The magnitude of New South Wales’ recent flood crisis has been captured in mind-blowing before-and-after images of entire communities completely submerged by the ‘once-in-a-hundred’ year weather event.
Insurers expect the costs of the deadly March floods to run into the billions but the total damage bill is yet to be calculated.
The historic town of Ebenezer, Northwest of Sydney on the Hawkesbury River was one of the worst affected areas in the state.
In photos taken in the lead up the natural disaster, parts of the picturesque community appear lush and green.
But images from Nearmap on the March 25 tell a very different story, with murky brown flood water swamping the riverside area leaving only the roofs of homes visible from the sky.
Before: The historic community of Ebnezer, Northwest of Sydney on the Hawksbury River, is captured before the floods hit
After: On March 25, the idyllic area is pictured completely underwater engulfed by murky brown floodwater
Greater Sydney and the Hunter region received about 600mm of rainfall in just a few days – about half the annual average.
The fierce storm also brought record falls across the Mid North Coast in places like Taree and Port Macquarie with about 400mm in just two days.
The massive amount of rain caused by a ‘volatile and dangerous’ low pressure trough saw the state’s river systems burst their banks from the Manning River in the north to the Hawkesbury and Nepean further south.
Three people died in the raging waters.
At one stage during the crisis, 10 million Australians were under a severe weather warning.
The SES received 12,500 calls for help and performed over 1000 flood rescues.
Before: A part of Richmond, in Sydney’s northwest is photographed ahead of the devastating floods
After: On March 25 the large swaths of land that encircle Richmond had been submerged by floodwaters
Although water levels have now largely subsided, authorities are still warning of the continuing dangers posed by floating debris in waterways and damaged infrastructure such as bridges.
A photo shared by NSW Maritime on Tuesday shows a water tank floating below the surface in Lake Macquarie, near Newcastle.
‘A good reminder that just because you’ve headed offshore doesn’t mean your (sic) safe from debris from the recent floods,’ the warning read.
On Saturday, another water tank also washed up on Sydney’s Coogee beach.
The Insurance Council of Australia confirmed there had been 11,700 policy claims made between March 20 and 23.
The organisation’s CEO Andrew Hall called the downpour an ‘insurance catastrophe’.
‘It will take some time to gain a clearer picture of the damage,’ he said.
‘Insurers expect a large number of claims will be lodged in coming days as property owners begin returning to homes and businesses,’ Hall said.
Before: Pitt Town in Sydney’ northwest appears lush and green earlier this year, before the floods
After: A tiny section of land is cut off from the rest of Pitt Town on March 24, as floodwaters roll in threatening homes
Windsor couple Blake Lepagier and Mel Steer said their uninsured home in northwest Sydney was completely engulfed by floodwaters.
They told the Daily Telegraph they couldn’t afford the $25,000 annual flood premium after recently purchasing the property.
‘In a couple of weeks’ time we’ll know what really needs replacing and we are hoping that we’re not going to have black mould throughout our home, including the floorboards,’ Ms Steer, 28, said.
‘We bought here 18 months ago and we’ve put in a lot work with building garden beds and a retaining wall, so to see that all gone is heartbreaking.’
In Richmond, where the North Richmond and Windsor bridges remain closed, the Windsor Polo Club president Julie McIntosh estimates it will cost the popular venue at least $200,000 in damages.
Before: The town of Wilberforce in Sydney’s northwest is seen from the air before the ‘catastrophic’ flood crisis
After: Much of the riverside community is engulfed by raging floodwaters on March 25
But there may be some relief on the way with businesses in flood-affected areas able to access grants and bank loans to fund their recovery.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a loan scheme would be extended to small and medium business as he visited the SES headquarters in western Sydney on Saturday morning.
He said the federal government will underwrite 80 per cent of bank loans of up to $5million for small and medium businesses in the flood-affected areas, with repayments to start two years into the loan.
It’s an extension of a support program already available for Covid-affected businesses.
‘This is about backing the businesses and producers that are backing themselves to get back on their feet,’ Mr Morrison declared.
He promised ‘more support…more assistance’ as the recovery continues.
The loans are on top of a recovery grants program jointly funded by the federal and NSW governments.
Small businesses can get up to $50,000 and primary producers up to $75,000 if they’ve been directly damaged by the floods.
As tens of thousands of people across NSW return to their homes, an emergency services strike force is tackling the clean-up of homes, roads and communities.
‘The Australian Defence Force personnel, alongside NSW Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW, have already been deployed,’ Minister for Emergency Management David Littleproud said.
‘Teams are going from house to house, hosing out properties and removing damaged items, as well as sandbagging and clearing debris.’
Before: An area of Windsor in Sydney’s northwest is photographed before the nearby Hawkesbury River broke its banks
After: Large sections of land were inundated by floodwaters on March 24 leaving many homes damaged
