NSW east coast enters sixth day of major flooding | July 7, 2022 | ACM
DISASTER-DECLARED towns like Maitland and Dungog breathed a sigh of relief yesterday, while on the other side of the Hunter River, suburbs that succumbed to rising floodwaters have been left in the lurch.
"I cannot believe Port Stephens has been left off the list yet again," Ms Washington said.
"How can one side of the flooded Hunter River be a natural disaster area, and the other isn't? It's entirely illogical.
"I've spoken to farmers and residents who described this as the worst flood they have seen in decades."
The state and federal governments announced six more LGA's would be added to the list of disaster zones on Thursday, bringing the total number to 29.
Among the new zones was Maitland, Lake Macquarie, Singleton, Bayside, Dungog and Upper Lachlan - handed access to a one-off payment of $1000 per adult and unlocking infrastructure repair funding for local councils.
On the other side of the Hunter River, Hinton locals have been cut off as the three roads in and out of town are inundated with water.
The river was expected to reach a peak on Thursday night, with the Hunter River reaching 9.5m at Maitland on Thursday morning and steadily rising.
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersDESTROYED: Morpeth business owner Rehan Brambach had $2000 of firewood damaged by floods as tides rose on Thursday. Picture: Peter LorimerEVACUATION: SES crews ferried Jason Lantry and his son Kieran to Morpeth from Hinton. Picture: Peter LorimerPREPARED: Raymond Terrace's Brent Green. Picture: Max Mason-HubersFLOODS: Seven-year-old Sophie Bamford plays on equipment surrounded by rising water at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Water creeps toward a home at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-HubersFLOODED: Morpeth business owner Rehan Brambach had at least $2000 worth of firewood destroyed by flood waters. Picture: Peter LorimerEVACUATION: SES crews evacuated Jason Lantry and his son Kieran from Hinton across to Morpeth on Thursday. Picture: Peter LorimerFLOODS: Flood waters continued to rise around Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerFLOODS: SES crews were on standby at Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerFLOODS: SES crews were on standby at Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerFLOODS: SES crews were on standby at Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWAITING GAME: The River Royal Inn at Morpeth prepares for the worst. Picture: Peter LorimerREADY: A rescue crew member suits up for action at Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerHIGHER GROUND: Farm owners try to move important machinery before flood levels rise. Picture: Peter LorimerEVACUATION: SES crews ferried people across from Hinton to Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerEVACUATION: SES crews ferried Keiran Lantry across from Hinton to Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerFLOOD WATCH: Morpeth Bridge became a popular spot to watch flood levels rise. Picture: Peter LorimerRUINED: Rehan Brambach's business is run out of this industrial shed. Picture: Peter LorimerDESTROYED: Firewood Rehan Brambach was planning to sell in his busiest months of the year. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerSTANDBY: SES crews were busy on Thursday morning transferring locals to and from Morpeth and Hinton. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersPREPARED: Raymond Terrace resident Brent Green starts to sandbag his property. Picture: Max Mason-HubersFLOODS: Seven-year-old Sophie Bamford plays on equipment surrounded by rising water at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersWATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-HubersRISING TIDES: Floodwater has begun to seep into Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-HubersRISING TIDES: Floodwater has begun to seep into Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-HubersHORSING AROUND: A horse in deep water near Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerRISING TIDES: Floodwaters near Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerHARD WORK: A postie continues to deliver his mail near Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-HubersHORSING AROUND: A horse in deep water near Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerGANDER: Residents gathered on Morpeth Bridge to watch the rising water. Picture: Peter LorimerRISING TIDES: Floodwaters near Morpeth. Picture: Peter LorimerINCHING CLOSER: Homes began to feel the impacts of rising floodwater at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
Ms Washington said residents in Hinton and Nelsons Plains are flooded in, while properties at Seaham and Raymond Terrace have been heavily impacted.
"There are residents in Hinton and Osterley, including pensioners, who can't get home and are staying in local motels - but yet can't access the disaster payment," she said.
"Premier Perrottet should declare a natural disaster for Port Stephens whilst he's in the Hunter today.
"If not, he must explain to flood-affected farmers and residents of Port Stephens why they don't deserve access to assistance."
Under the grants, assistance is available for people who's homes or belongings have been damaged, support for local councils, concessional interest rate loans for small businesses, primary producers and non-profits as well as freight subsidies for primary producers.
The Hunter River at Raymond Terrace was expected to reach around 3m on Thursday evening with minor flooding.
Parks and homes had already started to see the impacts by lunchtime, with the water having reached 2.75m at 1:30pm.
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