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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/live/2016/jun/06/wild-weather-flood-warnings-victoria-tasmania-storm-sydney-south-coast-live
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| Tasmania braces itself for floods and extensive damage – rolling report | Tasmania braces itself for floods and extensive damage – rolling report |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| 9.03am BST | |
| 09:03 | |
| Closing summary | |
| Mike Ticher | |
| We’re going to finish our live coverage here for now. Melissa Davey will file a full wrap of the day’s events shortly. Here’s what we know: | |
| Thanks for reading. | |
| 8.50am BST | |
| 08:50 | |
| The recriminations are already beginning over what might have been done to avoid the scenes on Sydney’s northern beaches, where erosion has threatened several houses built close to the shoreline. The Sydney Morning Herald is quoting a professor from the school of geosciences at Sydney University, Andrew Short, who says governments had known about the risk for decades, but put it in the “too hard or too expensive basket”. | |
| “Collaroy Beach is the most at-risk part of the NSW coast. It has been at risk for more than 100 years and essentially nothing has been done for those 100 years,” he says. | |
| 8.38am BST | |
| 08:38 | |
| The ABC has linked to drone footage that shows the huge extent of flooding around Forth, just west of Devonport. | |
| View drone footage from Forth during unprecedented flooding in #TAS https://t.co/Cg6PGf8j8a pic.twitter.com/KrUEhD1EeC | |
| 8.23am BST | 8.23am BST |
| 08:23 | 08:23 |
| Swimmer missing in Bondi swells https://t.co/NfawBILx0g pic.twitter.com/nreMXKbrmb | Swimmer missing in Bondi swells https://t.co/NfawBILx0g pic.twitter.com/nreMXKbrmb |
| 8.23am BST | 8.23am BST |
| 08:23 | 08:23 |
| Mike Ticher | Mike Ticher |
| There are conflicting reports about the person reported missing in the sea off Bondi. The Sydney Morning Herald has reported a lifeguard as saying the person jumped into the sea, other early reports said they were swept off the rocks at the south end of the beach. It’s dark in Sydney now as the search continues, with several helicopters on the scene. | There are conflicting reports about the person reported missing in the sea off Bondi. The Sydney Morning Herald has reported a lifeguard as saying the person jumped into the sea, other early reports said they were swept off the rocks at the south end of the beach. It’s dark in Sydney now as the search continues, with several helicopters on the scene. |
| 8.07am BST | 8.07am BST |
| 08:07 | 08:07 |
| Mike Ticher | Mike Ticher |
| Sheffield, just south of Devonport in northern Tasmania, has had its heaviest rainfall on record, according to Sky’s weather news. | Sheffield, just south of Devonport in northern Tasmania, has had its heaviest rainfall on record, according to Sky’s weather news. |
| #MAJORFLOOD watches and warnings in place across Northern & Eastern Tasmania. #Sheffield has seen the heaviest rain on record @SkyWeatherAUS | #MAJORFLOOD watches and warnings in place across Northern & Eastern Tasmania. #Sheffield has seen the heaviest rain on record @SkyWeatherAUS |
| (The blog is in other hands briefly while Mel has a break.) | (The blog is in other hands briefly while Mel has a break.) |
| 7.59am BST | 7.59am BST |
| 07:59 | 07:59 |
| The Bureau of Meteorology has released an updated severe weather warning for abnormally high tides and damaging surf for people in the mid-north coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra and south coast of New South Wales. | The Bureau of Meteorology has released an updated severe weather warning for abnormally high tides and damaging surf for people in the mid-north coast, Hunter, Metropolitan, Illawarra and south coast of New South Wales. |
| Although the low-pressure system is moving away to the south-east, large swells and king tides tonight remain a threat, it warns. | Although the low-pressure system is moving away to the south-east, large swells and king tides tonight remain a threat, it warns. |
| Coastal inundation in areas south of Port Macquarie may be possible three hours either side of tonight’s high tide, which is forecast around 9.20pm, it also predicts. | Coastal inundation in areas south of Port Macquarie may be possible three hours either side of tonight’s high tide, which is forecast around 9.20pm, it also predicts. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 8.04am BST | at 8.04am BST |
| 7.18am BST | 7.18am BST |
| 07:18 | 07:18 |
| Tasmania braces itself for unprecedented weather and extensive damage | Tasmania braces itself for unprecedented weather and extensive damage |
