Lucy Wicks (Robertson, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I too extend my congratulations to you on your new role, Deputy Speaker O'Brien. I would also like to pay tribute to the hardworking emergency services people from the Central Coast, who have once again stepped up to protect our community amid another severe weather event. Just weeks after bushfires threatened homes on the Central Coast, our region was hit by torrential rain, flash flooding, damaging winds and abnormally high tides over the weekend. The Central Coast region received more than 200 millimetres of rain. Our State Emergency Service volunteers sprang into action, responding to almost 1,200 calls for assistance and bravely performing 35 flood rescues in challenging conditions. More than 65 volunteers were dispatched across the coast, completing more than 800 jobs. Generous locals also stepped up to help at the Gosford and Wyong SES headquarters, filling over a thousand sandbags to help residents protect their homes.

The weekend's downpours and strong winds forced the closure of more than 40 roads and left 30,000 homes without power. Ausgrid crews are continuing to work tirelessly to repair power lines and reconnect properties. I am advised that it could still take a few days. At one of the local shopping centres, Kincumber Village, Coles was forced to close their doors on Sunday after a section of the roof caved in. Trains are back up and running between Hornsby and Gosford after cancellations yesterday, but there are still delays on the Newcastle and Central Coast line. The severe weather forced the closure of 11 schools across the Robertson electorate— (Time expired)