Updated: high rainfall and large seas warning

Weather conditions are mild today but we are asking residents to remain vigilant and check on neighbours who may still be without power or dealing with storm damage.

All beaches remain closed due to stormwater pollution and rough surf conditions.

Council staff continue recovery works and clean-up activities are underway.

Power facilities

As many residents are still without power, Council’s libraries and some community centres (listed below) are available for residents to seek comfort, charge mobile phones and enjoy a cup of tea. Please BYO power charges. 

Libraries - usual operating hoursNarrabeen Tramshed – 9 am to 5pmAvalon Recreation Centre – 9 am to 5pmForestville Community Centre – 9 am to 5 pm

Check Ausgrid's outage map for updates on power restoration.

Shower facilities

Residents needing a hot shower can head to one of our facilities:

Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre - 5.30 am – 9 pmWarringah Aquatic Centre - 5.30 am – 9 pmAvalon Surf Club - 9.30 am – 9pmNewport Surf Club - 9.30 am – 9pm

Council facilities

All Council facilities are open today.

What to do with storm debris?

The storm and heavy rainfall at the weekend has brought with it additional storm debris including branches and in some cases fallen trees.

Where possible residents should place storm debris in existing green vegetation bins for collection on your scheduled collection day.

Excess storm debris that cannot fit into vegetation bins may be taken to Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre free of charge before 23 February 2020.

For large trees that need urgent removal and/or trees that you are not able to safely remove yourself, we recommend that you engage a private tree contractor who will be able to help you promptly.

If you need further help with the removal of trees, please contact Council for assistance.

Please report fallen trees on private property to the SES.

Please report fallen trees in public spaces and across resident driveways to Council. 

For more information and assistance from us please call our customer service on 1300 434 434. 

Useful links:

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions

Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Ausgrid: https://www.ausgrid.com.au/

Beachwatch: https://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/beachapp/oceanbulletin.aspx

Monday 10 February

Weather conditions are easing but we are asking residents to remain vigilant, to avoid travel if possible and don’t drive through flood waters.

All beaches remain closed due to stormwater pollution and rough surf conditions.

Council staff are currently identifying the full extent of recovery works and has several clean-up activities underway.

Power facilities

As many residents are still without power, Council’s libraries and some community centres (listed below) are available for residents to seek comfort, charge mobile phones and enjoy a cup of tea. Please BYO power charges. 

Libraries - usual operating hoursNarrabeen Tram Shed – 9 am to 5pmAvalon Recreation Centre – 9 am to 5pmForestville Community Centre – 9 am to 5 pm

Shower facilities

Residents needing a hot shower can head to one of our facilities:

Manly Andrew ‘Boy’ Charlton Aquatic Centre - 5.30 am – 9 pmWarringah Aquatic Centre - 5.30 am – 9 pmAvalon Surf Club - 9.30 am – 9pmNewport Surf Club - 9.30 am – 9pm

Council facilities closed

Council’s Ivanhoe Park Preschool is closed today due to flooding.

What to do with storm debris?

The storm and heavy rainfall at the weekend has brought with it additional storm debris including branches and in some cases fallen trees.

Where possible residents should place storm debris in existing green vegetation bins for collection on your scheduled collection day.

Excess storm debris that cannot fit into vegetation bins may be taken to Kimbriki Resource Recovery Centre free of charge before 23 February 2020.

For large trees that need urgent removal and/or trees that you are not able to safely remove yourself, we recommend that you engage a private tree contractor who will be able to help you promptly.

If you need further help with the removal of trees, please contact Council for assistance.

Please report fallen trees on private property to the SES.

Please report fallen trees in public spaces and across resident driveways to Council. 

For more information and assistance from us please call our customer service on 1300 434 434. 

Useful links:

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions

Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Ausgrid: https://www.ausgrid.com.au/

Sunday 9 February, 8pm 

FLOOD EVACUATION ORDER

The NSW SES has issued a flood evacuation order for Narrabeen Lagoon and residents have been ordered to evacuate by 10:30pm.

The affected area is all properties surrounding Narrabeen Lagoon, from Wakehurst Parkway, Narrabeen bordered by The Esplanade, west of Pittwater Road from Goodwin St to Albert Street then along Lagoon St to Octavia St, properties west of Lisle St, including low-lying properties of Emerald St and Malcolm St, Walsh Street west of Pittwater Rd towards Warriewood Rd along Macpherson St down Garden St to Pittwater Rd including low-lying properties of Nareen Pde, Gondola Rd, Rickard Rd, Windsor Pde and Bristol Ln.

What you should do?

1. Residents should relocate personal possessions to a safe place. 2. By 10:30pm, leave the high danger area and move to safety.

NSW SES have issued the evacuation order due to the risk that once floodwaters reach 2.4m Pittwater Road will be cut off.

After 10:30pm there is a risk that residents will be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous for emergency services to rescue residents trapped.

The NSW SES reports this flood will be higher than the 2016 flood of the Narrabeen Lagoon.

Where to go?

Stay with family or friends outside of the flood area.

If you are unable, an evacuation centre has been established at Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park St Mona Vale and Cromer Community Centre, 150 Fisher Rd North, Cromer.

If you require emergency assistance call NSW SES on 132 500, if you require rescue due to floodwater call triple zero (000).

Council crews continue to attend to an increasing number of calls for support, backing up emergency services.

The special Customer Service call centre is operational please call 1300 434 343 24hours.

Useful links:

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions

Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Ausgrid: https://www.ausgrid.com.au/

Sunday 9 February, 6pm ​

For urgent assistance please call the SES on 132 500 or for life threatening issues dial 000.

