Latest news with #MidCoastCouncil
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Maitland, Gloucester and MidCoast earmarked for war memorial funding in wake of floods
The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said. The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said. The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said. The Gloucester RSL Sub Branch in the Upper Hunter has been given $10,000 in state funding for the preservation of the community's memorial clock owner, while an equal figure was awarded to the MidCoast Council for similar works on the Wingham memorial town hall to fix devastating flood damage. The funding, released by a statement from Veteran Minister David Harris on Saturday, May 31, was part of almost $135,000 in state funding to be put towards memorial upkeep across NSW. Mr Harris said the state had extended time for communities to complete grant agreements given the recent widespread flooding across the Hunter and Mid-North Coast. The Wingham town hall was opened in April 1924 and was first dedicated to those who served in the First World War. It now includes plaques honouring those who served in the Second World War, Korea and Vietnam. The memorial's foundation stone was laid by Major General Sir Charles Rosenthal KCMG, who served on the frontline at Gallipoli and on the Western Front. All tolled, 14 sub-branches, councils and other veterans organisations were earmarked for a portion of the funding, from a total pool of some 31 applications, in the second round of the annual allotment of the Community War Memorials Fund. Among them, Maitland City Council similarly won a $10,000 slice of the pie for works to the East Greta Soldiers Memorial, and the Tomaree Museum Association was slated for $635 for maintenance to the HMAS Assault Memorial at Port Stephens. Mr Harris said the funding was a reflection of communities "proud of their military history, and local war memorials", describing them as a "vital part of our culture". "This funding will be used to undertake important conservation work so our local war memorials can continue to honour our veterans who have served our community," he said.
News.com.au
6 days ago
- Business
- News.com.au
Pacific Highway flood closure leaves driver stranded for hours in NSW
Record-breaking floods have submerged the Pacific Highway near Taree for nearly five days, leaving one motorist stranded and unable to get back home for 26 hours. A 20km stretch between Coopernook and South Taree was closed, forcing motorists like Michael Atkinson to undertake arduous detours last Wednesday. Mr Atkinson's journey from Maclean to Nelson Bay extended to 26 hours due to the closures. 'I found out there was a road closure when I got within 10km of Taree,' he told the ABC. 'It took me 26 hours to get home, driving north, camping in Glen Innes, and then driving all the way inland and up through the Hunter Valley.' These severe disruptions highlighted the region's vulnerability to extreme weather events. The MidCoast Council estimates the financial impact of the highway closure at approximately $29m, taking into account diverted traffic and disrupted supply routes. But motorists said the confusion and a lack of clear, accurate information about closures and detours made the highway shutdown even more disruptive. The Pacific Highway is a major supply route for the entire north coast of NSW, and Transport for NSW estimates that more than 26,000 vehicles use the Pacific Highway near Taree everyday with 80 per cent of them being cars and 20 per cent being trucks. Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said on Monday people needed to be mindful when driving in challenging conditions. 'LiveTraffic doesn't tell anyone to go anywhere,' Ms Aitchison said. 'Everyone's doing their best but it's a difficult situation because no matter what somebody saw 10 minutes before they went in to update LiveTraffic, it can change in an instant. 'It's a challenging situation and I'll be looking at what we can do better next time.' The recent floods have also resulted in significant human and economic tolls across the state. At least four fatalities have been reported, with nearly 50,000 residents isolated due to inundated roads. Emergency services have conducted over 675 rescues, and the Insurance Council of Australia has received more than 1,600 claims related to flood damage.
