Multiple campsites closed as east coast gets ready for another deluge

Published: October 8, 2022

The horror weather putting a dampener on the Big Lap joy of many grey nomads recently is going to get worse before it gets better.

Widespread rainfall is expected to affect much of the east coast over the weekend, with moderate to heavy falls forecast for New South Wales, Victoria and Tasmania, while showers and thunderstorms are increasing over western Queensland.

The seemingly endless deluge has already seen roads, caravan parks, national parks, and camping sites closed … and travellers are being warned to exercise extreme caution.

In inland New South Wales, more than a dozen outback rivers have already flooded.

weather

“What we’re going to see is significant amounts of rain, sometimes the monthly rainfall in just a couple of days, if not more,” SES assistant commissioner Sean Kearns said. “Take heed of conditions … be very mindful about caravan parks and camping grounds, they’re often next to rivers.”

Paul Toole, NSW Deputy Premier, echoed the warning, and expressed particular concern about the many thousands of people arriving in Bathurst for the Bathurst 1000.

“We are expecting to see thousands of people here in the city enjoying the car race,” Mr Toole said. “We want to remind campers to not set up alongside the river, do not set up a campsite underneath a tree, this is for your safety.”

The risk of tree falls, of course, increases with soggy ground and sustained rainfall.

As far back as a week ago, a caravan park in the NSW town of Corowa on the banks of the Murray River had to close due to the heavy rains. The owners of the Corowa Caravan Park said they had been pumping water off the property since mid-August. Also in Corowa, the Bindaree Holiday Park and Rivergum Holiday Park closed off some of their campsites and unpowered sites.

Recent and predicted rainfall and flooding is also causing closures of many national parks, campgrounds and roads in other rain-affected areas across New South Wales.

“Heavy rainfall can cause flooding, landslips, tree falls, wash out walking tracks and isolate roads and causeways,” said National Parks and Wildlife Service (NPWS) Blue Mountains Branch Director, David Crust. “Closing areas of the park in times of extreme weather is a measure to keep our staff and visitors safe, which is our first priority.”

Widespread closures are in place in Blue Mountains National Park, with other park closures in place across rain-affected parts of the state.

All fire trails, most camping areas and valley walking tracks between Lawson in the mid Mountains through to Mount Victoria and Mount Banks on the Bells Line Road are now closed.

The NSW (NPWS) said the Newnes camping area in Wollemi National Park, Gardens of Stone State Conservation Area, Yerranderie Regional Park, Abercrombie River National Park (excluding Bummaroo Ford camping area) and the Turon, Marrangaroo, Capertee and Kanangra-Boyd National Parks are also closed, as well as Jenolan Caves.

And, of course, grey nomads and other travellers are being urged not to cross flooded creeks and flood waters for any reason.

NSW State Response Controller, Tim Wiebusch, said he was disappointed that some people were still attempting to drive through flood waters.

“We know the single largest death or cause of death in flooding is people attempting to drive through flood waters,” he said. “Driving through flood waters could be the last decision you make.”

For the latest on the rainfall, click here
For the latest on road closures in NSW, click here
And for the latest of road closures in Victoria, click here

  • Have you had enough of the wet weather yet? How are you coping? Comment below.

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