| Let’s take stock. | Let’s take stock. |
| 1/3 Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the severe weather events around the country. | 1/3 Our thoughts are with all those impacted by the severe weather events around the country. |
| 2/3 My Gov stands ready to assist and support the work of emergency personnel on the ground who have been putting their lives on the line | 2/3 My Gov stands ready to assist and support the work of emergency personnel on the ground who have been putting their lives on the line |
| 3/3 Please stay away from floodwaters, do not travel through floodwaters, stay on high ground. | 3/3 Please stay away from floodwaters, do not travel through floodwaters, stay on high ground. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 7.26am BST | at 7.26am BST |
| 6.51am BST | 6.51am BST |
| 06:51 | 06:51 |
| Best to avoid the Bondi to Coogee walk for a while. | Best to avoid the Bondi to Coogee walk for a while. |
| Another high tide tonight @BondiCoogeeWalk #coogee #surf #club pic.twitter.com/PJi9AqqzFk | Another high tide tonight @BondiCoogeeWalk #coogee #surf #club pic.twitter.com/PJi9AqqzFk |
| Before and after the King Tide #coogee @SouthernCourier @bnotleysmith pic.twitter.com/jgcnr7cQqm | Before and after the King Tide #coogee @SouthernCourier @bnotleysmith pic.twitter.com/jgcnr7cQqm |
| 6.46am BST | 6.46am BST |
| 06:46 | 06:46 |
| From the opposition leader: | From the opposition leader: |
| These storms have done terrible damage, devastating lives have now been lost. Our love to their families, our thanks to emergency services. | These storms have done terrible damage, devastating lives have now been lost. Our love to their families, our thanks to emergency services. |
| And during a press conference in Melbourne earlier today, the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, expressed his sadness about the three lives lost. | And during a press conference in Melbourne earlier today, the prime minister, Malcolm Turnbull, expressed his sadness about the three lives lost. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.53am BST | at 6.53am BST |
| 6.43am BST | 6.43am BST |
| 06:43 | 06:43 |
| Mayor says the Latrobe area in Tasmania is facing an "unprecedented" situation | Mayor says the Latrobe area in Tasmania is facing an "unprecedented" situation |
| Many residents have been evacuated from the northern Tasmanian town of La Trobe on the Mersey river. The mayor of Latrobe council, Peter Freshney, is being interviewed by ABC News 24 about the mass evacuations that have occurred there. The area is bracing itself for a peak in the river flow between now and 7pm, an unprecedented situation. Many locals are saying they have never seen flooding like this before. | Many residents have been evacuated from the northern Tasmanian town of La Trobe on the Mersey river. The mayor of Latrobe council, Peter Freshney, is being interviewed by ABC News 24 about the mass evacuations that have occurred there. The area is bracing itself for a peak in the river flow between now and 7pm, an unprecedented situation. Many locals are saying they have never seen flooding like this before. |
| Give us an update on those evacuations, have most people been moved out? | Give us an update on those evacuations, have most people been moved out? |
| The majority of people who have been affected by the flooding have been evacuated. Just over 110 at this stage. We’ve been utilising both helicopter and army vehicles to evacuate those people and they’re being evacuated out to higher ground and in some cases to an emergency evacuation centre that we set up. | The majority of people who have been affected by the flooding have been evacuated. Just over 110 at this stage. We’ve been utilising both helicopter and army vehicles to evacuate those people and they’re being evacuated out to higher ground and in some cases to an emergency evacuation centre that we set up. |
| What are your major concerns this afternoon and overnight? | What are your major concerns this afternoon and overnight? |
| That we try and evacuate anybody left who whose property is inundated with water. We can’t be absolutely certain of that and given that we’re expecting a peak in the river flow between now and 7pm tonight, we’re sitting here awaiting that peak and working as hard as we can to ensure that all the people who need evacuating are evacuated. | That we try and evacuate anybody left who whose property is inundated with water. We can’t be absolutely certain of that and given that we’re expecting a peak in the river flow between now and 7pm tonight, we’re sitting here awaiting that peak and working as hard as we can to ensure that all the people who need evacuating are evacuated. |
