Moderate to Major flood warning issued for Macleay River - Update 3#

Published on 21 May 2025

Cars in Raind Flood Tile

Update as of 5.30pm 21 May 2025

A Moderate to Major flood warning for the Macleay River was issued at 3:26pm today, the warning can be found here: Flood Warning - Macleay River

A severe weather warning for Heavy Rainfall and Damaging Winds has been issued and can be found here: Bureau of Meteorology - New South Wales Severe Weather Warning 1

Kempsey and a broader area of the Macleay River Catchment is included within the severe weather warning.

The Flood Relief Gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River are now OPEN.

The forecast rainfall for the remainder of Wednesday and into Thursday (21 & 22 May respectively) remains a significant concern and will be monitored closely.

The Macleay River has risen rapidly overnight and throughout today.

The river has reached the moderate flood level at Georges Creek and at the Kempsey Traffic Bridge, further rises are likely.

Further rainfall predicted throughout the evening and into tomorrow will likely result in further rises.

As the river level has continued to rise, key routes such as Crescent Head Road, Loftus Road, Belmore River Road, South West Rocks Road, Hat Head Road, Smithtown Road, Macleay Valley Way, Plummers Lane and other nearby roads have been impacted and are now CLOSED.

Floodwaters can remain for an extended period of time over these roads, and hence townships of Crescent Head, Hat Head, South West Rocks, Smithtown, Gladstone, Kinchela and other parts of the Lower Macleay are now isolated.

FLOOD WARNING

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Minor to Moderate Flood Warning #4 for the Macleay River at 3:26pm on Wednesday 21 May 2025.

The Macleay River at Georges Creek is currently at 8.70 metres and steady, above the moderate flood level (8.00 m). The Macleay River at Georges Creek is likely to exceed 9.40 metres Wednesday evening, with moderate flooding. With forecast rainfall, the river level may reach the major flood level (10.00 m) overnight Wednesday into Thursday.

The Macleay River at Bellbrook is currently at 8.23 metres and rising, above the minor flood level (6.50 m). The Macleay River at Bellbrook is likely to exceed 9.50 metres Wednesday evening, with minor flooding. With forecast rainfall, the river level may reach the moderate flood level (10.50 m) Thursday morning. Further rises are possible with forecast rainfall.

The Macleay River at Kempsey (AHD) is currently at 6.20 metres and rising, above the moderate flood level (5.70 m). The Macleay River at Kempsey (AHD) is likely to exceed the major flood level (6.60 m) overnight Wednesday into Thursday. With forecast rainfall, the river level may reach around 7.00 metres Thursday morning, with major flooding. Further rises are possible with forecast rainfall.

The Macleay River at Smithtown is currently at 3.92 metres and rising, above the minor flood level (3.40 m). The Macleay River at Smithtown is expected to exceed the moderate flood level (4.00 m) Wednesday afternoon. With forecast rainfall, the river level may reach the major flood level (4.20 m) Wednesday evening.

For up-to-date warnings head to Flood Warning - Macleay River

STUARTS POINT

Council staff continue to monitor groundwater levels at Stuarts Point.

There is currently no operational need to control surface waters at Stuarts Point as a result of this event.

Should groundwater levels increase dramatically, or intense rainfall cause stormwater related concerns then further information will be provided and a response activated.

RIVER LEVELS AND TRENDS

Please refer below for current river level trends:

  • Georges Creek – 8.39m at 11.30am Steady at 8.81m at 4:30pm
  • Bellbrook – 7.28m at 11:42am Rising to 8.83m at 4:42pm
  • Toorooka – 7.57m at 11:05am Rising to 9.29m at 4:32pm
  • Turners Flat – 8.11m at 11:00am Rising to 9.05m at 4:00pm
  • Sherwood Bridge – 8.63m at 10:12am Rising to 9.93m at 4.02pm
  • Kempsey Traffic Bridge – 5.78m at 11:42am Rising to 6.33m at 4.42pm
  • Smithtown – 3.59m at 11:30am Rising to 4.01m at 4:30pm

DRIVING CONDITIONS

Please do not take unnecessary risks and do not drive through flood waters.

If you are in a known flood-prone area, we encourage you to take note of the current conditions and assess if you should implement your flood plan.

Flood damage to road, bridge and drainage infrastructure could be present in several locations, if you are travelling exercise great caution.

Please note, there may be WATER OVER THE ROAD in several locations, exercise caution.

