AS the Murrumbidgee River begins to overflow, Balranald Shire Council general manager Jeff Sowiak has outlining how the shire is managing the emergency.
“At this stage the Balranald township is under a minor flood alert, which means that low-lying areas surrounding the town are being subjected to rising river levels,” Mr Sowiak said.
“There are levees in Balranald which protect the town, and these levees provide the main thrust of protection for the community. Similarly levees and topography provide a substantial barrier for Euston and other communities.”
Mr Sowiak said the council has had several inquiries about sandbags and other types of assistance, but they are not the responsible agency to provide those services, referring them to the SES.
“There are some outlying communities that may become isolated due to flooding, and assistance, where required, is being provided by the State Emergency Service as the lead agency in response to flood and weather events,” he said.
“The Council has a local emergency committee and a local emergency management plan, and the local emergency management controller Pru Burgun and I are working with the emergency management committee coordinating the response to this current event.”
The SES in both NSW and Victoria are working with the Balranald community to ensure their safety and welfare. If you are in need of any assistance or want to monitor progress the current progress, visit the SES website or call them on 132500.
For road transport updates within the Balranald Shire, visit the Balranald Shire Council website. To keep up-to-date with road closures across the state, visit www.livetraffic.com
