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Newcastle Herald

National

Tracey Fairhurst

Live Updates: Settlement Point prepares for swamping; regions isolated

Updated Saturday 8am:

THE Kindee Bridge peaked at 12.1 metres during the early hours of Saturday morning, breaking the 2013 major flood record.

The Wauchope gauge is nearing 8.5 metres and major flooding is now expected at Settlement Point with the river likely to peak at 2.1 metres.

The Oxley Highway is cut east of Long Flat. There has been a landslide on the road to Comboyne.

Communities in the Upper Hastings are isolated when the Kindee gauge exceed minor levels.

Residents in affected areas need to consider the impact of potential isolations as many parts of the Oxley Highway may be inundated.

People in low lying parts of Wauchope and surrounding areas and low lying parts of Settlement Point and areas north of the Hastings River Drive should relocate immediately to family or friends outside the impact area.

The evacuation centre is now open at Port Panthers.

Residents also need to consider:

Low lying roads north of the Hastings River (e.g. Maria River Road) will be closed due to flood water.
The Settlement Point and Hibbard Ferries have ceased operations due to high velocity river flows, flood debris and inundation of set down areas.
Settlement Point Road at Port Macquarie is closed.

Rainfall observations from 9am Friday to 5am today (Saturday) include:

Delward 373mm
Redoak 343mm
Logans Crossing 320mm
Upper Rollands Plains 260mm (including 125.8mm in 3 hours)
Koree Island 287mm
Kindee Bridge 280
Wauchope 264mm
Mt Seaview 248mm
Bowraville 210mm (including 124mm in 1 hours)

In the Camden Haven, the Bureau of Meteorology has reported that the Camden Haven River is experienced a second peak of 9.30 metres at Logans Crossing at 2am Saturday. Major flooding is occurring.

Major flooding is occurring at Laurieton and was expected to peak near 2.30 metres at 5am Saturday. This peak will exceed the 1978 record flood level.

This will result in major flooding along the Camden Haven River.

At Logan's Crossing flood waters will impact most low lying areas causing extensive inundation of low lying housing within Kendall, Kew and rural surrounds.

At Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan there is possible isolation of Dunbogan and will be widespread flooding of houses in Dunbogan, North Haven and parts of Laurieton.

An evacuation centres for residents in low-lying areas is at Laurieton United Services Club.

At Laurieton, North Haven and Dunbogan - Diamond Waters Caravan Park will flood; Diamond Head Road, Camden Head Road and The Boulevarde may close.

Flooding starts on Ocean Drive near Stingray Creek Bridge between Laurieton and North Haven.

Flooding starts on Diamond Head Road near Dunbogan Bridge closing the road to Laurieton.

Inundation of properties begins in Dunbogan along parts of Camden Head Road, Longsworth Road and The Boulevarde and there may be possible isolation of Camden Head, inundation of properties at Haven Circuit and Laurieton Gardens Caravan Park and inundation of properties in North Haven including Alfred Street, Pioneer Street, Eames Avenue, Ocean Drive and Brigadoon Caravan Park.

Regions isolated:

Residents living in outlying areas including Rollands Plains, Telegraph Point, Hacks Ferry, Ballengarra, Pappinbarra and Comboyne are experiencing isolation, power outages and phone issues.

Thousands of residents are without power, some people have required airlifting from their homes which are now under water. Stock has been lost in swollen rivers while families in other properties require fuel for generators.

Anyone is these areas requiring urgent assistance should call the SES on 132 500. If it is a life threatening situation call triple zero (000) immediately.

Wauchope Showground is opening the gates for people needing to evacuate stock. They have over 100 new stables available and the 16 stallion stalls are also available. If there are cattle that need to get to higher ground the showground can accommodate those cattle which are most at risk due to limited space.

Showground contact number is 0474 780 546 or ring the president on 0418 762 599.

Video: Floodwater inundates Telegraph Point. Video: Ben MacInesker.

Evacuation: Camden Haven and Settlement Point

Once floodwater passes the moderate level at the Laurieton gauge, roads around North Haven, Dunbogan and Diamond Head and foreshore areas of Laurieton will begin to close.

The SES says once flood water begins inundating the area, road access, water, sewerage, power, phones and internet may be lost. If residents remain in the area you will be trapped and it may be too dangerous for the SES to rescue you.

Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements. If you are unable to, an evacuation centre has been set up at the Laurieton United Services Club and Port Macquarie Panthers.

At Settlement Point, once floodwater passes 1.75m a significant number of properties will be inundated.

The areas affected are:

Hastings River Drive and Settlement Point Road
North Shore - Shoreline Drive, Wombat Close, Dolphin Court & Marlin Place
Maria River Road - may become unsafe to travel on due to inundation
Short Street and western end of Clarence Street (CBD)
Westport foreshore area
The Aquatic and Marina Caravan Parks
Elford's Road, the Hatch
Settlement Point and Hibbard Ferries due to high velocity river flows, flood debris and inundation of set down areas.

