Debris litters Knox Park

DAVID Reading and his Tweed Shire Council team-mates had their work cut out for them yesterday cleaning up parts of Murwillumbah such as Knox Park which were inundated by flood-waters on Saturday night and Sunday.

Although he has “seen heaps” of floods on the Tweed, Mr Reading said each one was slightly different.

“This was pretty typical, but a bit different,” he said.

“Normally we get debris in that part of the park,” he said, nodding towards the duck pond which acts as a collection point for stormwater from nearby hillsides.

“This time it was on the high side,” he added.

Mr Reading said the sudden heavy downpour of rain on the Saturday night probably caused a flow of water into a different area, which backed up in some stormwater pipes.

His team yesterday cleared mud and debris off the park’s walkways and grassed areas.

A council spokeswoman said the council had no specific reported damage to any parks or roads and no roads in the shire were closed.

“Council will continue to monitor and assess useability of all sports fields over the coming days and advise residents accordingly should any closures occur,” she said.

The spokeswoman said the council would continue to update the road and sports field closures information on the council website: www.tweed.nsw.gov.au.

Residents could also use the newly launched, high tech “SMS bounce-back service” for up-to-date information on the closures of any council facilities or roads.

“By texting the keyword to 1992 2767 you will receive an instant return text message with the current information.”

The spokeswoman said a list of keywords was available at the council’s website:

www.tweed.nsw.gov.au/councilstructure/ContactCouncil.aspx.

Some of the heaviest rain was at Chillingham, but luckily came nowhere near the levels of 1987 when some residents were left stranded on the roof of their home.

Trevor Thompson, who provides rainfall details to the Tweed Daily News and the Bureau of Meteorology, said fortunately the weather bureau had given him a new gauge with an overflow capacity which would contain up to 500mm (20 inches).

“It was a moderate flood,” he said.

“We’ve had 327mm since it started on Saturday.

“In the past 24 hours (7am Sunday to 7am Monday) there was 40mm in it”,” he said.

“The sun is shining here now drying things out a bit.”

That was the situation across the Tweed as showers slowly decreased throughout the day.

Today the weather bureau is forecasting a few showers, mostly in the morning with light to moderate SE winds.

 

Rainfall 24 hours to 9am Monday.

Figures in brackets are the rainfall till 3pm Monday.

Coolangatta 27 (5)

Kunghur 23 (2)

Brays Creek 37 (0)

Bald Mountain 50 (1)

Uki 23 (1)

Eungella 25 (2)

Murwillumbah 21 (2)

Doon Doon 25 (2)

Clarrie Hall Dam 27 (1)

Boat Harbour 29 (3)

Tumbulgum 51 (1)

Duranbah 33 (1)

Barneys Point 56 (1)

Tomewin 25