The extent of the flooding in Forbes at 5:30pm on Wednesday with the level at the Iron Bridge at 10.676m. The Camp Street bridge in the foreground is completely submerged with only the light poles sticking out. (Photo: Craig Dwyer)
Flood debris and damage at the Amelia Field bridge on Back Yamma Road in Parkes.
The flood in Parkes on Monday seen from the air when the Billabong Creek came down a torrent and spread all over town. (Photo: Parkes Shire Council Facebook page)
Livestock impacted by floods can quickly succumb to any number of animal welfare issues including swamp cancers, infections and bloat. Monitor your stock closely and contact the Agriculture and Animal Service Hotline for help on 1800 814 647, or call your local district vet on 1300 795 299.
NSW SES and the NSW Police Force are advising if you or your family have been displaced from your home due to flooding, it is important to register your details at Register Find Reunite website –https://register.redcross.org.au/ – a national system managed andoperated by Australian Red Cross. The service registers, finds andreunites family, friends and loved ones after an emergency, let others know they are safe.
In a life threatening emergency ring 000.You can also register at Forbes Evacuation Centre on 0476 978 072 or through the SES on 132 500.
If your business has been affected either directly or indirectly by the floods or other disasters (ie gas outage, landslides, road closures, flash flooding, slow rising waters etc) and this is having an impact on your ability to operate your business and generate an income, this is what you should do: call a business concierge at Service NSW for Business to find out if there is any support available. A concierge will be able to walk you through any funding or immediate aid that may be on offer.
According to Jodie Dietsch, Relationship Manager – Western Region at Service NSW, should direct financial support not be available immediately, your business details will be captured and should funding be released the concierge will be able to reach out and provide you with the relevant information. “Capturing this data may also help in determining where small business pockets in your local government area have been heavily impacted and will aid us in advocating for support for your business community.”
As an impacted business owner, call 13 77 88 and ask to speak directly with a business concierge for any assistance that may be available.
The Rotary Club of Forbes is calling on employer groups in Forbes or employees in the 18 to 28 age group to nominate candidates to attend the 2023 Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA).
The 2023 RYLA will be held from Saturday, 7th January to Friday, 13th January at the Warrambui Retreat and Conference Centre in Murrumbateman NSW.
Employers are invited to nominate staff members in this age group or employee applicants can approach their employers to support their attendance in this week-long program.
Young people in our district have been hugely affected by the 2014/19 drought, the COVID-19 Pandemic and the current record high flooding of the Lachlan River, so now is the perfect time to support them in their leadership development.
Two of the current members of Forbes Rotary Club are past attendees of RYLA, farmer Grahame Uphill and civil engineer John Zannes. They have great memories of the RYLA experience and can’t speak highly enough about the benefits of this Rotary program.
Participants can complete an online application form by accessing https://forms.gle/bYo1tqn8GduCJ3kL9 The sponsorship fee for each participant is $950, which includes a generous subsidy from Rotary District 9705. This fee includes meal and accommodation costs, travelling expenses for inspirational speakers and support staff, and may also attract a further subsidy from the Forbes Rotary Club depending on the applicant’s financial situation.
For further information please contact the Forbes Rotary Youth Director Ross Williams on 0428 531 132.
Forbes resident Mamata Pun Rama’s waters broke and the SES helped her cross flood-waters with her partner Chitra to the Forbes Hospital where they welcomed son Imaan on Saturday. They are with midwife Jud Driscoll. (Photo: Western New South Wales Local Health District)
Volunteers at the SES yard in School Road on Friday morning worked very hard to fill sandbags. More than 25,000 bags were filled in just two days.
With all the Forbes schools closed from Friday, the youngest SES volunteer in Forbes Jakaylia Ware (8) was on duty at the sandbagging machine. She showed Member for Member for Orange Phil Donato, NSW Premier Dominique Perrotet and Minister Steph Cooke the ropes.
SES Volunteer Kerry Locke with Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke MP.
The trees aren’t out yet, but Find It In AMAMZING Forbes begins on 14th November. Each participating business will have a timber Christmas tree at the front of their front door when the flood water recedes.
Aaron Acheson of the Forbes Business Chamber said: “We are so pleased to be able to offer $20,000 in prizes this year.”
The draws will begin on Thursday, 17th November with the first $500 being electronically drawn. All you need to do is scan the QR Code and fill in the details. There are 7 x $500 prizes until Christmas Eve and then 10 X $500, 1 x $1,500, 2 x $2,500 and 1 x $5000 will be drawn on 24th December.
Major sponsors and participants: Forbes Shire Council and Forbes Business Chamber; Gold Sponsor – Bernardis, Silver Sponsors – Terry Bros Carpet Court and the Forbes Phoenix; Bronze Sponsors – Flannery’s Pharmacy, Gunn’s Menswear and Embroidery, MD Steel, Steele Technology, Walkers Ag N Vet and WA Knights.
“All the sponsor businesses will have a QR code for you to scan when you shop in their business. For those who don’t have a phone there will be a sign-on-sheet.”
