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 |
|---|---|
| Waste Depot and Community Recycling Centre | Waste fees at our Waste Depot have been reduced until 30 June 2024 for flood-impacted residents. FYou 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. |
| Local Roads | For updates on road closures and traffic conditions, please see Live Traffic NSW. |
| 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. |
| Pools | Check our Pools page for updates. Water quality at our rock pools is currently not suitable for swimming. |
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.
Latest news
Updates relating to weather are shown below, or see our News page for other updates.
Roads’ evaluation and prioritisation of repairs, assessment of areas for potential landslips and identifying damage to other critical infrastructure, are all current priorities for Wollongong City Council following the recent natural disaster in our city.
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.
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
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