Great Lakes Council Mayor, Cr Jan McWilliams has applauded the response of the emergency services and the good common sense shown by Great Lakes residents after a severe storm lashed the southern parts of the Great Lakes yesterday.

“Amidst widespread storm damage and flooding especially in Stroud, Bulahdelah and Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest, communities are pulling together to recover and showing great resilience” said Cr McWilliams.

“We are very pleased that people across the Great Lakes have shown good sense and kept themselves and their loved ones safe during the emergency period.”

“Now as we move to the clean-up period, we ask that everyone is patient.  Right now, flood waters and telephone communication breakdowns are preventing us from fully assessing the damage sustained, but we will deal with all matters when we can.”

The communities of Stroud, Bulahdelah and Tea Gardens / Hawks Nest have been hard hit by the storms and Council staff is working hard to ensure public safety by closing flooded roads and restoring council assets and road access.

Council will be keeping residents informed through media and Council’s website on clean-up details as soon as arrangements can be made.

To report trees that are blocking roads or in parks and reserves, please contact Council, 6591 7222.

Green waste collected as a result of the storm damage will be accepted free of charge from all small vehicles (cars, utes and trailers) at Tea Gardens, Bulahdelah and Stroud Waste Management facilities until further notice.

Your patience is appreciated when trying to contact authorities as telephone and internet services are being intermittently affected due to storm damage.

Just remember, in a life threatening situation, always call triple zero (000).

Great Lakes Council is in the early stages of assessing the damage after the intense east coast low pressure system delivered severe storm conditions to the southern parts of the Great Lakes region.

“At this stage flooding and limited communications services are preventing a complete assessment and we must wait for waters to recede and roads to be reopened before we can fully assess the damage that has been sustained” said Council’s Director of Engineering, Mr Ron Hartley.

“However, so far we are aware that damage has occurred to the Stroud showground and the Stroud swimming pool, with most of the fencing lost as water moved very quickly through that area.

“The other major damage that occurred has been the loss of most of the road surface of The Boulevarde at Jimmys Beach” said Mr Hartley.

Jimmys Beach is one of NSW’s identified erosion hotspots and over past years has been the target of numerous plans to renourish the Beach with sand to prevent erosion during significant storm events.

“Council is now seeking urgent talks with the NSW Government to discuss what steps need to be taken at Jimmys Beach” said Mr Hartley.