Council says it is too early to estimate the financial cost of damage caused by the weekend’s torrential downpour and heavy winds.
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An Emergency Operations Centre has been activated with members of the local council and emergency services coordinating a response to the wild weather caused by an east coast low pressure system.
Farmers have been advised to move their equipment to higher ground and many businesses have been damaged by flood waters.
BVSC spokesperson Terry Dodds urged the public be patient, blaming stretched resources for emergency response delays.
According to the NSW State Emergency Service (SES), the Bega Valley avoided the worst of the weekend’s weather system, but advised the region will remain wet for quite some time.
The Bega River flood warning increased to a moderate level on Monday morning with the river peaking around 7.3 metres, sitting it behind the flood levels reached in February 1971 and March 2011.
It wasn’t just rising water levels closing roads around the region with landslips and fallen trees also creating hazards and closing local roads.
High seas caused damage the Tathra Wharf on Sunday night causing the deck to slip off pylons and separate from the road.
Water pumps on the Brogo River,supplying water to the townships of Quaama, Cobargo, Bermagui, Wallaga Lake and Beauty Point were switched off by council on Sunday due to a sharp rise in turbidity.
The operation centre also warned residents to ensure their safety is maintained when cleaning up during the flood, and once it recedes.
“The effects of the clean up can be just as dangerous as the floods themselves and we are appealing to the communities impacted by the floods to take all precautions and listen to advice of the emergency service agencies,” Deputy State Emergency Operations Controller Kyle Stewart said.
Schools across the region were closed on Monday, while up to 60 homes were isolated on Angledale Rd, Buckajo Rd and in Springvale alone.