Floods to close NSW bridges and ferries

Updated: 06:18, Thursday June 27, 2013

NSW bridges and ferry services may close after the State Emergency Service (SES) issued several flood warnings and Warragamba Dam peaked.

Warragamba Dam, which began to spill around noon, peaked at 128,000 ML/day around 9pm on Wednesday, the State Emergency Service (SES) said.

The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) said Warragamba Dam peak spill, combined with peak flows from the Nepean River, will cause minor to moderate flooding at Penrith, North Richmond and Windsor during Thursday.

It is expected that the North Richmond and Windsor bridges will closed on Thursday.

The SES said Yarramundi Bridge is expected to be closed on Wednesday night which could cause isolation at Yarramundi from the eastern side of the Hawkesbury River.

The Lower Portland Ferry and the Sackville Ferry are also likely to close.

The SES said the Webbs Creek Ferry and the Wisemans Ferry may close over the next couple of days dependent on river conditions.

The SES is advising those that rely on these bridges and ferries to make alternative travel arrangements.

It has also issued a flood evacuation warning for low lying areas in Richmond Lowlands, Pitt Town and Gronos Point.

‘Wherever possible, people should go and stay with family or friends, or make other accommodation arrangements,’ the SES said in a statement.

‘For people who need assistance an evacuation centre has been set up by community services.’