RESIDENTS, emergency service and council workers are picking up the pieces this morning after a violent, electrical storm tore through the Kempsey, Nambucca and Bellingen shires overnight.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Hundreds of people remain without power:
18 residences at Crescent Head (estimated resupply 1pm tomorrow)
756 at Bellingen Valley (11am today)
11 at Newry Island (7.30pm tomorrow)
88 at South West Rocks (10am tomorrow).
Bellingen Shire Council general manager Liz Jeremy told the Guardian that the seaboard like Urunga and Dorrigo on the mountain had largely escaped – with the Bellingen Valley from the township through to Kalang and Brierfield bearing the brunt.
“We have a lot of trees and powerlines down and I can tell you that all of the agencies have crews out to try and clear the roads and make them safe,” Ms Jeremy said.
“Essential are hoping to have the township back on (power) later this afternoon. Though there isn’t a timeframe as yet for the rural areas.”
Ms Jeremy said council had mobilised its own staff, that of contractors, and had received support from neighbouring councils like Nambucca to deal with the crisis.
While today would normally see many council staff wind-up for a break, she said Bellingen council had rostered staff on for the weekend and into next week until the situation was addressed.
The rain across the coast before last night’s wild storm had played a major factor – as the soft ground made large trees vulnerable to high wind speeds, with one large tree coming down near the Visitor Centre at Urunga.
Message from Bellingen Shire Council to residents:
Storm Damage Bellingen and Dorrigo
Green Waste: Due to last night's storm damage council is offering free green waste diposal at both the Raleigh and Dorrigo Waste Management Facilities until close of business on Monday 24 December to assist with the storm clean up.
Roads: Council is currenlty working on priority road and safety issues with extensive damage across the shire. Please call SES 132-500 for emergencies and personal property damage - please note they are receiving a high volume of calls. Please call council on 6655 7300 for any road related matters noting that council has all available crews working on these issues at this time. Please log on to myroadinfo.com.au for road closure information as this site is kept up to date.
Power Issues: For power line issues and other power related issues please call Essential Energy on 13 20 80. Note they are also experiencing a high volume of calls.
Telephone lines: Please call 13 22 03 for phone line related issues.