| This is an unprecedented event for Launceston ... what is it like in your role to manage this situation, to know how to direct people and allay their fears around this? | This is an unprecedented event for Launceston ... what is it like in your role to manage this situation, to know how to direct people and allay their fears around this? |
| We’ve got a really good team here and we have the emergency services control centre set up here in our council chambers. The mayor can only be as good as the people who serve him. | We’ve got a really good team here and we have the emergency services control centre set up here in our council chambers. The mayor can only be as good as the people who serve him. |
| We’re breaking new ground here. We had a [similar event] here in the early ‘70s, it’s rated similar but the circumstances have changed. The impact of the water and the flow of the water is unknown. And as I say we’re getting major flows from upstream and getting reports of significant peaks and they’re really starting to worry us. | We’re breaking new ground here. We had a [similar event] here in the early ‘70s, it’s rated similar but the circumstances have changed. The impact of the water and the flow of the water is unknown. And as I say we’re getting major flows from upstream and getting reports of significant peaks and they’re really starting to worry us. |
| How major does the damage look? | How major does the damage look? |
| We will have major infrastructure damage, without question, people will have property damage to their houses and the like, we understand there’s been significant stock loss, hundreds of cattle have been lost on particular farms upstream. | We will have major infrastructure damage, without question, people will have property damage to their houses and the like, we understand there’s been significant stock loss, hundreds of cattle have been lost on particular farms upstream. |
| We’ve seen a number of dead cattle and the like being washed downstream so it’s going to impact right across our municipality and in the wider region in terms of personal properties farms and industry, our local community, it will have a huge impact that there’ll be huge cost. But we’re really focusing on the people and rescuing them and a lot of work done to ensure that we can help them as best we can in the recovery process. | We’ve seen a number of dead cattle and the like being washed downstream so it’s going to impact right across our municipality and in the wider region in terms of personal properties farms and industry, our local community, it will have a huge impact that there’ll be huge cost. But we’re really focusing on the people and rescuing them and a lot of work done to ensure that we can help them as best we can in the recovery process. |
| These 2 made it to high ground but many have not been so lucky. "Significant stock losses" says Mayor Peter Freshney pic.twitter.com/itxcu7phBb | These 2 made it to high ground but many have not been so lucky. "Significant stock losses" says Mayor Peter Freshney pic.twitter.com/itxcu7phBb |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.54am BST | at 6.54am BST |
| 6.30am BST | 6.30am BST |
| 06:30 | 06:30 |
| Tasmania’s police minister, Rene Hidding, has urged people to stay away from the water. | Tasmania’s police minister, Rene Hidding, has urged people to stay away from the water. |
| Can I call on all Tasmanians to be absolutely responsible in the coming days. There is no circumstances where anybody should risk their lives. | Can I call on all Tasmanians to be absolutely responsible in the coming days. There is no circumstances where anybody should risk their lives. |
| Don’t try to take nature on – it leads to tragedy. We already have grave fears for two of our fellow citizens and we pray for them. | Don’t try to take nature on – it leads to tragedy. We already have grave fears for two of our fellow citizens and we pray for them. |
| There is simply no case to enter flood waters with a motor vehicle or in person. | There is simply no case to enter flood waters with a motor vehicle or in person. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.55am BST | at 6.55am BST |
| 6.29am BST | 6.29am BST |
| 06:29 | 06:29 |
| The Tamar river in Tasmania has been smashed by the storms. | The Tamar river in Tasmania has been smashed by the storms. |
| Tamar River at Home Point terminal #TasFloods pic.twitter.com/QjthOGabaP | Tamar River at Home Point terminal #TasFloods pic.twitter.com/QjthOGabaP |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.56am BST | at 6.56am BST |
| 6.13am BST | 6.13am BST |
