Keep up to date with the latest news from on the ground where NSW volunteer lifesavers continue to respond to support the SES in the developing NSW flood and storm emergency.

4:00PM, Friday July 8

Over 120 people transferred across the Cessnock road bridge. This links Maitland to Gillies Heights population of 4000 people.

10:00AM, Friday July 8

SES has tasked a number of Surf Life Saving assets to assist with the continuing flood situation. There are 27 volunteer lifesavers (team leaders and IRB crews) in the flood zones today, along with 6 UAV operators, providing real-time information to command centres via livestream vision.

An IRB crew performed a medical evacuation at Luskintyre earlier this morning and several crews are working at Gunderman and Spencer on the Hawkesbury, using UAVs to assess debris and other risks to roads in the area. IRBs are ready to support with resupply and safety of SES personnel.

4:30PM, Thursday July 7

All boats and crews are off the water for the day. Across the day, lifesavers responded to 20 callouts with 15 IRBs, 4 UAVs and 40 personnel.

11:00AM, Thursday 7 July

The Entrance North. Two IRB crews are responding to an evacuation request for two people and a dog.  Crews are also at Gilliston Heights where 3 IRBs will assist to ferry people across flood waters throughout the day.

Meanwhile, a crew at Chittaway Bay has delivered medication to a sick three-year-old by IRB.

4:00PM, Wednesday 6 July

Three IRBs are responding to three evacuations at Chittaway Point. Three adults, 3 dogs and a child. UAV support is also on scene.

12:30PM, Wednesday 6 July

Surf Rescue crews assisted in an evacuation of livestock in Hawkesbury. Crews also supporting SES with welfare checks towards Mill Creek.

 

11:00AM, Wednesday 6 July

Two IRB crews from Swansea Belmont SLSC are evacuating a man and two children from a house at Bulga. UAVs are operational at Bulga and East Maitland. The town of Singleton is expected to be badly affected today, along with the area around Wollombi.

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopter from Moruya is being deployed to the Central Coast and Hunter to standby to assist. UAV teams are at Wisemans Ferry and lifesavers are aboard an RFS boat at Spencer, assisting with welfare checks.

A teenager has been evacuated at South Tacoma by an IRB and reunited with their family.

9.22AM, Wednesday 6 July

Surf Life Saving NSW has 42 members in the field across 10 locations in anticipation of another big day. This also includes eight drones in the air and 16 IRBs across four locations. Further requests coming in for deployment to new locations.

6.00PM, Tuesday 5 July

Volunteers surf lifesavers continued their rescue efforts today as flooding continues across Sydney and Central Coast. How are they assisting? Here are the stats.

4.30pm, Tuesday 5 July

A rescue of 15 goats was successful at Liverpool. Meanwhile, IRB crews are all off the water and UAV teams have completed activities for the day. Great work from all our volunteers.  Additional assets are likely to be requested on Wednesday with more IRB and UAV crews needed in the Central Coast and Hunter areas.

3:00PM, Tuesday 5 July

Central Coast. Two Surf Life Saving IRBs heading to South Tacoma for an evacuation of a family. Three IRBs were tasked to travel with an SES vessel upstream on the Hawkesbury to conduct welfare checks on residents. Heavier rainfall is now centred over the Hunter and will progress north tonight and tomorrow morning into the mid north coast.

1.45PM, Tuesday 5 July

Drones from the Australian UAV Service are airborne and operating in the Chittaway Bay area at the request of Wyong SES and around Spencer. Vision has been livestreamed to Incident Control Centres and the SES State Command Centre.

5:37PM, Monday 4 July

NEWS STORY: Volunteer surf lifesavers have supported NSW SES with calls for assistance across Sydney and the Central Coast in the wake of the wild storms that battered the region over the weekend and into today.

This has included the Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters which went to the aid of a bulk carrier with 21 crew aboard, stranded and drifting off the coast of the Royal National Park.

Additionally, SLSNSW currently has assets deployed in Liverpool, Camden and Penrith, assisting SES with evacuation orders using IRBs and UAVs.

We thank our members for their assistance so far and hope everyone stays safe with more rain expected over the coming days.

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3:43PM, Monday 4 July

The Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters remains on alert to respond to a stranded ship off the Illawarra coast. It’s a tricky situation, with tower cranes on the ship interfering with any winching attempts.

3:21PM, Monday 4 July

Our surf lifesavers are out assisting Penrith NSW State Emergency Service to evacuate flood affected residents. We are urging all to remain alert and listen to evacuation advice.

2:00PM, Monday 4 July

Footage this morning shows the clean up efforts at Maroubra Road in Sydney after strong winds blew mountains of sand in from the beaches. Scott Muir, Sydney Branch Director of Lifesaving said the road was covered in sand measuring 2 foot deep.

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11:34AM, Monday 4 July

Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters is responding to a stranded container ship off the Royal National Park.

Conditions are currently too rough to attempt to winch the crew from the ship.

The ship has no power and is currently 1nm offshore. IRBs from Thirroul Surf Life Saving Club and a jetski are on standby to respond.

11:09AM, Monday 4 July

Over the weekend the East Coast was hit by a barrage of wild weather. As of this morning there are more than 80 evacuation orders for Sydney and the Central Coast, with emergency services responding to many callouts. Hazardous surf has wreaked havoc on our coastlines as well, with major erosion evident at many beaches.

Pictured: Beach erosion at Tamarama, North Cronulla and Elouera