The Wollongong area has recently been impacted by heavy rainfall and hazardous ocean conditions. This has affected local roads, properties and some services.
Clean-up and repairs are expected to continue over coming days and weeks.
Updates about weather impacts known to Council are listed below. We are regularly reviewing this information, but please be aware that details may change without notice.
Council service updates
| Service | Impact |
|---|---|
| Customer Service |
We are experiencing a high volume of calls and there may be delays in answering phone enquiries. If possible, please report issues online. Customer Service staff will also be available for in-person support at: - Helensburgh Library from 9.30am - 5pm Mon 15 and Tues 16 April - Dapto Ribbonwood Centre from 9.30am - 5pm Mon 15 and Tues 16 April - The Recovery Centre times and locations listed on below on this page. |
| Local Roads |
Some roads remain closed, under traffic control and / or affected by mud and storm debris.
For updates on road closures and traffic conditions, please see Live Traffic NSW. |
| Household cleanups |
Additional, free on-call household cleanups are available to residents directly impacted by flooding. To book, call Remondis on 1300 362 360. Bookings for flood-related cleanups close 5pm, Friday 19 April (regular on-call household cleanup bookings can still be made after that date). See our media release for details about what can be included and how to sort items for pick-up. |
| Waste Depot and Community Recycling Centre | Waste fees at our Waste Depot have been waived until Sunday 21 April for flood-impacted residents. From 22 April to 30 June, reduced rates will apply. You may be asked to show proof that you have been impacted by flooding. Where possible, please sort your items and drop off recyclables at the Community Recycling Centre. |
| Green waste | We are looking into opportunities for drop-offs to support residents with green waste and garden debris from the floods. We'll share more information as soon as we can. |
| Beaches |
Clean up continues at our beaches and foreshore areas. Beaches may be closed depending on conditions at each location. Please take care, as many beaches are affected by poor water quality, rubbish and debris. Remember, no flags = no swim. |
| Sportsgrounds | Many sportsgrounds have now reopened. Check our Sportsgrounds page for updates. |
| Pools |
Some of our supervised saltwater pools may be closed due to poor water quality.
Water quality at our rock pools is currently not suitable for swimming. Check our Pools page for updates. |
Government support
The Australian and NSW Governments are providing the City of Wollongong with recovery support for our flood affected community. This includes support such as:
- Assistance for eligible residents to help meet immediate needs like emergency accommodation or small cash payments to purchase essential items generally provided from evacuation or recovery centres.
- Grants for eligible residents to replace lost essential household items to maintain basic standard of living.
- Grants for eligible residents to undertake essential structural repairs to restore their homes to a safe and habitable conditions.
- Waiving the waste levy fee for residents disposing of flood damaged waste in the Illawarra South Coast region, to help communities clean up.
For information about government flood recovery support, please contact Service NSW on 13 77 88 or visit the NSW Government website.
Recovery Assistance Centres
The NSW Government is setting up Recovery Assistance Centres to support residents and businesses impacted by flooding. Council Customer Service staff will also be available at these locations.
| Where | When |
|---|---|
| Thirroul District Community Centre & Library 352-358 Lawrence Hargrave Drive, Thirroul | Wed 17 April. 10am - 4pm Thurs 18 April, 11am - 6pm |
| Dapto Ribbonwood Centre 93-109 Princes Highway, Dapto | Wed 17 April, 10am - 4pm Thurs 18 April, 11am - 6pm |
As community needs change, the Service NSW website will be updated with information on where you can seek face-to-face support.
Latest news
Updates relating to weather are shown below, or see our News page for other updates.
Clean-up efforts continue to be a matter of urgent priority as Wollongong City Council and Remondis work in partnership to offer one free additional household clean-up to flood impacted residents.
With the immediate emergency response to the Saturday 6 April flooding behind us, we’re looking at what support impacted residents and local businesses will need in the longer-term to recover.
As the community recovers from the recent storms and flooding, Council and the NSW Government are providing a range of assistance options for affected businesses and organisations.
Safety when cleaning up
Asbestos
If your house was built before 1990, there’s a good chance it contains asbestos. While asbestos materials are less of a risk when wet, they’re still a risk. If you find asbestos debris on your property, and a licenced removalist is not an option, check the NSW EPA website for more details on how to safely dispose of the material.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO), has a free asbestos collection program to make it easier for residents from Wollongong, Shellharbour, Kiama and Shoalhaven council areas to dispose of the material. This program has grant funding from the EPA and was developed by councils to offer a way to dispose of small quantities of asbestos.
Waterways
For your safety, please stay out of creeks and waterways - even if the rain has stopped, these can be extremely dangerous.
Useful links
You can also follow City of Wollongong on Facebook and @wollongong_city on Twitter