FLOOD RAVAGED… The Billabong Creek bridge on the Orange road suffered severe damage as flood waters raged over it on Monday morning. Only one lane of traffic is allowed across the bridge at the moment. (Photo: NSW RFS- Parkes HQ Brigade)
A shock wave rippled through the community of Parkes on Monday as the extent of the worst flood to ever hit the town unfolded.
Torrential rain across the Central West on Sunday with 106mm measured at the Parkes airport created conditions for a ‘freak flood’ which inundated hundreds of homes. Residents on both sides of Billabong Creek and further away towards Kelly Road woke up around 4:30am with water running through their homes.
All the main roads into Parkes were closed on Monday and the town was cut in two as the Billabong Creek bridge on the Orange road was severely damaged. Emergency services were only able to reach flood affected residents by Monday night.
With water gushing 1.7m over the Lake Endeavour spillway, and every other little creek feeding into it filled to capacity, the 4m water marker at the creek crossing on the Eugowra road was completely submerged. The water spread far over the creek banks creating flood plains in places people would never have imagined in their wildest dreams it would get flooded. A resident who had just built a new home on Emerton Road said the water came about 1.5m higher than the one in 100-year flood event level.
Many homes along Nash Street were also inundated and parts of the road was closed because of flooding.
Parkes Shire Mayor Ken Keith said the devastation was unbelievable. He praised the community for the kindness shown in helping each other saying it was really inspiring.