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Newcastle Herald

National

'Living through it again': Residents ferried to and from isolated suburb

Max MasonHubers Singleton Gillieston Heights Maitland John May Simone De Peak Flood

East coast of NSW suffers through day five of floods | July 6, 2022 | ACM

Standing on the bank of a newly-formed lake that cut him off from his Gillieston Heights home, Steve McCann could not help but think of last time his Maitland suburb became an island.

Mr McCann caught a rubber duck boat home on Thursday morning after finding Cessnock Road cut by floodwater when returning from work earlier this week.

Luckily, he could stay with his son and daughter-in-law until the State Emergency Service and Surf Lifesaving NSW started ferrying people back and forth from the isolated estate.

Mr McCann, who was relieved to be reuniting with his wife Janet and seven-year-old Labrador Bentley, said the situation had brought back bad memories of the flood following the 2015 super storm in Maitland, which cut off Gillieston Heights for several days.

"We're living it through again," he told the Newcastle Herald before climbing aboard the small vessel.

Flood warnings and evacuations remained in place through many parts of the region on Thursday, as a rain bomb that hit the Hunter earlier this week continued to move further north.

The SES said major flood levels could be reached at Maitland some time overnight on Thursday and into Friday, with inundation classified as moderate during the day on Thursday.

The Herald understands there are two nurses on what residents are calling Gillieston Island and the suburb's pharmacy has been restocked with supplies.

The rubber duck ferry service began taking people home to Gillieston Heights from the mainland on Thursday morning, as well as bringing people to shore near the roundabout at the intersection of the New England Highway and Cessnock Road in order to walk to buy supplies at the nearby supermarket.

Julie and John Moy climbed off the boat with their dog Lil after evacuating their home in Louth Park.

Addison says farewell to her pop Steve McCann, with her mum Elysha holding her looking towards Gillieston Heights. Picture: Simone De Peak

Cessnock Road between Maitland CBD and Gillieston Heights on Thursday. Picture: Simone De Peak

Anthony Lloyd and his son Tom paddling near their home on the flooded Athel Dombrain Drive on Thursday. Picture: Simone De Peak

Looking towards Gillieston Heights from Maitland on Thursday. Picture: Simone De Peak

Maitland on Thursday. Picture: Simone De Peak

Julie Moy arrives from the isolated area with her dog Lil. Picture: Simone De Peak

FLOODS: Kyra Ward checking the water Level outside her cousin's house on Bishopgate Street where she's staying. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

BEDLAM: Dairy farmer of 47 years Max Wake checking on his cows at the milking shed. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

HIGHER GROUND: St Catherine's Catholic College agriculture teacher Joanna Towers with pigs she moved to a shed on higher ground. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: Ben Hynes and Kyra Ward checking the level of water under the floor of Ben's house on Bishopgate Street Singleton. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: Mark Webster checking the water level in the underfloor cellar at Ben and Katie Hynes' house. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: The cricket nets at Cook Park inundated by water. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: Lara Pepperall and Josh Maytom feeding cattle which had been evacuated to the safety of the HRLAX saleyards outside town. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: Singleton streets were inundated with water. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: Lara Pepperall feeding young cattle which had been evacuated to the safety of the HRLAX saleyards outside town. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

FLOODS: Bec Harris and her kids Theo and Arlo checking out the water level in the Hunter River. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

RISING WATERS: Cattle had to be moved from St Catherine's Catholic College at Singleton this morning. Picture: Joanna Towers

FLOODS: Swirling floodwaters under a bridge at Singleton. Picture: Max Mason-Hubers

Mrs Moy said their O'Connells Road home was on stilts, so had not been inundated, but everything in their yard was flooded - including five cars.

They were off to stay with friends until the floodwater recedes.

Alisha McTaggart reunited with her young sons Drake Lymar, 9, and Marcus Lymar, 7, after they were flooded-in while visiting their dad and step mum at Gillieston Heights.

Ms McTaggart said young Marcus needed some medicine so she was glad to have him off the island.

Drake was fascinated with the scene.

"It's really cool," he said.

"When you're driving down the lane and see all the water, you think it's just a pond but it's like a river."

Meanwhile, Anthony Lloyd and his son Tom were paddling along the underwater Athel Dombrain Drive - kayaks were the only way in and out of their home.

Mr Lloyd said he had lived at the spot near Maitland railway station for more than two decades and had seen "three decent floods" in that time.

By his measure, the level near his house was about two inches lower than that of the 2015 flood.

"The good thing about having these kayaks in here is it stops the idiots driving in - the local circus clowns," he said.

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