NSW Floods: Leafy streets in western Sydney flooded as residents save stranded emu


Million dollar homes that normally back onto dry bush and open pastures have been washed out during Sydney’s horror floods, as large tracts of farmland are turned into lakes complete with floating emus and food trucks.

Carrington Road in Londonderry in Sydney’s west was divided in two by Tuesday afternoon as murky floodwaters cut access to the main street. 

Homes were abandoned as water filled front yards and lapped against low lying properties. 

Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith.

Carrington Road in Londonderry in Sydney's west was divided in two by Tuesday afternoon as murky floodwaters cut access to the main street

Carrington Road in Londonderry in Sydney’s west was divided in two by Tuesday afternoon as murky floodwaters cut access to the main street

A pet emu named Gookie had become disorientated in the carnage and was swimming through the floodwaters as his desperate owner Paul Zammit tried to lure him back with dry bread and a warm towel

A pet emu named Gookie had become disorientated in the carnage and was swimming through the floodwaters as his desperate owner Paul Zammit tried to lure him back with dry bread and a warm towel

Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith

Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith

An enormous truck was floating on its side (bottom left corner) on land that had been flooded

An enormous truck was floating on its side (bottom left corner) on land that had been flooded

The deluge was also threatening homes in leafy streets in nearby McGraths Hill, where enormous swathes of farmland were washed away by water spilling from the Hawkesbury River.

Most roads in and out of the region had been cut by Tuesday, blocking access to Richmond, Wisemans Ferry, Windsor and Pitt Town.  

Mitchell Hawkett, whose parents have lived on Killarney Court in McGraths Hill for 25 years, moved back into his family home after he was evacuated from his own house in Pitt Town.

‘I think we should be pretty safe here,’ he said as he watched water slowly creep up at the end of his street.

At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks

At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks

Many of the graves were underwater by Tuesday afternoon as floodwaters continued to rise

Many of the graves were underwater by Tuesday afternoon as floodwaters continued to rise

At the back of McGraths Hill and toward Oakville, sheds and properties were already entirely submerged in water by Tuesday afternoon. Paul Zammit, who lives nearby, tried desperately to rescue his pet emu who got disorientated in the craziness

At the back of McGraths Hill and toward Oakville, sheds and properties were already entirely submerged in water by Tuesday afternoon. Paul Zammit, who lives nearby, tried desperately to rescue his pet emu who got disorientated in the craziness

Floodwaters were lapping at homes in Londonderry, threatening to enter properties if the rain continued

Floodwaters were lapping at homes in Londonderry, threatening to enter properties if the rain continued

Pictured: Paul Zammit carrying his pet emu, Gookie

Pictured: Paul Zammit carrying his pet emu, Gookie

‘It looks like a lake, but there isn’t supposed to be any water down there. That’s normally just green.’

Mr Hawkett said while his family feel confident the water won’t get inside their property, they’ve still had to make arrangements in case the unthinkable happens.

‘We’re still on high alert, absolutely… If the water does get closer, we’re going to have to just keep on moving, I suppose. Next will be my brother in Rouse Hill.’

When he fled Pitt Town, water was lapping at about gutter level and expected to rise. He packed his important photos and irreplaceable belongings before heading to his parents’ house. 

At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks. 

Much of it was underwater on Tuesday.  

Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith

Floodwater entered several homes along the street and any cars left behind were submerged as rain continued to batter the small town near Penrith

Floodwaters lapped against properties on the other side of Carrington Road, threatening to spill over if the rain continued

Floodwaters lapped against properties on the other side of Carrington Road, threatening to spill over if the rain continued

Pictured: A child's toy car was left in the mud out the front of a house after waters subsided

Pictured: A child’s toy car was left in the mud out the front of a house after waters subsided

Mitchell Hawkett fled his home in Pitt Town and retreated to his parents' McGraths Hill home in Killarney Street before realising flood waters were starting to rise

Mitchell Hawkett fled his home in Pitt Town and retreated to his parents’ McGraths Hill home in Killarney Street before realising flood waters were starting to rise

Just two minutes down the road at the back of McGraths Hill and toward Oakville, sheds and properties were already entirely submerged in water by Tuesday afternoon.

A pet emu named Gookie had become disorientated in the carnage and was swimming through the floodwaters as his desperate owner Paul Zammit tried to lure him back with dry bread and a warm towel.

He gravitated toward a catamaran which was further out the lake and attached to a factory which was entirely submerged in water.

The catamaran was in the process of getting built prior to the floods.  

Homes were abandoned as water filled front yards and lapped against low lying properties

Homes were abandoned as water filled front yards and lapped against low lying properties

This house in Killarney Court backed onto a parklands which were converted to a lake on Tuesday due to rising floodwaters

This house in Killarney Court backed onto a parklands which were converted to a lake on Tuesday due to rising floodwaters

The pet emu got disorientated when land he normally roams in was submerged in floodwaters on Wolseley Road. He is seen here near a shed on the property, which is entirely submerged under water

The pet emu got disorientated when land he normally roams in was submerged in floodwaters on Wolseley Road. He is seen here near a shed on the property, which is entirely submerged under water

A granny flat out the back of a Carrington Road house was flooded on Tuesday afternoon

A granny flat out the back of a Carrington Road house was flooded on Tuesday afternoon

Locals gathered by the corner of Wolseley Road as they saw an enormous truck tipped on its side and floating in the water.

One woman, who has lived in the area for more than 60 years, said it got caught up in the flooding early on Monday and had been floating through flooded streets before it finally seemed to get lodged at the end of the street.

‘I thought it would’ve been all the way in Pitt Town by now,’ she joked.

Incredible drone footage of the area showcased just how much the usually green and dry landscape had changed in just days.   

Even still, locals who have lived here a lifetime say they’ve ‘definitely seen worse’.

‘Everyone’s talking about 1961,’ the woman said. ‘Sure, that was the worst, but 1978 wasn’t far behind. The water came up to the windowsills in ’78, and we’re not even that close to a body of water.’

‘This is bad, but it’s not the worst… Not the second worst either.’  

Roads were blocked in every direction heading in and out of McGraths Hill

Roads were blocked in every direction heading in and out of McGraths Hill

At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks

At the bottom of Killarney Court is a small graveyard which normally overlooks the paddocks

The pet emu got disorientated when land he normally roams in was submerged in floodwaters on Wolseley Road

The pet emu got disorientated when land he normally roams in was submerged in floodwaters on Wolseley Road

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