Event: Flooding Tweed River
Friday, 14 February 2020 2:00 PM
STAFF UPDATE #4
What is happening?
- Following the week’s flooding event, the latest update from the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) (attached) has advised the Tweed River is likely to experience minor flooding over the weekend. NSW SES will issue a further advice by 4.30pm today - please always get the latest updates from the Emergency Dashboard.
- Depending on the location, flooding may be impacted by both rainfall and tides. Today’s high tide in Murwillumbah is expected at approximately 3:30pm which may see more localised flooding adjacent to the river – especially on Tweed Valley Way going northbound to Chinderah.
What service impacts are we experiencing?
Council crews are out assessing damage across the Tweed. The impacts include:
Staff access to the workplace or Emergency Leave requirements:
- Council has not needed to advise staff to evacuate any workplace sites as per the Emergency Leave Protocol.
- Staff that are impacted by access need to consider their entitlements (leave or Emergency Leave Provisions) and wherever possible speak with your direct supervisor in the first instance.
- Staff should stay aware of the road conditions and make your own assessment of the roads that are open and available to travel to and from work.
- The predicted rainfall over the weekend is not anticipated to restrict access to the workplace or have further impact to Murwillumbah from Monday. Please reassess this prior to leaving home on Monday morning via the Emergency Dashboard or MyRoadsInfo.
Road Closures/Local Flooding:
- Numerous roads around the Tweed are closed due to water over the road, including Tweed Valley Way in both directions at Chinderah and at the Farmers Markets at Tumbulgum. Kyogle Road at Bray Park is still open to traffic but very rough.
- Employees are advised to slow down and expect water, potholes, debris and other hazards on the roads - on all and any road. Please be patient, give cars in front plenty of room and accept delays will happen for the next day or so.
- Stay up to date on road closures through the Emergency Dashboard and MyRoadsInfo. If you see a road is closed, please send an email myroadinfo@tweed.nsw.gov.au or call the afterhours service (1800 818 326) to report it – we rely on staff and the public to be our eyes and ears.
Sewer Overflows
- Crews are responding to a number of sewer overflows across the Tweed over the past 24hrs. Uki, Tumbulgum and Murwillumbah have been most affected. Flood levels and any further rain may impact the time taken to restore the vacuum sewer services to Tumbulgum. It is currently expected to have this system fully operational by early afternoon on Sunday.
- A sunken man-hole at Leisure Drive is being monitored for further undermining. Repair is likely to take several days.
Stotts Creek Resource Recovery Centre:
- Is currently closed due to localised flooding – this will be reassessed over the weekend and updated on our website and social media if it reopens. If you have family or friends expecting to use the tip please check the website to see if it is open again.
- Bin services are continuing as normal today unless flood water prevents truck access. Collection trucks will return to properties that are cut off by flood water as soon as possible.
What you need to know
- Be safe
- Follow all safety advice and let safety guide your decision-making. Remember: If it’s flooded, forget it.
- Be prepared and patient
- Be mindful of the impacts of road closures on your preferred route home and be patient with road conditions and closures. Understand that delays will happen for the next day or so.
- Stay informed and share information
- Refer to the Emergency Dashboard to keep informed and share it with your networks. Remember there is a ‘staff update’ link in the footer of the Emergency Dashboard where you can access any employee updates should we need to communicate information.
- Follow Council on Facebook and like/share important posts with your friends and family.
- Our most recent media release is available here: https://www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/Newsroom/2742
This is the final staff update for this event, unless circumstances change today or over the weekend.
Event: Flooding Tweed River
Thursday, 13 February 2020 4:15 PM
STAFF UPDATE #3
What is happening?
This situation remains unchanged from Staff Update #2 sent earlier today.
What you need to know.
- Be safe
- Follow all safety advice and let safety guide your decision-making. Remember: If it’s flooded, forget it.
- Road access for travel home today
- Staff are advised to take caution on the roads, drive to conditions and check MyRoadsInfo.
