Update: Landslips as deluge takes hold
Blue Mountains, like other parts of NSW, has been declared a natural disaster area given the torrential rain and flooding in recent days with multiple landslips since the rain began. The most serious of these have been the landslip at Megalong Road, the landslip at Bells Line of Road, plus a significant landslip at Wells Street in Katoomba.
Landslips have also occurred in Glenbrook, Blaxland and Lawson and there have been multiple road closures throughout the City, as a result of flooding.
Mayor Mark Greenhill said council continues to follow the advice of lead agencies.
"A geologist, working with council, has this afternoon established safe pedestrian access past the Megalong Road landslip," Cr Greenhill said.
"Construction fencing is now in place to show the safe path of travel for pedestrians.
Council is currently in the process of finalising a design for the construction of the temporary traffic lane and, weather permitting, will commence work on-site on Thursday, he said.
Council has also organised a shuttle bus to ferry Megalong Valley residents and business, as well as visitors who have been stranded in the valley, from the road closure after they walk out from tomorrow.
"This will help get much needed supplies to those in the Valley."
Council has also started contacting residents in the Mounts, to see what assistance is required given the closure of Bells Line of Road. Weather alerts for high winds today [Wednesday, March 24] are still a concern, "given the amount of rain that's fallen in recent days, and the danger of trees falling," he said.
Emergency services have warned people to stay indoors, as much as possible today until this danger passes.
"Even trees that have previously been assessed as fine, could be at risk of falling given the land has been soaked in recent days," the mayor added.
Supply of groceries
Council has arranged for supermarket supplies to be delivered to the Megalong by placing an order with Coles online.
Coles do not normally deliver to Megalong Valley and so their online system is currently not accepting any address in that area. As a workaround - council advises using the address of 52 Shipley Road Blackheath (Blackheath Glen Reserve). This will be accepted by the Coles online system.
Please also put the following instructions in the delivery text:
"Delivery for isolated Megalong Valley residents due to road closure: Continue down Megalong Road to site of the landslip. Supplies will be transferred to another vehicle at that location."
Coles will notify customers of a time for an estimated delivery window. Arrangements will be made to transport groceries to Megalong Rural Fire Brigade station, and residents can collect supplies from that location. Residents who do not have internet access to place an order, can access the Coles online system via the RFS station.
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Help available
Council has been inundated with requests for help from private landowners, after properties have been flooded with water. This follows the flooding event in February 2020, plus the summer 2021/21 bushfires and then the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Council - like other local businesses - is going to need assistance from the State and Federal Governments to help our community to recover," Mayor Greenhill said.
The Federal government has announced some financial assistance for those who have been affected by flooding. This includes businesses who will lose income. Residents can call 180 22 66 to make a claim. For more information on support available, visit servicesaustralia.gov.au/disaster.
- Go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/flooding-2021 for more information on road closures, financial assistance and how to report issues to Council.
- Blue Mountains City Council's Facebook page has updates relating to the natural disaster.