Emergency service crews rescue stranded sheep near Narrandera. Photo: Narrandera Rescue Squad – NSW VRA (Facebook).
It’s been a wild and woolly week for the volunteers in the Narrandera Rescue Squad (VRA), ferrying sheep and people out of danger as the flood peak made its way downstream.
The Murrumbidgee River at Narrandera topped out at 8.50 metres before 9 am on Tuesday (8 November) and is falling slowly, with the water still above the major flooding level of 9.20 metres on Wednesday morning.
The Narrandera VRA has shared a string of photos on their social media accounts, detailing their activities.
On Tuesday, Captain Alastair Macdonald teamed up with the Narrandera SES Unit as they rescued a man who was stranded at the Narrandera Caravan Park.
They were returning from delivering supplies to a property at Gillenbah when they stopped to pick up the man who had driven into floodwater and submerged his vehicle.
Earlier in the week emergency crews were out rescuing more than 80 sheep that were stranded in floodwater.
Five boats spent eight hours on the water on Monday afternoon and into the evening as the sheep were safely removed and relocated to safe ground.
Little “Deborah” the lamb is back with mum and doing well. Photo: Narrandera Rescue Squad – NSW VRA (Facebook).
In Wagga, the water continues to recede and has revealed extensive damage to some roads in the area.
Some routes in and out of North Wagga Wagga have reopened allowing access via Hampden Avenue between Wiradjuri Bridge and Mill Street and Oura Road, Byrnes Road and Merino Road and Mill Street between Hampden Avenue and East Street.
Wagga City Council is now busy assessing roads and pavements for saturation and damage.
Dramatic images of damage to Eunony Bridge Road suggest that it is unlikely to reopen any time soon.
The forecast for more rain over the coming week is also likely to hamper repairs.
Eunony Bridge Road is unlikely to reopen any time soon. Photo: Wagga City Council.
As the flood peak continues to make its way downstream from Narrandera, Darlington Point is preparing for a possible major flood level of 7.60 metres on Friday.
SES Deputy Incident Controller Shane Hargrave said they have resources at the ready.
“We now see the peak in Narrandera moving downstream towards Darlington Point where we continue to engage with that community to ensure that they’re prepared and we’re able to respond for any requests for assistance,” he said.
“We will see the water continue to move downstream through Carathool and Hay and down through Balranald.
“We are equipped and ready to respond to the community and really asking and encouraging the community to do prepare early, and if they do need assistance call 132 500.”
You can stay up to date with the latest on the Murrumbidgee SES Facebook page here and you can keep an eye on the river heights here.
For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500.
In life-threatening situations, call triple zero (000) immediately.
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