to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February, and tacks on to individual hardship payments of up to $900 for families that were made available last week. The federal government has urged Hunter and Mid North Coast farmers and landholders to complete the state's disaster assessment survey for primary producers to assess their eligibility for funding access. "We know how tough this period has been for so many across NSW, and this funding is about making sure people get the support they need to recover and rebuild with dignity," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement Tuesday. The grants have been made available according to local government areas impacted by the floods, from the Mid North Coast to the Central Coast, taking in the Hunter. "This funding ensures people get the support they need now, whether it's a roof over their head, financial assistance or help rebuilding," Premier Chris Minns said. The relief comes as the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Monday that last month's weather set new May rainfall records at Williamtown and Swansea at some five times the 77-year monthly average. Farmers and rural landholders inundated by flooding across the NSW east coast last month will have access to federal grants to help cover costs of damages and recovery, the Prime Minister has pledged. Primary producers who are eligible of recovery help will have access to grants up to $25,000 for clean-up and operations recovery, a figure matched for small businesses and no-profits. Rural landholders will be able to access $10,000 for repairs, including fixing damaged fences and equipment. The suite adds to grants and other relief already announced dating back to Tropical Cyclone Alfred in February, and tacks on to individual hardship payments of up to $900 for families that were made available last week. The federal government has urged Hunter and Mid North Coast farmers and landholders to complete the state's disaster assessment survey for primary producers to assess their eligibility for funding access. "We know how tough this period has been for so many across NSW, and this funding is about making sure people get the support they need to recover and rebuild with dignity," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said in a statement Tuesday. The grants have been made available according to local government areas impacted by the floods, from the Mid North Coast to the Central Coast, taking in the Hunter. "This funding ensures people get the support they need now, whether it's a roof over their head, financial assistance or help rebuilding," Premier Chris Minns said. The relief comes as the Bureau of Meteorology confirmed on Monday that last month's weather set new May rainfall records at Williamtown and Swansea at some five times the 77-year monthly average.