- NORTH
- Tweed Valley Way is inundated north of the Tumbulgum Farmers Market to the M1.
- Terranora Road remains open with caution.
- Preferred route to the north is Clothiers Creek Road to the M1. The route through Farrants Hill Road, Eviron Road and Duranbah Road to Kingscliff is also still open.
- SOUTH
- Tweed Valley Way south to Yelgun via Burringbar is open.
- Restricted Access to the workplace over the coming days
- If your role permits prepare to work remotely in the event you are prevented from accessing the workplace. Talk to your supervisor about options and take your phone, laptop and any other appropriate work-related material home with you.
- If you are physically prevented from attending work in coming days due to flooding, you are entitled to Emergency Leave (needs to be formally applied for on a leave form, noting on timesheet is not sufficient. Details of residential address, roads closed and where applicable photo evidence should be supplied).
- If you choose not to attend work for other reasons, you should advise your supervisor and alternative leave arrangements should be used eg. school closures or care for property etc, you should apply for the relevant leave type in consultation with your supervisor.
- Stay informed and share information
- Follow Council on Facebook and like/share important posts with your friends and family.
- Be aware we may contact you by SMS if it is unsafe to come to work.
Help us by reporting any road closures by calling the Contact Centre on (02) 6670 2400 or emailing directly to our Roads and Stormwater team at myroadinfo@tweed.nsw.gov.au.
Event: Flooding Tweed River
Thursday, 13 February 2020 12:45 PM
STAFF UPDATE #2
What is happening?
The NSW State Emergency Service (SES) has advised residents to expect moderate flooding for the Tweed River. View the latest advice from the NSW SES.
What we are expecting?
Moderate flooding and heavy rainfall is expected in the Tweed. Particular areas of impact are likely to be along the Tweed River and in particular Chinderah and Tumbulgum.
Road Closures/Local Flooding: This has and will continue to result in road flooding and will close a number of roads and low-level bridges. A number of roads are already closed including Tweed Valley Way, with northbound access via Tumbulgum likely to be restricted by this afternoon. Alternative routes over the range and southbound to the M1 remain open at the time of this staff update. Stay up to date on road closures through the Emergency Dashboard and MyRoadsInfo. There is an alternate route map on the last page of the attached Emergency Leave Protocol for your consideration.
Staff access to the workplace or Emergency Leave requirements: This event is likely to impact on staff attending the workplace. Staff that may be impacted by these floods need to consider their entitlements (leave or Emergency Leave Provisions) and wherever possible speak with your direct supervisor in the first instance.
What you need to know.
-Be safe
- Follow all safety advice and let safety guide your decision-making. Remember: If it’s flooded, forget it.
- Be prepared to get home safely today
- Be mindful of the impacts of road closures on your return home.
- If you need to leave work now or at any time today to get home safely in anticipation of flood/road closure impacts, that is your choice and alternative leave arrangements should be used – TIL, Annual Leave, Long Service etc.
- Anyone leaving the workplace due to access concerns must advise their supervisor in the first instance.
- Impact on Murwillumbah
- Council is actively monitoring the situation and should the Murwillumbah river level hit our trigger of 4m, a staff update will be issued at which will enact the Emergency Leave Protocol for impacted staff. It is not currently enacted, as the river level is approx. 3m. You will be advised if Murwillumbah will be impacted and Emergency Leave Provisions would come into effect. This also covers staff needing to get home to Murwillumbah.
- Restricted Access to the workplace over the coming days
- If you are physically prevented from attending work in coming days due to flooding, you are entitled to Emergency Leave (needs to be formally applied for on a leave form, noting on timesheet is not sufficient. Details of residential address, roads closed and where applicable photo evidence should be supplied).
- If you choose not to attend work for other reasons, you should advise your supervisor and alternative leave arrangements should be used eg. school closures or care for property etc, you should apply for the relevant leave type in consultation with your supervisor.
- Stay informed and share information
- Follow Council on Face book and like/share important posts with your friends and family.
- Be aware we may contact you by SMS if it is unsafe to come to work.