| 06:13 | 06:13 |
| "What do we have to say to get the message across?" – NSW police frustrated at risk-takers | "What do we have to say to get the message across?" – NSW police frustrated at risk-takers |
| NSW police are frustrated that people are still entering the water despite numerous warning still in place not to take on floodwaters or beaches. | NSW police are frustrated that people are still entering the water despite numerous warning still in place not to take on floodwaters or beaches. |
| They have just issued a statement urging people to be sensible. It comes after police and emergency crews faced the horrific task of recovering the bodies of two men from waterways at Leppington and Mittagong this morning. Police say: | They have just issued a statement urging people to be sensible. It comes after police and emergency crews faced the horrific task of recovering the bodies of two men from waterways at Leppington and Mittagong this morning. Police say: |
| NSW police and the State Emergency Service are at a loss as to what more can be said and done to get the message across about the dangers of entering flood waters. Police and emergency services this morning recovered the bodies of two men from waterways at Leppington and Mittagong. | NSW police and the State Emergency Service are at a loss as to what more can be said and done to get the message across about the dangers of entering flood waters. Police and emergency services this morning recovered the bodies of two men from waterways at Leppington and Mittagong. |
| The acting assistant commissioner, Kyle Stewart, said despite the constant warnings about the dangers of entering flood areas we now have two men who have died. | The acting assistant commissioner, Kyle Stewart, said despite the constant warnings about the dangers of entering flood areas we now have two men who have died. |
| “It is a tragedy these two lives have been lost. We simply do not know how either of these two men came to be in the flood waters. But what we know is that their deaths show just how dangerous flood waters are,” Stewart said. | “It is a tragedy these two lives have been lost. We simply do not know how either of these two men came to be in the flood waters. But what we know is that their deaths show just how dangerous flood waters are,” Stewart said. |
| “What do we have to say to get the message across? Emergency service personnel this morning have had the devastating task of retrieving the bodies of the men. | “What do we have to say to get the message across? Emergency service personnel this morning have had the devastating task of retrieving the bodies of the men. |
| “Flood waters are deadly – we can’t put it any other way.” | “Flood waters are deadly – we can’t put it any other way.” |
| Emergency service personnel are frustrated at the number of flood rescues conducted over the weekend, which tied up valuable resources because of warnings about entering flood affected areas being ignored. | Emergency service personnel are frustrated at the number of flood rescues conducted over the weekend, which tied up valuable resources because of warnings about entering flood affected areas being ignored. |
| Some of the flood rescues since Friday include four teenagers from the surf at Stockton and two tourists from the water at Foster yesterday. | Some of the flood rescues since Friday include four teenagers from the surf at Stockton and two tourists from the water at Foster yesterday. |
| “While the east coast low has now passed northern NSW and Sydney, the south coast is being hit,” Stewart said. “We can’t be complacent. Please heed our advice, your life could depend on it.” | “While the east coast low has now passed northern NSW and Sydney, the south coast is being hit,” Stewart said. “We can’t be complacent. Please heed our advice, your life could depend on it.” |
| The message comes as emergency crews are currently trying to rescue police a person swept away by waves at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. | The message comes as emergency crews are currently trying to rescue police a person swept away by waves at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. |
| Police and rescue crews are searching Bondi beach after reports a person was swept off rocks @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/S83Jbm6kyw | Police and rescue crews are searching Bondi beach after reports a person was swept off rocks @7NewsSydney pic.twitter.com/S83Jbm6kyw |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.56am BST | at 6.56am BST |
| 6.01am BST | 6.01am BST |
| 06:01 | 06:01 |
