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Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Madeline Link

Hunter floods: Washington demands flood assistance as Port Stephens is left in the lurch

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.

Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington has called on Premier Dominic Perrottet to extend the Natural Disaster Declaration to the area, as he and Minister for Emergency Services and Flood Recovery Steph Cooke see the devastation on the ground in Maitland today.

"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-Hubers
DESTROYED: Morpeth business owner Rehan Brambach had $2000 of firewood damaged by floods as tides rose on Thursday. Picture: Peter Lorimer
EVACUATION: SES crews ferried Jason Lantry and his son Kieran to Morpeth from Hinton. Picture: Peter Lorimer
PREPARED: Raymond Terrace's Brent Green. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
FLOODS: Seven-year-old Sophie Bamford plays on equipment surrounded by rising water at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Water creeps toward a home at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
FLOODED: Morpeth business owner Rehan Brambach had at least $2000 worth of firewood destroyed by flood waters. Picture: Peter Lorimer
EVACUATION: SES crews evacuated Jason Lantry and his son Kieran from Hinton across to Morpeth on Thursday. Picture: Peter Lorimer
FLOODS: Flood waters continued to rise around Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
FLOODS: SES crews were on standby at Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
FLOODS: SES crews were on standby at Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
FLOODS: SES crews were on standby at Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WAITING GAME: The River Royal Inn at Morpeth prepares for the worst. Picture: Peter Lorimer
READY: A rescue crew member suits up for action at Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
HIGHER GROUND: Farm owners try to move important machinery before flood levels rise. Picture: Peter Lorimer
EVACUATION: SES crews ferried people across from Hinton to Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
EVACUATION: SES crews ferried Keiran Lantry across from Hinton to Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
FLOOD WATCH: Morpeth Bridge became a popular spot to watch flood levels rise. Picture: Peter Lorimer
RUINED: Rehan Brambach's business is run out of this industrial shed. Picture: Peter Lorimer
DESTROYED: Firewood Rehan Brambach was planning to sell in his busiest months of the year. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
STANDBY: SES crews were busy on Thursday morning transferring locals to and from Morpeth and Hinton. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Flood waters continue to rise across Hinton and Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
PREPARED: Raymond Terrace resident Brent Green starts to sandbag his property. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
FLOODS: Seven-year-old Sophie Bamford plays on equipment surrounded by rising water at Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
WATER RISES: Raymond Terrace has begun to be impacted by floodwaters. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
RISING TIDES: Floodwater has begun to seep into Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
RISING TIDES: Floodwater has begun to seep into Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
HORSING AROUND: A horse in deep water near Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
RISING TIDES: Floodwaters near Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
HARD WORK: A postie continues to deliver his mail near Raymond Terrace. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers
HORSING AROUND: A horse in deep water near Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
GANDER: Residents gathered on Morpeth Bridge to watch the rising water. Picture: Peter Lorimer
RISING TIDES: Floodwaters near Morpeth. Picture: Peter Lorimer
INCHING 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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