A new flood warning device at Albion Park got a good workout the weekend with its beacon flashing brightly Friday night.
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Shellharbour is trialing two new DipStiks, one on Taylors Road, which sends an SMS to the local council and SES with real time information about rising floodwaters and signals a bright orange light to flash and alert nearby people.
Residents on Taylors Road told the Illawarra Mercury the stick was quite the spectacle as water began rising above the road Friday evening, then ceased when the water eased.
The other DipStick has been positioned near another hot spot for water on Shellharbour Road in Warilla.
Richard Hart from the Shellharbour SES Unit said those areas were chosen because of multiple flood rescues previously.
“Instead of waiting for the public to say ‘we’ve got water coming in to our house’ we can be proactive and get [help] out there,” Mr Hart said.
Shellharbour volunteers have responded to 327 flood and storm jobs in their area in the past year.
The local trial is one of six across NSW in partnership with NRMA Insurance, with a review to be undertaken in December giving each council the opportunity to take full ownership of the DipStik units.