RNZ News
7 days ago
- Business
- RNZ News
'26 hours to get home': Floods close a 20-kilometre stretch of NSW Pacific Highway
By Toby Hemmings and Claire Simmonds , ABC Floodwaters inundating the northern NSW city of Lismore. Photo: AFP PHOTO / NEW SOUTH WALES STATE EMERGENCY SERVICE Record-breaking flooding created unprecedented traffic chaos on New South Wales roads last week, costing tens of millions of dollars and casting a cloud of uncertainty over the road's flood resilience . Most notably, flooding closed a 20-kilometre stretch of the Pacific Highway dual carriageway between Coopernook and South Taree for almost five days. Michael Atkinson was one of the motorists frustrated on Wednesday when he was returning home from Maclean in the Clarence Valley. The trip, which normally takes about five hours, took five times that long. "I found out there was a road closure when I got within 10 kilometres of Taree," he said. "I live in Nelson Bay. It took me 26 hours to get home, driving north, camping in Glen Innes, and then driving all the way inland and up through the Hunter Valley." According to estimates from MidCoast Council, the financial cost of the Pacific Highway closure was about $29 million, due to diverted traffic and supply routes. But drivers have told the ABC the impact of the road closures was exacerbated by incorrect and unclear information about what roads were closed and what alternative routes were available. Stretch of Pacific Highway flooded for five days. Photo: Supplied/ABC News After nearly 30 years of dual carriageway upgrades, the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border acts as a major supply route for the entire north coast of NSW. More than 26,000 vehicles use the Pacific Highway near Taree every day, according to Transport for NSW data, with 80 percent cars and 20 percent trucks. A 2020 floodplain risk management study, commissioned by MidCoast Council, estimated the cost of closing the Pacific Highway near Taree for just a day would be up to $5.79 million. The study also looked at raising the section of Pacific Highway that crossed the Manning River as an option to improve flood resilience. It estimated the upgrade would cost about $134 million, and was not financially viable. Executive director of operations management with Transport for NSW Craig Mason said flood resiliency was something the organisation would look at across the network. "Stopping the impacts in the future will require a lot of work and expense," Mason said. "But we're always looking at how we can make the network more resilient and diversions more efficient. "With the water levels, particularly through Taree being the highest ever, it's quite difficult to try and build networks that can avoid floods in any circumstance." Multiple drivers told the ABC issues with the Pacific Highway closure were exacerbated by inconsistent information from navigation apps and LiveTraffic, Transport for NSW's real-time information provider. LiveTraffic is fed real-time information by road crews dispatched from the Transport Management Centre and emergency services. A forward command centre was set up in Newcastle during the flood emergency. But navigation apps were often unclear about which routes were open or closed, leading to people becoming stranded in flood-affected areas. Over two days, about 20 people arrived in the remote valley community of Killabakh, north-west of Taree, after misdirection by navigational aids. Killabakh Rural Fire Service senior deputy captain Greg Hale and his team, on stand-by for flood rescues, met the new refugees to the valley. "Most of them consulted LiveTraffic, which is what you're told to do in emergency situations," Hale said. "And they were then advised they could come over Comboyne Mountain into Killabakh to get further south in their travels, but Killabakh itself was flooded in. "The information that was available to them about the way they could get to their destination sent them over the mountain and was certainly inappropriate." The Rural Fire Service crew enacted the local emergency management plan and opened the community hall as a shelter for those stranded for the night, which quickly turned into two nights. Jenny Aitchison speaking in Kempsey about the road network. Photo: Supplied/ABC News Speaking in Kempsey on Monday, Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said people needed to be mindful when driving in such challenging conditions. "LiveTraffic doesn't tell anyone to go anywhere," Aitchison said. "Everyone's doing their best but it's a difficult situation because no matter what somebody saw 10 minutes before they went in to update LiveTraffic, it can change in an instant. "It's a challenging situation and I'll be looking at what we can do better next time." - ABC
ABC News
7 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Record-breaking floods that closed Pacific Highway test road resilience
Record-breaking flooding created unprecedented traffic chaos on New South Wales roads last week, costing tens of millions of dollars and casting a cloud of uncertainty over the road's flood resilience. Most notably, flooding closed a 20-kilometre stretch of the Pacific Highway dual carriageway between Coopernook and South Taree for almost five days. Michael Atkinson was one of the motorists frustrated on Wednesday when he was returning home from Maclean in the Clarence Valley. The trip, which normally takes about five hours, took five times that long. "I found out there was a road closure when I got within 10 kilometres of Taree," he said. According to estimates from MidCoast Council, the financial cost of the Pacific Highway closure was about $29 million, due to diverted traffic and supply routes. But drivers have told the ABC the impact of the road closures was exacerbated by incorrect and unclear information about what roads were closed and what alternative routes were available. After nearly 30 years of dual carriageway upgrades, the Pacific Highway between Hexham and the Queensland border acts as a major supply route for the entire north coast of NSW. More than 26,000 vehicles use the Pacific