news, latest-news, flooding, namadgi national park, naas bridge, bridge collapse, namadgi bridge collapse, canberra flooding, queanbeyan, ses
A bridge in the Namadgi National Park has been washed away by rapidly rising floodwater, as ACT SES crews have responded to scores of calls for help amid the deluge. ACT SES chief officer Anthony Draheim said crews had responded to 85 calls for assistance since midnight with 45 still outstanding. He also warned for people to avoid rivers and storm water drains due to the rising water levels. Along with river crossings that have already been closed, Dudley Street has been closed between Novar and Kent Street. The ACT has supplied seven crews to flood-affected areas in Sydney and additional crews are on standby to be deployed. The Naas Bridge, which crosses the Gudgenby River, was swept away by the floods about 7am on Tuesday. The road is one of the major crossings in Namadgi, and was undergoing construction work to widen the bridge to two lanes. Emergency crews were on the scene, as of 11.30am. It comes as water has been spilling out of major dams across Canberra and the surrounding region, causing many roads to be cut off, due to the sheer amount of rain falling. Up to 90 millimetres is expected to fall in Canberra on Tuesday, on top of the more than 50 millimetres that was recorded in the 24 hours since 9am on Monday. Spectacular images have emerged of Googong Dam spilling large amounts of water into the Queanbeyan River, while Scrivener Dam also released water late on Monday night, as Canberra’s dams reached 100 per cent capacity earlier that day. READ MORE: Shannons Flat resident Sonja Valenta said the Naas Bridge had been undergoing significant construction. She alerted authorities of the collapse to the bridge just after 7.30am on Tuesday. “A lot of the concrete bollards that were holding up the bridge have been washed away and sections of the road as well,” she said. Cars were able to cross the bridge on Monday night, but floodwaters were seen rising close to the road level at the time, Ms Valenta said. The collapse has meant residents in the area would need to detour to Cooma in order to access Canberra, rather than cutting straight through the national park. Forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology Helen Reid said the heaviest of the falls were expected in the early afternoon, but Canberra would get consistent rainfall for most of Tuesday. “It’s such a broad system that we’re seeing consistent totals across lots of areas,” she said. “The next few hours will be the telling ones. “It will ease off on Wednesday and the day won’t be as wet.” Meanwhile, major roads around Queanbeyan have been shut off due to flooding. The Queanbeyan River has reached a height of four metres, according to the Queanbeyan SES. That has resulted in the Morisset Street bridge to be closed off to motorists. Travellers staying at the nearby caravan park have been briefed by emergency authorities in the event they need to evacuate the area quickly. However, SES Queanbeyan unit operations officer Brent Hunter said properties and businesses were not expected to be inundated. “There’s been an obvious rise in the river heights around Queanbeyan and we have seen a few road closures,” he said. “However, we’re still not expecting an inundation of properties, but is a dynamic situation. “The biggest area of concern for us on Tuesday is the Queanbeyan CBD.” The wet has prompted the ACT government to close several parks and reserves. ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna Ian Walker said there could be more closures. We are advising all Canberrans to avoid these areas as we see heavy rain and extreme weather continue over the coming days,” he said. “Flood waters can occur suddenly and without much warning, leaving you trapped or stranded if you are unprepared. Steer clear of low-lying areas such as creeks, stormwater drains or other causeways. “With high winds forecast tomorrow, take additional care in the coming days around trees and other debris in parks and reserves. Strong winds are dangerous and will move fallen trees unpredictably and can even topple or uproot standing trees.” IN OTHER NEWS: An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokeswoman said Canberra SES crews responded to 54 requests for help on Tuesday. Most of the jobs overnight were for leaking roofs and fallen trees, along with fallen powerlines and flooded roads. The spokeswoman said the requests for help following the heavy rain were evenly scattered across the city, with the damage not limited to a particular area of Canberra. Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/Yb2Jn5LgcGxmVnDUUjd5xi/3a26ae3f-078e-44d4-a464-107b221280d5.jpg/r10_376_4022_2643_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg
A bridge in the Namadgi National Park has been washed away by rapidly rising floodwater, as ACT SES crews have responded to scores of calls for help amid the deluge.
