WITH warning of heavy rain, flash flooding and damaging winds, Wollongong City Council’s crews are on the ground preparing the city for the weather front.

Sites inspected and / or cleared this week including known ‘hot spots’ like prescribed dams, trash racks across the city and the headwall at the south end of Thirroul Beach (sand cleared from in front).

Wollongong Lord Mayor Tania Brown said Council works closely with the SES and received information late last week that the front was looking to be a potentially significant weather event for the city and the NSW coast.

“Our Emergency Operations Centre has been activated 12 times since July 2019 with seven declared disasters, we’re well-versed in preparedness and we’ve had crews on the ground inspecting the highest risk stormwater systems and waterways since last week and coordinating the clearing of drains, where necessary, and opening outlets ahead of the expected rain event,” Cr Brown said.

“While the SES are the lead agency to provide updates to the community, we will be sure to share their messages as new information becomes available.”

Trucks delivered sand to five locations across the city to help residents fill their own sandbags and prepare their properties.

The SES will supply bags at these locations, but they run out quickly.

The sand is at:

• Bellambi Boat Ramp Overflow carpark
• Fairy Meadow Beach carpark
• Fred Finch Park carpark, Berkeley
• Rex Jackson Oval, Walker Street, Helensburgh
• Kanahooka Park carpark, Kanahooka Rd, Dapto

Residents need to bring their own bags. Council recommends supermarket “green bags” or pillowcases if you don’t have access to hessian bags, and a shovel. The sand piles will be monitored today.

Council General Manager Greg Doyle said teams would be on standby around-the-clock over the week, ready to provide assistance to the NSW SES and Emergency Services if needed.

“During the April 6 severe weather event in 2024 we had teams out working alongside the SES volunteers to try and support our community through that disaster,’’ he said.

“We’re doing everything we can now to be ready for the weather front that is predicted to come over the next few days and we will continue to move around the city checking known hotspots.

“We encourage our residents to take the time to consider their flood and weather risks and to take the steps necessary to protect themselves, their families and their properties. We also ask people to take care and stay away from the beaches and foreshore areas when the strong winds, rains and large seas come.’’

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