Highway near Taree every day, according to Transport for NSW data, with 80 per cent cars and 20 per cent trucks. A 2020 floodplain risk management study, commissioned by MidCoast Council, estimated the cost of closing the Pacific Highway near Taree for just a day would be up to $5.79 million. The study also looked at raising the section of Pacific Highway that crossed the Manning River as an option to improve flood resilience. It estimated the upgrade would cost about $134 million, and was not financially viable. Craig Mason, the executive director of operations management with Transport for NSW, said flood resiliency was something the organisation would look at across the network. "Stopping the impacts in the future will require a lot of work and expense," Mr Mason said. "But we're always looking at how we can make the network more resilient and diversions more efficient. Multiple drivers told the ABC issues with the Pacific Highway closure were exacerbated by inconsistent information from navigation apps and LiveTraffic, Transport for NSW's real-time information provider. LiveTraffic is fed real-time information by road crews dispatched from the Transport Management Centre and emergency services. A forward command centre was set up in Newcastle during the flood emergency. But navigation apps were often unclear about which routes were open or closed, leading to people becoming stranded in flood-affected areas. Over two days, about 20 people arrived in the remote valley community of Killabakh, north-west of Taree, after misdirection by navigational aids. Killabakh Rural Fire Service senior deputy captain Greg Hale and his team, on stand-by for flood rescues, met the new refugees to the valley. "Most of them consulted LiveTraffic, which is what you're told to do in emergency situations," Mr Hale said. "And they were then advised they could come over Comboyne Mountain into Killabakh to get further south in their travels, but Killabakh itself was flooded in. The Rural Fire Service crew enacted the local emergency management plan and opened the community hall as a shelter for those stranded for the night, which quickly turned into two nights. Speaking in Kempsey on Monday, Roads Minister Jenny Aitchison said people needed to be mindful when driving in such challenging conditions. "LiveTraffic doesn't tell anyone to go anywhere," Ms Aitchison said. "Everyone's doing their best but it's a difficult situation because no matter what somebody saw 10 minutes before they went in to update LiveTraffic, it can change in an instant. "It's a challenging situation and I'll be looking at what we can do better next time."
The Advertiser
26-05-2025
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Bye bye bridge: vital link between towns washed away in floods
As the Manning River slowly starts to subside revealing the damage down by the historic floods, residents of the Mid-Coast were shocked to learn that the vital link between the two towns has been destroyed. The Bight Bridge, which connects the towns of Wingham and Tinonee, is no stranger to floods. She has withstood many, many inundations since being built in 1963. But this flood, the biggest and most devastating in the Manning's recorded history, was too much for her. A large section of the deck of the bridge has collapsed and washed away. Half of her is missing. Residents first became aware of the damage when Wingham local, Brett Godwin, posted drone footage and photographs on the town's Facebook page. While the waters still covered what was left of the bridge on Saturday morning, May 24, 2025, it was plain to see that something was clearly not right. The bridge appears to have broken off at the Wingham entrance to the bridge. As of Saturday afternoon, people on the Wingham side were heading to the town's tennis courts, which sits high on the banks overlooking the river, to see the damage for themselves. Surf Life Saving NSW members from Newcastle and Pacific Palms were also at the viewing spot with an IRB (inflatable rescue boat), doing surveillance on the bridge for MidCoast Council. The Manning River Times contacted MidCoast Council on Saturday morning regarding the Bight Bridge. However, as flood waters still cover what is left of the bridge and mud, silt and debris block the Tinonee end of the bridge, the council has not yet been able to assess the situation. What is clear is that the people of Tinonee will have no quick access to Wingham for at least a few years to come, and it will cost many millions of dollars to reconstruct the bridge. Construction of The Bight Bridge began in 1962 and completed in December 1962. It was officially opened on April 11, 1964. The bridge was engineered to withstand flooding. It was made of pre-stressed concrete, with collapsible handrails on the downriver side. These rails were lowered in times of flooding to allow debris to wash over the bridge, allowing it to withstand much stress on the structure. A pathway enabled pedestrian access on the side with the rails, from where local children were often seen fishing. Prior to the bridge's existence, a punt operated over the river at that site from 1906. As the Manning River slowly starts to subside revealing the damage down by the historic floods, residents of the Mid-Coast were shocked to learn that the vital link between the two towns has been destroyed. The Bight Bridge, which connects the towns of Wingham and Tinonee, is no stranger to floods. She has withstood many, many inundations since being built in 1963. But this flood, the biggest and most devastating in the Manning's recorded history, was too much for her. A large section of the deck of the bridge has collapsed and washed away. Half of her is missing. Residents first became aware of the damage when Wingham local, Brett Godwin, posted drone footage and photographs on the town's Facebook page. While the waters still covered what was left of the bridge on Saturday morning, May 24, 2025, it was plain to see that something was clearly not right. The bridge appears to have broken off at the Wingham entrance to the bridge. As of Saturday afternoon, people on the