What to expect:

Bains Bridge is now closed
The Oxley Highway is now closed between Henry Street at Long Flat and Billabong Drive in Sancrox.
The Pacific Highway is now closed in both directions between Kundabung Road at Kundabung and the Oxley Highway at Sancrox due to flooding.
Cameron Street, King Street, streets in the Kings Creek, Wrights Creek & Blackbutt Park areas are flooding
Roads to Rawdon Island - Narrow Gut Road and Freeman Road may close
Oxley Highway at Yippin Creek and Colonels Creek are closed
Other road closures include Port Lane Rocks Ferry Road, Pembrooke Road, Ennis Road, Sarah's Creek and Stoney Creek Road

VIDEO: Scramble to close bridge after Bellinger River's rapid rise

At Settlement Point and surrounding areas flood waters will inundate roads and properties in the following areas:

Hastings River Drive and Settlement Point Road
North Shore - Shoreline Drive, Wombat Close, Dolphin Court & Marlin Place
Maria River Road
Water may close Hastings River Drive and affect low lying residential and commercial properties
Low lying parts of the Aquatic Gardens and Marina Caravan Parks may be inundated
Water will enter the low-lying parts of North Shore including North Shore Drive, Shoreline Drive, Wombat Close, Dolphin Court and Marlin Place
Hastings River Drive may be cut near the Oyster Farm
Lower floor of properties along Iluka Place may be inundated
Low lying properties in the Hibbard area in the vicinity of Boundary Road will be inundated
Water will enter Marina Caravan Park
The main ferry at Settlement Point is still operating but the Hibbard Ferry is not operating

Road Closures

The Oxley Highway is now closed between Henry Street at Long Flat and Billabong Drive in Sancrox.

The Pacific Highway is now closed in both directions between Kundabung Road at Kundabung and the Oxley Highway at Sancrox due to flooding.

The Oxley Highway is closed between Walcha and Mount Seaview due to a landslip in Mount Seaview. Motorists are advised to avoid the area.

The Pacific Highway between Hannam Vale Road and Jericho Road is closed.

The Pacific Highway between Harrington Road and Old Bridge Road, Jones Island

Motorists needing to travel can use the Gwydir Highway or the New England Highway instead, but this will add considerable time to journeys.

Additionally, Waterfall Way is now closed between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora due to a landslip in Thora. .

Current road closures are in place on the following Port Macquarie-Hastings roads and bridges as of 7.30am Saturday:

Acacia Avenue, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Albert Street, Kendall - road closed
Ballengarra Bransdons Road, Rollands Plains - water over road, avoid
Batar Creek Road, Kendall - road closed
Beechwood Road, Bain Bridge - road closed
Beechwood Road, Yippin Creek Bridge - road closed
Bellangry Road, Bellangry - water over road, avoid
Black Creek Road, Upsalls Creek - road closed
Blackmans Road, Blackmans Point - road closed
Bolwarra Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Boundary Street, Port Macquarie - road closed
Bulga Road, Elands - road closed
Cameron Street, Wauchope - water over road, avoid
Central Road, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Clarence Street, western end, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Comboyne-Wingham Road - road closed
Fernbank Creek Road - water over road, avoid
Flynn Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Hastings River Drive, between Winery Drive and Tuffins Lane - road closed
Hibbard Drive - road closed
Houston Mitchell Drive, Bonny Hills/Lake Cathie - road closed
Jindalee Road, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Kendall Road, Kendall - road closed
Kenwood Drive, Lake Cathie - water over road, avoid
King Creek Road, Bridge - road closed
Lake Road, between Ocean Drive and Central Road, Port Macquarie - road closed
Lighthouse Road, Port Macquarie - road closed
Logans Crossing - road closed
Long Point Drive, Lake Cathie - water over road, avoid
Lorne Road (Sullivans Road), Lorne - road closed
Maria River Road, Maria River - road closed
Milton Circuit, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Mooney Street, Telegraph Point - water over road, avoid
Ocean Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Oxley Highway, between King Creek Road and Randall Street Wauchope - water over road, avoid
Oxley Highway, between Pacific Highway and King Creek Road - water over road, avoid
Oxley Highway, between Sancrox and Long Flat - roads closed
Oxley Highway, near Wrights Road, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Pacific Drive, between Flynns Beach and Shelly Beach - road closed, power lines on trees
Pacific Highway, Kundabung (North and South) - road closed
Pembrooke Road, at the viaduct - road closed
Pipeclay Road, near Hartys Plains Road - road closed
Rawdon Island Road, Rawdon Island - water over road, avoid
Rollands Plains Road - road closed
Sancrox Road, Sancrox - road closed
Seafront Circuit, Bonny Hills - water over road, avoid
Settlement Point Road - water over road, avoid
Short Street, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid
Stoney Creek Road, Wauchope (near Secombe Lane) - water over road, avoid
The Boulevarde, Dunbogan - water over road, avoid
Wesley Avenue, Port Macquarie - water over road, avoid