Participating businesses: All of the above plus Acheson’s Mitre 10, Allure On Main, Blue Sky Outdoors, Blush Organics, Bowns Sports Power, Bron’s Hair Design, ChapterTwo, Forbes Automotive Services, Forbes Central Butchery, Forbes Small Engines, HelloWorld, Hozpots Garden Centre, Isabel’s Place, Jessica’s Beauty, Life Pharmacy, Little Extra’s Lifestyle, Loomzys FishNFix, Made Of Fridays, McMillian Industries, News On Rankin, Phillip Wells Optometrist, Robbs Jewellers, The Bakehouse, The Book Dispensary, Turners Furniture One and Undercover Sleepwear and Lingerie.
Supporting businesses have again come forward and continue to promote and support the Find It In Forbes Promotion and Christmas Carnival. “A huge thanks to Chudleigh and Dobell, Forbes Livestock, MBC, Michael Robinson & Co., Central West Diesel and Woolerina.
With many events cancelled and excess water everywhere causing huge stress to businesses and the community. We hope that the Find It In Forbes Christmas Promotion and Christmas Carnival will bring some fun and happiness to all,” said Aaron Acheson.
The Forbes Christmas Carnival will be held on 9th December from 5 – 9pm.
SANDBAGGED… Houses in Renfree Street were already surrounded by water last Friday morning as the flood level was rising by the minute. Residents scrambled to get their flood preparation done, and unfortunately for many the water could not be stopped from inundating their homes.
The sun was shining in a clear blue sky as the Lachlan River in Forbes peaked at 10.67m last Saturday making it the biggest flood in 70 years causing extensive damage.
Up to 1,000 people were ordered to evacuate as hundreds of homes and businesses were affected, and the town was split in two as flood waters started spreading. Residents on the northern side of town had to rely on emergency services to ferry them across the flood waters to get to the CBD and hospital.
The flood was not without its dramas and the SES assisted Forbes resident Mamata Pun Rama, who had gone into labour with her first child, to get her to the hospital in time. Mamata and partner Chitra Pun Rama welcomed a son, Imaan, at Forbes Hospital last Saturday.
The Western New South Wales Local Health District said mum, dad and the midwifery team were all “over the moon” and offered their congratulations to the new parents and baby Imaan who “is blissfully unaware of the incredible circumstances surrounding his delivery.”
The SES had hundreds of call outs and some of the rescues included household pets and other animals. There were even more than 1,000 sheep that had to be airlifted to safety.
The community spirit once again soared as hundreds of volunteers from businesses, organisations and individuals helped to fill thousands of sandbags in School Road that were distributed in the community. Since the clean-up started this week, community members have reached out to assist where they can with many flood affected people commenting on how heart warming the community spirit was.
The SES and other emergency services received hundreds of requests for assistance from flood rescues and evacuations, to storm damage jobs, resupplies, sandbagging and more.
Premier Dom Perrottet, Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke MP and Member for Orange Phil Donato MP visited Forbes on Friday to be briefed on the flood situation. They also met with residents and announced funding grants of up to $25,000 for farmers impacted by floods in disaster declared areas.
With the flood water starting to subside earlier this week, Forbes Shire Council reminded residents whose properties had been damaged to photograph any damage before beginning clean-up work.
Council said the tip was open and skip bins would be set up in affected neighbourhoods.
Residents can also leave damaged household goods on the street kerb for the Council to pick them up.
A warning has also been issued by Western New South Wales Local Health District for residents to protect themselves against mosquitoes.
Information on disaster assistance can be found on the Australian Government’s Disaster Assist website at www.disasterassist.gov.au.
PHOTOS: FARMPIX PHOTOGRAPHY
The bowling greens turned into swimming pools at the Forbes Sport & Recreation Club.
Lake Forbes has swelled in size with the Johnny Woods Crossing, Apex Park and Grinstead Oval completely submerged. The Vampire aircraft is just visible.
Businesses in Johnson and Lachlan Streets surrounded by water.
The water went up the Newell Highway towards Parkes as far as Bunnings.
Sisters Aimee Woods, Kristen Apsey and Eliza Woods put on brave smiles as they try to process the damage caused by the flood at Kristen’s Dance Studio.
By Tuesday the floodwaters had started receding enough for people to return to their homes and businesses to assess the damage caused.
The state of the dance floors at Kristen’s Dance Studio in Rankin Street came as a huge shock to owner Kristen Aspey.
“The water came knee deep through the whole building and ruined all our sprung flooring in all three dance studios,” said Kristen. The wooden floors are all wobbly and will have to be ripped up.
“We have some furniture damaged too, but the flooring is the biggest worry.” Kristen did not want to start thinking about the cost of the damage on Tuesday as they tried to clean out the big mess. “The costs will be insurmountable.” She said replacing the sprung flooring would probably cost over $100,000.
“We were confident the plastic and sandbags would keep the water out, as it had worked in previous floods over the past three years, but this time it was different. It looks like the water was the same depth inside as it was outside.”
The end of the year is also the busiest time for her studio preparing for the annual concert. She did not see them returning to the studio this year, and she’d had to find an alternative space.
Kristen and her two sisters Aimee and Eliza Woods found some solace in the support they had received from the community. “We had about 20 people who came to help today. We are so appreciative of our Forbes community and our dance school supporters,” said Kristen.
Lachlan Laundry Services had to rip up all the carpets in the business.
The force of the water was too much for the fence at the Forbes Olympic Pool.
Shopping trolleys at Woolworths with flood debris.
Forbes Smash employees were hard at work on Tuesday to get the business clean and back to normal again.
There was a huge mess at Kristen’s Dance Studio to clean out with lots of damage to furniture as well.