Albion Park residents have expressed fear and frustration over their suburb being "cut off" from the rest of the Illawarra during flood events.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The suburb was lashed with torrential rain, receiving 174.8mm between 9am Sunday and 9am on Monday.
The area experienced traffic chaos on Sunday and Monday morning, the rain leading to multiple road closures and congestion as motorists sought alternate routes.
On Monday, some residents were unable to travel to work due to road closures and conditions, and several schools were closed for the day.
On Monday, long-time Albion Park resident Melissa Purkis said she was in her second week of training for a new position with Transport NSW, but had to take a day off.
"I remember not being able to get to school at St Paul's due to flooding, and I'm talking 20 years ago," she said.
"(These days) it's frustrating that the roads in and out of Albion Park are all subject to flooding.
"It's a little concerning also that if we made it out, that we might be stranded and unable to make it home later in the day."
Road closures included the Illawarra Highway, Station Road, Croome Road, Tongarra Road and parts of the East West link.
Woolybutt Drive was opened to assist with traffic in and out of Albion Park via Ashburton Drive.
Meanwhile, the school closures also affected parents such as Tullimbar's Leah Harvey, 33.
Her three children attend Tullimbar Public and Albion Park High School.
"It's a little bit frustrating, but you don't want to send the kids out when it's not safe," she said.
"It's hard when you work. My husband's gone to work today, and I'm at home. It's hard for parents to have to take the day off."
She said it was "pretty worrying" that Albion Park could be isolated and "cut off" in a similar manner during future storm events.
"None of us can get out, none of us can get in... It's definitely worrying," she said.
The heavy rainfall has also raised other concerns for community members.
The Macquarie Rivulet is at the rear boundary of John Field's rural Tripoli Way property.
He believed the construction of the bypass downstream of them, and Calderwood Valley being developed, were exacerbating existing issues with water flow.
Mr Field said in the 25 years they've lived there, they'd "probably had half a dozen big floods".
"When it floods, Macquarie Rivulet breaks its banks, and we are 360-degrees isolated on this site," he said.
"Four years ago was the largest flood we've had... The highest we have seen.
"Normally when the rain comes, once we go off that really heavy downpour and it just goes back to heavy rain, normally within four hours the water will recede back into the Macquarie Rivulet.
"In this case, starting yesterday it broke its bank around 2pm on Sunday and it was still broken at 7am this morning.
"We've never experienced 17 hours of broken banks in the 25 years we've been living here."
Mr Field said he was concerned that in future, if they had the same volume of rain as occurred in 2016, there would be issues with the water being able to clear properly, potentially due to the nearby construction work.
"If we get the same volume of rain as we had four years ago and the water can't get away, then we are in real strife, because it's not clearing away as quickly," he said.
On Monday, trade in the town's CBD was affected, although there were no reports of flooding on business premises.
Carolyn O'Keefe, an employee at Albion Park Newsagent and a long-time Albion Park resident said residents were complaining of the traffic congestion and delays.
She said trade was "very quiet" on Monday morning.
April Ward, owner of nearby Oska's Hair Designs said her employee was unable to make it to work from Dapto on Monday after "being advised by the police to stay off the road".
"It's been quieter than usual, and I've had to send a couple of customers away because I'm by myself," she said.
"It is good to see the rain though, after all the drought and fires."
Brendan Crabb
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
I'm a member of ACM's national property team, covering the Illawarra and South Coast. Based in Albion Park, NSW, I write about exciting, interesting or just downright quirky properties that have been listed for sale, major sales, market trends, auctions and more. One of my favourite aspects of being a journalist is I believe everyone has a story to tell. What's yours?