Wingham side were heading to the town's tennis courts, which sits high on the banks overlooking the river, to see the damage for themselves. Surf Life Saving NSW members from Newcastle and Pacific Palms were also at the viewing spot with an IRB (inflatable rescue boat), doing surveillance on the bridge for MidCoast Council. The Manning River Times contacted MidCoast Council on Saturday morning regarding the Bight Bridge. However, as flood waters still cover what is left of the bridge and mud, silt and debris block the Tinonee end of the bridge, the council has not yet been able to assess the situation. What is clear is that the people of Tinonee will have no quick access to Wingham for at least a few years to come, and it will cost many millions of dollars to reconstruct the bridge. Construction of The Bight Bridge began in 1962 and completed in December 1962. It was officially opened on April 11, 1964. The bridge was engineered to withstand flooding. It was made of pre-stressed concrete, with collapsible handrails on the downriver side. These rails were lowered in times of flooding to allow debris to wash over the bridge, allowing it to withstand much stress on the structure. A pathway enabled pedestrian access on the side with the rails, from where local children were often seen fishing. Prior to the bridge's existence, a punt operated over the river at that site from 1906. As the Manning River slowly starts to subside revealing the damage down by the historic floods, residents of the Mid-Coast were shocked to learn that the vital link between the two towns has been destroyed. The Bight Bridge, which connects the towns of Wingham and Tinonee, is no stranger to floods. She has withstood many, many inundations since being built in 1963. But this flood, the biggest and most devastating in the Manning's recorded history, was too much for her. A large section of the deck of the bridge has collapsed and washed away. Half of her is missing. Residents first became aware of the damage when Wingham local, Brett Godwin, posted drone footage and photographs on the town's Facebook page. While the waters still covered what was left of the bridge on Saturday morning, May 24, 2025, it was plain to see that something was clearly not right. The bridge appears to have broken off at the Wingham entrance to the bridge. As of Saturday afternoon, people on the Wingham side were heading to the town's tennis courts, which sits high on the banks overlooking the river, to see the damage for themselves. Surf Life Saving NSW members from Newcastle and Pacific Palms were also at the viewing spot with an IRB (inflatable rescue boat), doing surveillance on the bridge for MidCoast Council. The Manning River Times contacted MidCoast Council on Saturday morning regarding the Bight Bridge. However, as flood waters still cover what is left of the bridge and mud, silt and debris block the Tinonee end of the bridge, the council has not yet been able to assess the situation. What is clear is that the people of Tinonee will have no quick access to Wingham for at least a few years to come, and it will cost many millions of dollars to reconstruct the bridge. Construction of The Bight Bridge began in 1962 and completed in December 1962. It was officially opened on April 11, 1964. The bridge was engineered to withstand flooding. It was made of pre-stressed concrete, with collapsible handrails on the downriver side. These rails were lowered in times of flooding to allow debris to wash over the bridge, allowing it to withstand much stress on the structure. A pathway enabled pedestrian access on the side with the rails, from where local children were often seen fishing. Prior to the bridge's existence, a punt operated over the river at that site from 1906. As the Manning River slowly starts to subside revealing the damage down by the historic floods, residents of the Mid-Coast were shocked to learn that the vital link between the two towns has been destroyed. The Bight Bridge, which connects the towns of Wingham and Tinonee, is no stranger to floods. She has withstood many, many inundations since being built in 1963. But this flood, the biggest and most devastating in the Manning's recorded history, was too much for her. A large section of the deck of the bridge has collapsed and washed away. Half of her is missing. Residents first became aware of the damage when Wingham local, Brett Godwin, posted drone footage and photographs on the town's Facebook page. While the waters still covered what was left of the bridge on Saturday morning, May 24, 2025, it was plain to see that something was clearly not right. The bridge appears to have broken off at the Wingham entrance to the bridge. As of Saturday afternoon, people on the Wingham side were heading to the town's tennis courts, which sits high on the banks overlooking the river, to see the damage for themselves. Surf Life Saving NSW members from Newcastle and Pacific Palms were also at the viewing spot with an IRB (inflatable rescue boat), doing surveillance on the bridge for MidCoast Council. The Manning River Times contacted MidCoast Council on Saturday morning regarding the Bight Bridge. However, as flood waters still cover what is left of the bridge and mud, silt and debris block the Tinonee end of the bridge, the council has not yet been able to assess the situation. What is clear is that the people of Tinonee will have no quick access to Wingham for at least a few years to come, and it will cost many millions of dollars to reconstruct the bridge. Construction of The Bight Bridge began in 1962 and completed in December 1962. It was officially opened on April 11, 1964. The bridge was engineered to withstand flooding. It was made of pre-stressed concrete, with collapsible handrails on the downriver side. These rails were lowered in times of flooding to allow debris to wash over the bridge, allowing it to withstand much stress on the structure. A pathway enabled pedestrian access on the side with the rails, from where local children were often seen fishing. Prior to the bridge's existence, a punt operated over the river at that site from 1906.