ACT SES chief officer Anthony Draheim said crews had responded to 85 calls for assistance since midnight with 45 still outstanding.
He also warned for people to avoid rivers and storm water drains due to the rising water levels. Along with river crossings that have already been closed, Dudley Street has been closed between Novar and Kent Street.
The ACT has supplied seven crews to flood-affected areas in Sydney and additional crews are on standby to be deployed.
The Naas Bridge, which crosses the Gudgenby River, was swept away by the floods about 7am on Tuesday.
The road is one of the major crossings in Namadgi, and was undergoing construction work to widen the bridge to two lanes. Emergency crews were on the scene, as of 11.30am.
It comes as water has been spilling out of major dams across Canberra and the surrounding region, causing many roads to be cut off, due to the sheer amount of rain falling.
Spectacular images have emerged of Googong Dam spilling large amounts of water into the Queanbeyan River, while Scrivener Dam also released water late on Monday night, as Canberra’s dams reached 100 per cent capacity earlier that day.
Shannons Flat resident Sonja Valenta said the Naas Bridge had been undergoing significant construction.
She alerted authorities of the collapse to the bridge just after 7.30am on Tuesday.
“A lot of the concrete bollards that were holding up the bridge have been washed away and sections of the road as well,” she said.
Cars were able to cross the bridge on Monday night, but floodwaters were seen rising close to the road level at the time, Ms Valenta said.
The bridge was undergoing construction to widen it to two lanes. Picture: Sonja Valenta
The collapse has meant residents in the area would need to detour to Cooma in order to access Canberra, rather than cutting straight through the national park.
Forecaster at the Bureau of Meteorology Helen Reid said the heaviest of the falls were expected in the early afternoon, but Canberra would get consistent rainfall for most of Tuesday.
“It’s such a broad system that we’re seeing consistent totals across lots of areas,” she said.
“The next few hours will be the telling ones.
“It will ease off on Wednesday and the day won’t be as wet.”
Meanwhile, major roads around Queanbeyan have been shut off due to flooding.
The Queanbeyan River has reached a height of four metres, according to the Queanbeyan SES.
That has resulted in the Morisset Street bridge to be closed off to motorists.
Travellers staying at the nearby caravan park have been briefed by emergency authorities in the event they need to evacuate the area quickly.
However, SES Queanbeyan unit operations officer Brent Hunter said properties and businesses were not expected to be inundated.
“There’s been an obvious rise in the river heights around Queanbeyan and we have seen a few road closures,” he said.
“However, we’re still not expecting an inundation of properties, but is a dynamic situation.
“The biggest area of concern for us on Tuesday is the Queanbeyan CBD.”
The wet has prompted the ACT government to close several parks and reserves.
- All of Namadgi National Park south of Tharwa, including the Visitor Information Centre
- Tidbinbilla Nature Reserve, including the Visitor Information Centre
- Googong Dam is closed to all recreation. No access is available at the southern end of Googong Foreshores. Access to all areas of Googong Foreshores and Dam will be closed from 3pm Tuesday
- All swimming areas along the Murrumbidgee River Corridor
- Caves Crossing and Murrays Corner Crossing on Paddys River
- Molonglo River Reserve
ACT Conservator of Flora and Fauna Ian Walker said there could be more closures.
We are advising all Canberrans to avoid these areas as we see heavy rain and extreme weather continue over the coming days,” he said.
“Flood waters can occur suddenly and without much warning, leaving you trapped or stranded if you are unprepared. Steer clear of low-lying areas such as creeks, stormwater drains or other causeways.
“With high winds forecast tomorrow, take additional care in the coming days around trees and other debris in parks and reserves. Strong winds are dangerous and will move fallen trees unpredictably and can even topple or uproot standing trees.”
An ACT Emergency Services Agency spokeswoman said Canberra SES crews responded to 54 requests for help on Tuesday.
Most of the jobs overnight were for leaking roofs and fallen trees, along with fallen powerlines and flooded roads.
The spokeswoman said the requests for help following the heavy rain were evenly scattered across the city, with the damage not limited to a particular area of Canberra.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