Check with www.livetraffic.com or 132 701 for more road status information

RIVER CROSSINGS

  • Bellbrook Bridge is CLOSED
  • Toorooka Bridge is CLOSED
  • Temagog Bridge is CLOSED
  • Turners Flat Bridge is CLOSED
  • Sherwood Bridge is CLOSED
  • Dungay Creek Causeway is CLOSED
  • Dowlings Falls Causeway is CLOSED

ROAD CLOSURES

At present the following roads have been marked as CLOSED:

  • Queen Street at the Causeway is CLOSED
  • Gladstone Street Underpass is CLOSED
  • Wide Street, Between Sea and Kemp Street is CLOSED
  • Euroka Road at Theresa Street is CLOSED
  • Old Aerodrome Road is CLOSED
  • Old Station Road is CLOSED
  • Sutherlands Lane is CLOSED
  • Willi Willi Road at McCoy’s Bridge is CLOSED
  • Armidale Road, West of Willawarrin is CLOSED
  • Saleyards Road is CLOSED
  • Verge Street (Coles Complex) is CLOSED
  • Stuarts Street between Forth Street and Smith Street is CLOSED
  • Collombatti Road at the Tea Tree Farm is CLOSED
  • Kemp Street from Wide Street to Broughton Street is CLOSED
  • Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon is CLOSED
  • South West Rocks Road is CLOSED
  • Smithtown Road is CLOSED
  • Macleay Valley Way is CLOSED between Frederickton and Kempsey & between Frederickton Interchange and Plummers Lane.
  • Plummers Lane is CLOSED
  • Kinchela Creek (Left and Right Bank) Roads are CLOSED
  • Belmore River (Left and Right Bank) Roads are CLOSED
  • Summer Island Road is CLOSED
  • First Lane is CLOSED
  • Maria River Road is CLOSED
  • Second Lane is CLOSED
  • Belgrave Street at the intersection with Sydney Street is CLOSED
  • Sea Street (Below the showgrounds) is CLOSED
  • As the river level continues to rise and the floodplain fills, key routes such as Crescent Head Road, Loftus Road, Belmore River Road, South West Rocks Road, Hat Head Road, Smithtown Road, Macleay Valley Way, Plummers Lane continue to be impacted. Once floodwaters inundate these roads, the floodwaters can remain for an extended period of time. Prepare accordingly.

FLOODGATES

Council initially closed the flood relief and cross over gates during the day on Tuesday 20 May 2025.

- The floodgates on Kinchela Creek, Belmore River, Christmas Creek and Euroka Creek are CLOSED.
- Flood relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River are now OPEN.

 

Please note the flood relief gates at Kinchela Creek and Belmore River will close when river levels recede to an appropriate level.

OCEAN OUTLETS

- Ryan’s Cut Outlet is CLOSED to the ocean, we are planning to open this outlet as soon as possible, due to poor weather and high seas attempts were not successful today.

  The opening of Ryans Cut will be a priority for Thursday morning.

- Big Hill Outlet is OPEN to the ocean.

COUNCIL SERVICES

Following services are impacted:

The Waste Management Centre (Crescent Head Road) and all Waste Transfer Stations in Kempsey Shire are closed.

Kerbside bin collections may be delayed. If your bin hasn’t been collected, please leave it out — it will be picked up as soon as road access allows.

All sports fields across the shire remain closed.

The Slim Dusty Centre is closed.

 Kempsey Shire Council Customer Service office is closed, phone support is available - for updated flood information please check KSC's website or facebook page.

Other sources are listed below.

Kempsey Library is currently closed.

Kempsey and Crescent Head Pool are both closed. (SWR and Gladstone are closed for the season)

Council will provide an update if additional services are impacted or if current closures such as waste facilities and the Slim Dusty Centre remain in place

REPORT ISSUES

Call 6566 3200 or head to https://www.kempsey.nsw.gov.au/Your-Valley/Have-your-say/How-can-we-help

STAY INFORMED

For latest river heights, please head to http://www.bom.gov.au/cgi-bin/wrap_fwo.pl?IDN60141.html#Macleay_River_to_Georges_Creek 

Listen to your local ABC radio station which can be found at https://www.abc.net.au/listen/radio

Download the Hazards Near Me app and set your watch zones to get warning information for your areas.

Follow NSW SES & NSW SES Macleay Valley on social media or visit their website at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

Learn about your risk at www.ses.nsw.gov.au/knowyourrisk

Check latest weather, warnings, rainfall and river heights at www.bom.gov.au/nsw/

Check road closures at www.livetraffic.com or 132 701

For emergency assistance during a flood, storm or tsunami, call the NSW SES on 132 500.

In a life-threatening emergency, call Triple Zero (000).

 

The next update will be provided at approximately 7:30am 22/05/2025, or as the situation changes.

 

 

 

This is a news update from Kempsey Shire Council. The information is correct at the time of publication.
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