14 April 2021
More news on Operation NSW Flood Assist:
The ADF established Operation NSW Flood Assist on March 23, as part of the Australian Government’s response to the NSW flood emergency.
After assisting thousands of residents and business owners in some of the hardest hit flood-affected communities in New South Wales, Australian Defence Force’s Operation NSW Flood Assist 21 is winding down.
The NSW Government requested assistance from the ADF on 22 March to help in the emergency response and recovery efforts after last month’s floods, particularly in communities on the state’s mid-north coast.
At its peak, around 850 Army, Navy and Air Force personnel were assigned to the operation, supporting recovery efforts in and around Grafton, Coffs Harbour, Nambucca, Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Taree and the Hawkesbury Nepean.
Defence personnel assisted state-led aerial evacuation operations; removed 900 tonnes of waste from homes, properties and businesses; checked, cleared and reopened 170 kilometres of roads; returned several jetties and piers to workable conditions; transported hundreds of litres of water and thousands of litres of fuel; and delivered 650 kilograms of fodder to local farmers.
Defence is proud to have served and supported the community when it was needed most.
Army soldiers help community members remove debris from flood damage in Taree, NSW. Photo: Corporal Sagi Biderman
