As Flood Waters Recede, River-Town Residents Remain on Alert
The NSW State Emergency Service is still advising people to avoid areas such as Cattai, Marayla, and their surroundings. More residents are coming back to river towns near Sydney as the flood cleanup continues. Emergency services have given the green light for caution in returning to areas like Sackville North, the northern part of Pitt Town, low-lying parts of Agnes Banks, Cornwallis, and the eastern part of Richmond Lowlands on Monday afternoon, June 10. Riverside Ski Park residents in Cattai were evacuated on Friday night (June 7), while residents of Pitt Town Bottoms, Camden, and Ellis Lane were allowed to return on Sunday morning (June 9), with a reminder to stay vigilant around the Hawkesbury Nepean catchment. The Hawkesbury River has a minor flood warning, with 600 residents in low-lying areas evacuated on the night of June 7. The St Georges Basin had a final warning in place as of June 10 afternoon, but warnings at the Hastings and Cooks rivers have been lifted. The Bureau of Meteorology does not predict significant rainfall in the coming days, easing the threat of more damaging rain. NSW SES Acting Commissioner Deb Platz emphasized the importance of returning people to normalcy quickly, noting the potential for rapid riverine and flash flooding due to saturated catchments and full dams. Motorists in flood-affected regions are urged to drive with caution due to expected damage to buildings, roads, and bridges. The SES reported nearly 300 incidents in the 24 hours leading up to 8am on June 8, including 13 flood rescues and 45 warnings issued across the state.
