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FREE COMMUNITY PAPER DIGITAL EDITION Covering the Kiama LGA and beyond
[ 5 July 2025 ] Minnamurra Kiama Downs Jamberoo Bombo Kiama Kiama Heights Gerringong Gerroa
Surf Be ach, Kia ma
Barney Street, Kiama
Paul Suttor
T
he Illawarra and South Coast is counting the cost of the wild weather which hit the region this week with the Kiama local government area inundated with rain and gale-force winds. Wednesday was the worst of it although the heavy downpour that was predicted to descend overnight into Thursday morning did not eventuate as the East Coast low pressure system thankfully diverted into the Tasman Sea. Kiama only received 18mm in the 24 hours to 9am on Thursday after copping 133.2mm in the previous 24-hour period. Foxground received 148mm, Broughton Creek 191mm and 207mm at Bawley Point during the midweek deluge. Wind gusts of more than 120km/h lashed the Kiama LGA on Wednesday. Strong wind and hazardous surf warnings were still in place on Friday for the Illawarra and South Coast, along with the Hunter, Sydney and Mid North Coast regions. A series of low pressure systems in the Tasman Sea produced strong to gale-force south to southwesterly winds during the week, generating large and powerful south to
Between Bomaderry and Berry
Sussex Inlet
Coast counts cost of wild weather
Surf Beach, Kiama
southeasterly waves. Kiama’s SES Unit has been busy responding to incidents with two of its flood rescue teams assisting other SES Units on the South Coast. The majority of incidents have involved fallen trees, powerlines and damaged roofs. The yacht which ran aground off the Kiama rockpool three months ago, the Ailsa Craig, has been out of the water at Kiama Harbour getting repairs. There were fears on Wednesday that it would tip
over in the strong winds and the fire brigade was called but the damaged 15-metre vessel was stabilised. Macquarie Pass was closed from Thursday onwards due to landslides while the Shoalhaven has also been hit hard by the extreme conditions. There were floodwaters in Shoalhaven Heads after the heavy rainfall caused significant river level rises across the Shoalhaven River and its tributaries. Sanctuary Point, St Georges Basin and Sussex Inlet also experienced flooding while
further south at Burrill Lake, residents on either side of the bridge were close to being forced to evacuate the township at one stage as the water levels rose. Endeavour Energy issued a statement on Thursday to say its crews were continuing to work on repairing storm damage and they are safely restoring power to customers as quickly as possible. At the height of the storm, power was interrupted to nearly 30,000 homes and businesses, with wind gusts reaching up to 125 km/h
and causing more than 400 electrical hazards. More than 2000 SES volunteers have provided assistance, including assisting beachside properties with sandbagging efforts to protect them from rising coastal waters. There were more than 4000 calls for help to the SES and many homes still remain without power, particularly in the St Georges Basin and Sanctuary Point areas where around 200 properties need to be assessed by crews. There were more than 17,000 homes and
businesses without power in the Shoalhaven, Illawarra, Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and Western Sydney at one stage. Kiama and Gerringong libraries, as well as the Kiama Family History Centre were forced to close on Wednesday with other Council sites operating with reduced services, including the Administration Building, Minnamurra Waste and Recycling Centre and Kiama Leisure Centre. There were numerous power outages with several shops closing early on Tuesday and not reopening until Thursday. Jamberoo Pub closed early at 3.30pm on Tuesday to make sure staff and patrons did not have to travel to and from the venue in the treacherous conditions while several local schools, including Kiama High, operated under minimal supervision on Wednesday. The NSW Reconstruction Authority issued a reminder to everyone involved in cleanup efforts to wear boots, gloves and eye protection, to clean and disinfect anything touched by water, to throw away any water-damaged food, to cover cuts, wash hands often and use mosquito repellent, to stay hydrated and take regular breaks to ensure you don’t over-exert yourself.