Council provides free flood clean-up

Stony Creek Road Flooding - March 2022.jpg

Once again suburbs in Blacktown City have been hit with flooding and severe road damage following the recent enormous rain event.

Some areas of the City received nearly six months’ rain in just over a week and added to this was the record flood levels in the Hawkesbury-Nepean river system.

Blacktown City was one of many Council areas declared a “Natural Disaster” area by the NSW Government. Council has assessed the bill for damage to local roads and Council buildings to be in excess of $8 million for roads and $1.35 million for the buildings.

Council crews have linked up with SES, RFS and Army units to provide a free flood clean-up service for the worst affected areas.

“While Blacktown City hasn’t been hit as hard as some of the areas along the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers, and the North Coast, we have still copped our fair share of damage,” said Blacktown City Mayor Tony Bleasdale OAM.

“But once again, I am really proud of the way Council staff worked with the SES and RFS volunteers to provide early assistance to those in need.

“As the flood levels rose, Council supplied 150 tonnes of sand to the SES to prepare sand bags and also prepared about 5,000 sand bags for distribution.

“We also activated Blacktown Leisure Centre Stanhope as an evacuation centre for a short time at the height of the emergency and crews worked around the clock repairing pot holes and repairing flood damage.

“From last weekend, Council crews have been patrolling flood-affected areas in Riverstone, Shanes Park, Schofields and Marsden Park picking up flood-damaged goods and materials.

“Additionally, residents in flood-affected areas can contact our Council call centre and arrange to have the flood debris picked up.

“Blacktown City Council has also reached out to our neighbours, Hawkesbury Shire Council and is offering staff and temporary garaging for some of their vehicles,” Mayor Bleasdale said.

Summary of flood operations in Blacktown City.

  • The SES received 628 calls for assistance from 28 February to 10 March, with Blacktown SES receiving 346 requests and Mount Druitt 289.
  • Blacktown City Council, working in conjunction with the SES activated Blacktown Leisure Centre, Stanhope as an evacuation centre on 2/3 March.
  • At the height of the emergency, 22 roads were closed in Blacktown City.
  • Council supplied 150 tonnes of sand to Mount Druitt and Blacktown SES units for sand bags.
  • Council staff prepared about 5,000 sand bags and delivered them to Blacktown and Mount Druitt SES units.
  • Council received hundreds of calls for assistance, day and night, regarding flooded roads, localised flooding, pot hole repairs, blocked pits and pipes, sewer lines and building damage
  • Council began clean-up and pick-up operations on 12 March and on that day alone picked up 7 tonnes of flood waste.
  • Council has assessed damage to roads and Council buildings to be approximately $8 million for roads and $1.35 million for Council buildings.
  • Pot holes and road damage, or requests for clean-up: 9839 6000

“Our Council crews are working around the clock repairing pot holes and road damage. We encourage residents to report road damage and pot holes, but please show consideration and understanding when you are dealing with our hard-working crews and call centre staff.” Mayor Bleasdale said.

/Public Release. View in full here.