Council continues emergency response to support community after natural disaster

Blue Mountains City, like other parts of NSW, has been declared a natural disaster area given the torrential rain and flooding in recent days.

The City has experienced multiple landslips since the rain began. The most serious of these have been the landslip at Megalong Road, the landslip at Bells Line of Road, plus a significant landslip at Wells Street in Katoomba.

Landslips have also occurred in Glenbrook, Blaxland and Lawson and there have been multiple road closures throughout the City, as a result of flooding.

Mayor Mark Greenhill said Council continued to follow the advice of lead agencies during this latest natural disaster.

“A geologist, working with Council, has this afternoon established safe pedestrian access past the Megalong Road landslip,” Mark Greenhill said. “Construction fencing is now in place to show the safe path of travel for pedestrians.

“Council is currently in the process of finalising a design for the construction of the temporary traffic lane and, weather permitting, will commence work on-site this Thursday.  

“We have also organised a shuttle bus to ferry Megalong Valley residents and business, as well as visitors who have been stranded in the valley, from the road closure after they walk out to Katoomba and back from tomorrow.

“This will help get much needed supplies to those in the Valley.”

Council has also started contacting residents in the Mounts, to see what assistance is required given the closure of Bells Line of Road.

Weather alerts for high winds on Wednesday, 24 March are still a concern.

“This is of concern, given the amount of rain that’s fallen in recent days, and the danger of trees falling,” Mayor Greenhill said.

“Emergency services are warning people to stay indoors, as much as possible tomorrow until this danger passes. Even trees that have previously been assessed as fine, could be at risk of falling given the land has been soaked in recent days.”

Council has also been inundated with requests of assistance from private landowners, after properties have been flooded with water.

This follows the flooding event in February 2020, plus the summer 2021/21 bushfires and then the COVID-19 pandemic. “Council - like other local businesses – is going to need assistance from the State and Federal Governments to help our community to recover,” Mayor Greenhill said.

“This is particularly the case as our businesses are still reeling from bushfires and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The Federal Government has announced some financial assistance for those who have been affected by flooding. This includes businesses who will lose income, given the natural disaster.”

Go to bmcc.nsw.gov.au/flooding-2021 for more information on road closures, financial assistance and how to report issues to Council.

You can also Blue Mountains City Council’s Facebook page for updates relating to the natural disaster.