Wollongong and Shellharbour councils are facing even more repairs and cleaning after yet another flooding event.
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Wollongong Lord Mayor Gordon Bradbery said he "would not be surprised" if addressing the consequences of Thursday's rain and flooding went on for a couple of years.
It has compounded the work that was already needed after the previous rain events of the last six weeks, as well as delays to other projects brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cr Bradbery said the council would also face issues regarding the shortage of materials and labour as it tried to complete repairs.
He said other projects would be delayed as a result of the wet weather's impacts.
But in the immediate aftermath of Thursday, Cr Bradbery said, the highest priority was ensuring people were safe.
He said the council would slowly begin to address issues and determine the extent of the damage.
Cr Bradbery advised the council's works would be "band-aids" at first, with some works time and resource-intensive, and others unable to go ahead until the weather cleared sufficiently.
Over the next few days, staff will target debris left around flood areas and silt on roads, as well as barricading areas for safety, clearing gutters, assessing bridges and cleaning up beaches and parks.
All tar trucks will be on the road over the weekend targeting priority pothole repairs, and staff are assessing areas across the city to review any geotechnical or landslip concerns.
Cr Bradbery said the council was preparing to seek disaster relief to help with the cost.
The Shellharbour area was not hit quite as badly this time around, with early indications that there was no major damage to public assets, although the council is still completing its assessments.
"Action to fix damaged roads and clear drains has commenced, where possible," acting chief executive officer Melissa Boxall said.
"It will take some time to complete all necessary repairs and motorists are requested to drive to the conditions."
She too said the community's safety was the council's primary priority.
Cr Bradbery said the region was not yet through the rain event and urged residents to remain vigilant, being mindful that roads, footpaths and cycleways might be undermined.
People can report issues to the councils via their websites.
More rain coming, but (a little bit of) sunshine ahead
The rain is almost certain to return on Saturday but it will be nothing like what the Illawarra saw earlier this week.
The region can expect 10 to 15 millimetres over the course of the day, with the chance of a thunderstorm from late morning.
But the rain will ease on Sunday, with a medium chance of showers, and Monday is most likely to be dry.
It will come as a very welcome reprieve for the region after a wet couple of months.
At Darkes Forest, 279 millimetres fell within 48 hours this week.
Bellambi has already recorded 173 millimetres of rain in eight days, over 100 millimetres more than it would typically see for the entire month of April.
And Albion Park has had almost 1249 millimetres so far this year - 42 per cent more than its yearly average.
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