ID :
156188
Thu, 01/06/2011 - 17:59
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/156188
The shortlink copeid
Goodooga folk won`t flee floods
His town is facing isolation for up to six weeks during one of northern NSW's worst
floods in more than 50 years.
Yet Goodooga village elder Michael Eckford just shrugs his shoulders when asked why
the vast majority of his 300-strong community will not be fleeing before they are
cut off from the rest of Australia.
"We are made of sturdy stuff," the farmer, who owns 100,000 acres of land, tells AAP
on Thursday.
"I have set foot on every bit of this land, I'm not leaving no matter how bad it is."
Mr Eckford was one of a host of locals who greeted Premier Kristina Keneally as she
arrived in the remote town to survey the extent of the damage that floodwaters
moving south from Queensland will wreak.
During an encounter alongside the overgrown lawns of the ramshackle Goodooga bowling
club, Ms Keneally did her utmost to reassure locals the government was doing all it
could to help them cope.
Roads, airstrips and bridges will become unusable but electricity, water supplies
and sewerage should not fail, the State Emergency Service said.
Ms Keneally said those deciding to stay will face a testing time.
After being shown the flood peak by helicopter, she said the area could find itself
isolated within two to three days.
"It is always a difficult thing to look ahead at two to six weeks isolation," she
told reporters as she surveyed the waterways, which are set to rise by several
metres over the next few days.
People planning to stay are stocking up with supplies and local authorities are
making arrangements to ensure children have activities.
"In terms of food, medical supplies, the things that people need to live... we will
make sure that it's resourced and we have also got the department of communication
services.
"We will be looking at a whole range of things."
She said the floodwaters were not moving quickly, enabling communities to prepare
for the chaos in store.
"They are not moving quickly but they are indeed moving towards New South Wales,"
she added.
"Goodooga is the first to be affected and in the next few days we expect it to
become isolated...
"We are in the preparation phase, there are about 30 SES volunteers here now and as
we go through this flood event.
"As the floodwaters come we will go into managing the event."
Alongside Goodooga, the largely indigenous community of Weilmoringle is likely to be
isolated by this weekend.
A handful of people have already been evacuated from the Goodooga Reserve, Ms
Keneally said.
The premier travelled to the region with emergency services minister Steve Whan who
announced an additional eight natural disaster areas will be declared as a result of
flooding, bringing the total to 59 in NSW.
Natural disaster declarations have been issued for Byron, Tweed, Richmond Valley,
Tenterfield shire, Lismore, Bourke, Brewarrina and Murrumbidgee in addition to the
areas already on alert.
floods in more than 50 years.
Yet Goodooga village elder Michael Eckford just shrugs his shoulders when asked why
the vast majority of his 300-strong community will not be fleeing before they are
cut off from the rest of Australia.
"We are made of sturdy stuff," the farmer, who owns 100,000 acres of land, tells AAP
on Thursday.
"I have set foot on every bit of this land, I'm not leaving no matter how bad it is."
Mr Eckford was one of a host of locals who greeted Premier Kristina Keneally as she
arrived in the remote town to survey the extent of the damage that floodwaters
moving south from Queensland will wreak.
During an encounter alongside the overgrown lawns of the ramshackle Goodooga bowling
club, Ms Keneally did her utmost to reassure locals the government was doing all it
could to help them cope.
Roads, airstrips and bridges will become unusable but electricity, water supplies
and sewerage should not fail, the State Emergency Service said.
Ms Keneally said those deciding to stay will face a testing time.
After being shown the flood peak by helicopter, she said the area could find itself
isolated within two to three days.
"It is always a difficult thing to look ahead at two to six weeks isolation," she
told reporters as she surveyed the waterways, which are set to rise by several
metres over the next few days.
People planning to stay are stocking up with supplies and local authorities are
making arrangements to ensure children have activities.
"In terms of food, medical supplies, the things that people need to live... we will
make sure that it's resourced and we have also got the department of communication
services.
"We will be looking at a whole range of things."
She said the floodwaters were not moving quickly, enabling communities to prepare
for the chaos in store.
"They are not moving quickly but they are indeed moving towards New South Wales,"
she added.
"Goodooga is the first to be affected and in the next few days we expect it to
become isolated...
"We are in the preparation phase, there are about 30 SES volunteers here now and as
we go through this flood event.
"As the floodwaters come we will go into managing the event."
Alongside Goodooga, the largely indigenous community of Weilmoringle is likely to be
isolated by this weekend.
A handful of people have already been evacuated from the Goodooga Reserve, Ms
Keneally said.
The premier travelled to the region with emergency services minister Steve Whan who
announced an additional eight natural disaster areas will be declared as a result of
flooding, bringing the total to 59 in NSW.
Natural disaster declarations have been issued for Byron, Tweed, Richmond Valley,
Tenterfield shire, Lismore, Bourke, Brewarrina and Murrumbidgee in addition to the
areas already on alert.