Residents of low-lying areas of Narrabeen and North Narrabeen are being prepared by SES and police to evacuate.

The Mona Vale Memorial Centre, Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park Street Mona Vale, has been opened as an evacuation centre and SES and surf lifesaving volunteers being prepared for door knocking operations.

Advice from the police is as follows: 

Residents of the following areas should be ready to leave before 6.30 tonight:

- Wimbledon Avenue - Nareen Parade between Narroy and Pittwater Roads - Verona Street - Gondola Road between Verona and Pittwater Road - Garden Street between Jackson and Pittwater Road - Lake Park Road - Darius Avenue between Lake Park Road and Parukala Place - Low-lying areas of Waterloo Street - Sydney Academy of Sport and Recreation, Wakehurst Parkway.

Where to go: Where possible, head to the homes of family or friends.

Alternatively, go to the evacuation centre, Mona Vale Memorial Hall, 1 Park Street Mona Vale.

What to do to prepare: - lift personal possessions and important items - take pets, essential items, warm clothes, medicines, insurance documents and valuables with you - leave as early as possible to avoid restricted roads - take drinking water and food - share this information with family, friends and neighbours - where possible, help others.

Council crews continue to attend to an increasing number of calls for support, backing up emergency services.

The special Customer Service call centre is operational please call 1300 434 343 24hours. 

Useful links:

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions

Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Ausgrid: https://www.ausgrid.com.au/

Sunday 9 February, 3pm 

There has been significant rainfall across the Northern Beaches today, with higher than forecast winds and rising ocean swells.

For urgent assistance please call the SES on 132 500 or for life threatening issues dial 000.

We have activated a special call centre to help with community calls as we are aware there is a high volume of calls to the very busy SES phone lines. This is for non-life threatening or emergency issues and replaces our standard out-of-hours weekend service for today (1300 434 434).

There is localised flooding, road closures, fallen trees and downed power lines. Forecasts are indicating the remainder of the day will see further heavy falls and winds, and the ocean swells are making it difficult for floodwaters to escape.

As a result, water levels in Narrabeen Lagoon and Manly Lagoon are rising (despite the falling tide) and flooding is likely.

SES remains the lead agency with numerous Council crews and emergency services providing additional support across the area. The Terry Hills Emergency Operations Centre has been activated, to ensure all agencies are delivering the most coordinated and effective response to the community.

Marine Parade remains closed to pedestrians.

As part of the normal process, water has been being released from the valve at Manly Dam however as it now full, water is also flowing over the spillway as it is designed to do.

Useful links:

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions

Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Ausgrid: https://www.ausgrid.com.au/

Sunday, 9 February, 11am

The Bureau of Meteorology forecast for today is for damaging winds (with gusts in excess of 90kph), large and powerful seas exceeding 5m on Sunday and continuing on Monday, abnormally high tides (2.0m on Sunday morning around 9 am), and up to 200 mm rainfall on Sunday.

For urgent assistance please call the SES on 132 500 or for life threatening issues dial 000.

All lagoons are currently open and being closely monitored. We opened Narrabeen lagoon Friday afternoon having reached the trigger level and ahead of the expected heavier rainfalls forecast.

On-going heavy rainfall as well as ocean conditions and tidal conditions will make it difficult for water to escape the lagoons, so if you are in low-lying areas it’s important you continue to prepare your properties.

SES have set up sand bagging points at North Narrabeen SLSC, Ocean Street cross of Malcom Street, Narrabeen  and at Denzil Joyce Oval (John Fisher Park), Abbot Road, North Curl Curl.

We have heavy machinery and crews operating to continue to manage all lagoons as required as well as clearing drainage pits, reviewing known geotechnical sites and have attending to drainage requests from the community.

These severe weather conditions are also resulting in a coastal erosion risk, and coastal inspections are being undertaken to monitor for signs of coastal erosion in known hot spots.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Road Weather Alert. There are a number of road closures, please get updates at Live Traffic. Motorists are advised to take extreme care and avoid all unnecessary travel.

We have also closed the walkway from Manly to Shelley Beach along Marine Parade for public safety, due to large swells. Please avoid this area.

Useful links:

SES: https://www.ses.nsw.gov.au/

Manly Hydraulics Lab: http://www.mhl.nsw.gov.au/users/NBFloodInfo-CurrentConditions 

Live Traffic: https://www.livetraffic.com/desktop.html

BOM: http://www.bom.gov.au/

Ausgrid: https://www.ausgrid.com.au/

Friday, 7 February 2020

Excavation equipment has been moved to the entrance of Narrabeen lagoon to prepare for the extreme weather forecast for the coming weekend.

Additional inspections are also being undertaken across the whole Northern Beaches area, clearing a number of pits, pipes and culverts which are critical to reducing the chance of flooding.

Council is also encouraging the community in flood-prone areas to take steps to protect their homes and move precious items to higher ground.

At Narrabeen excavators will excavate a flood channel to make it easier to open the lagoon entrance quickly when enough rainfall results in hitting the trigger level. Preparatory work is also being done for an opening of Manly Lagoon, while Dee Why and Curl Curl and Great Mackerel lagoons have been checked and are expected to open through natural cycles.

People in low lying areas should be on high alert as the forecast is not just for significant rainfall but very large swells. This puts pressure on both sides of the lagoon entrance and can mean water can’t escape the lagoon as quickly as usual, increasing the risk of flooding.

Our experts will be closely monitoring the tides, wind, rainfall, swell and lagoon levels and have crews on standby 24/7 across the weekend.