Kempsey Shire Flood update #11

Published on 24 May 2025

Update as of 1230pm 24 May 2025

A Minor to Moderate flood warning for the Macleay River has been revised at 9:16am on Saturday 24 May, the warning can be found here: Flood Warning - Macleay River

Rainfall eased during the day on Friday, with settled conditions continuing today. no further significant rainfall is forecasted over the coming days.

The Macleay River continues to fall during the day on Saturday.

The river level at Georges Creek and Bellbrook have now fallen below the minor flood class and are anticipated to continue to fall.

The river level at Kempsey and Smithtown have fallen to the minor flood class.

River levels from Kempsey downstream are expected to continue to fall, however it is anticipated to be slower than up-river.

• Some important routes are beginning to re-open, however please allow ample time for staff to inspect the roads and undertake repairs where required and formally open the road or structure.
• The river level at Kempsey fell sufficiently to enable Council staff, supported by emergency services to access Smith Street and commence a pumping regime to reduce water levels within the CBD during the day on Friday.

Pumping operations continued overnight and will continue until the CBD can be opened to the public.

• Low lying areas of the Kempsey CBD and West Kempsey remain inundated; however water levels continue to recede, the pumping regime has aided in reducing water levels in the CBD.

As the river level at Kempsey continues to fall, so will the water levels within the CBD.

• The Central Kempsey CBD remains CLOSED due to flood waters remaining over critical roads, including Smith Street, Belgrave Street and several other surrounding roads.

A closure is in place at the intersection of Belgrave Street and Verge Street (enabling access to the service station) and near the intersection of Lord and Rudder Streets.

• Overtopping of the levee at Smithtown is ongoing and is expected to continue until the river level falls below the moderate flood level.
• Reports of significant infrastructure damage are being identified by the public, emergency services and Council staff, please do not enter flood waters and abide by closures in place.

Further damage is likely to be identified as flood waters recede.

• 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 remain CLOSED.

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

Council staff are monitoring Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon, South West Rocks Road, Macleay Valley Way and Plummers Lane closely due to receding water levels. Please be patient as river levels recede and inspections occur.

FLOOD WARNING

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a Minor to Moderate Flood Warning #18 for the Macleay River at 9:16am on Saturday 24 May 2025.

The Macleay River at Georges Creek is currently at 5.66 metres and falling. The Macleay River at Georges Creek is expected to remain below the minor flood level (6.00 m).

The Macleay River at Bellbrook is currently at 5.94 metres and falling. The Macleay River at Bellbrook is expected to remain below the minor flood level (6.50 m).

The Macleay River at Kempsey (AHD) is currently at 5.89 metres and falling slowly, with moderate flooding. The Macleay River at Kempsey (AHD) is likely to fall below the moderate flood level (5.70 m) during Saturday.

The Macleay River at Smithtown is currently at 3.98 metres and steady, above the minor flood level (3.40 m). The Macleay River at Smithtown is likely to remain above the minor flood level (3.40 m) during Saturday.

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 – 5.77m at 7:00am Falling to 5.43m at 11:30am
• Bellbrook – 6.17m at 6:56am Falling to 5.61m at 11:41am
• Toorooka – 6.66m 7:01am Falling to 6.13m 11:31am
• Turners Flat – 6.78m at 7:00am Falling to 6.19m at 11:00am
• Sherwood Bridge – 7.89m at 6:47am Falling to 7.11m at 11:42am
• Kempsey Traffic Bridge – 5.96m at 7:06am Falling to 5.63m at 11:36am
• Smithtown – 4.01m at 7am Falling to 3.89m at 11:30am

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:

• 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
• Saleyards Road is CLOSED
• Verge Street (Coles Complex) is CLOSED
• Stuarts Street between Forth Street and Smith Street is CLOSED
• Kemp Street from Wide Street to Broughton Street is CLOSED
• Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon and the Corduroy 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
• Gowings Hill Road is clear of flood water, however flood damage is currently being repaired and debris removed.
• Maria River Road is CLOSED
• Second Lane is CLOSED
• Kemp Street from Wide Street to Broughton Street is CLOSED
• Kemp Street from North Street to Prior Circuit is CLOSED
• Bloomfield Street between the Railway line and New Street is CLOSED
• Belgrave Street at the intersection with Sydney Street is CLOSED
• Sea Street (Below the showgrounds) is CLOSED
• Tabrett Street at Bestic Street to Cochrane Street is CLOSED
• Moparrabah Road at Majors Bridge (Parrabel Creek) is CLOSED
• Loftus Road at Ryans Cut is CLOSED (note this refers to the road, not the ocean outlet).
• The Central Kempsey CBD remains CLOSED due to flood waters remaining over critical roads, including Smith Street, Belgrave Street and several other surrounding roads.

A closure is in place near the railway crossing on Belgrave Street and near the intersection of Lord and Rudder Streets.

• 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 remain CLOSED.

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

Council staff are monitoring Crescent Head Road at Rudders Lagoon, South West Rocks Road, Macleay Valley Way and Plummers Lane closely due to receding water levels. Please be patient as river levels recede and inspections occur.

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.

Council staff use a river level of approximately 5.1m at the Kempsey Traffic Bridge as a guide as to when closure of the relief gates may occur.

Note that closure however will only occur when flood water can be contained within the levee system on Kinchela Creek and Belmore River.

OCEAN OUTLETS

Ryan’s Cut Outlet is OPEN to the ocean. (Note the road is closed at this location)

Big Hill Outlet is OPEN to the ocean.

Flood disaster and recovery information - Kempsey Shire Council working with the Macleay Valley communit

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

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

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 formal update will be provided at approximately 5.30pm on 24 May 2025, or as the situation changes.