| Back in NSW, AAP reports that surf lifesavers and police are attempting to rescue a person swept away by wild waves at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The beach has been closed to swimmers and surfers due to the wild weather. | Back in NSW, AAP reports that surf lifesavers and police are attempting to rescue a person swept away by wild waves at Sydney’s Bondi Beach. The beach has been closed to swimmers and surfers due to the wild weather. |
| 6.00am BST | 6.00am BST |
| 06:00 | 06:00 |
| The Mercury is reporting that one of the two people missing in Tasmanian floodwaters is an 81-year-old man, who was swept into the rising Ouse river from his backyard: | The Mercury is reporting that one of the two people missing in Tasmanian floodwaters is an 81-year-old man, who was swept into the rising Ouse river from his backyard: |
| Tasmania police sergeant Adrian Leary said the elderly man was swept away at around 8am by a flash flood after feeding his sheep. | Tasmania police sergeant Adrian Leary said the elderly man was swept away at around 8am by a flash flood after feeding his sheep. |
| The property is alongside the Ouse river and part of the backyard is under water. “We believe initially he had gone out to check some stock which were nearby his house on a small rise,” Leary said. | The property is alongside the Ouse river and part of the backyard is under water. “We believe initially he had gone out to check some stock which were nearby his house on a small rise,” Leary said. |
| “By the time he checked them and came back it’s possible he may have slipped and struck by a flash flood and swept away. | “By the time he checked them and came back it’s possible he may have slipped and struck by a flash flood and swept away. |
| “His wife has seen him sink to his knees but other than that there are no other witnesses.” | “His wife has seen him sink to his knees but other than that there are no other witnesses.” |
| Sgt Leary said a rescue helicopter, police boat and ground crews were still looking but that rising river levels were problematic. | Sgt Leary said a rescue helicopter, police boat and ground crews were still looking but that rising river levels were problematic. |
| “We have some grave concerns for the safety of this elderly gentleman,” he said. | “We have some grave concerns for the safety of this elderly gentleman,” he said. |
| “The family very upset at the moment and hope is still there but the longer we go the more concerned we are.” | “The family very upset at the moment and hope is still there but the longer we go the more concerned we are.” |
| Sgt Leary said police had been advised river levels were still rising and were considering closing the Ouse river bridge as it could be completely submerged by water in the next few hours. | Sgt Leary said police had been advised river levels were still rising and were considering closing the Ouse river bridge as it could be completely submerged by water in the next few hours. |
| Updated | Updated |
| at 6.57am BST | at 6.57am BST |
| 5.51am BST | 5.51am BST |
| 05:51 | 05:51 |
| Some more pics of the destruction currently unfolding in Tassie: | Some more pics of the destruction currently unfolding in Tassie: |
| What is left of our access rd. Pumping Station Rd Forth TAS #TasFloods #SES @Spoonyman @Heart1073 @theadvocatetas pic.twitter.com/uFYGzFTBBv | What is left of our access rd. Pumping Station Rd Forth TAS #TasFloods #SES @Spoonyman @Heart1073 @theadvocatetas pic.twitter.com/uFYGzFTBBv |
| #Tasfloods Avoid all contact with floodwaters where possible as they may be contaminated by sewage and animal waste #politas | #Tasfloods Avoid all contact with floodwaters where possible as they may be contaminated by sewage and animal waste #politas |
| The power of Tassie rivers on display today with dramatic pics in teh state's North https://t.co/JVVeM8axO2 #TasFloods #thisistassie | The power of Tassie rivers on display today with dramatic pics in teh state's North https://t.co/JVVeM8axO2 #TasFloods #thisistassie |
| Boats in trouble in big seas at Bicheno #TasFloods pic.twitter.com/hRpNb46M7t | Boats in trouble in big seas at Bicheno #TasFloods pic.twitter.com/hRpNb46M7t |
| Pumping Station Rd Forth Valley #TasFloods @Spoonyman @abcnewsTas @theadvocatetas @ExaminerOnline pic.twitter.com/wiTex1pWZY | Pumping Station Rd Forth Valley #TasFloods @Spoonyman @abcnewsTas @theadvocatetas @ExaminerOnline pic.twitter.com/wiTex1pWZY |
| 5.37am BST | 5.37am BST |
| 05:37 | 05:37 |
| Crazy #drone footage of the erosion at Collaroy in Sydney's north from UNSW's Water Research Lab #eastcoastlow https://t.co/eivWbqZMDO | Crazy #drone footage of the erosion at Collaroy in Sydney's north from UNSW's Water Research Lab #eastcoastlow https://t.co/eivWbqZMDO |