Wingham CBD flood, March 20 2021. All photos © Mark Anning photo 2021.
Wingham is situated on the Manning River and has a long history of flooding. Since European settlement major floods have affected Wingham in 1866, 1875, 1895, 1929, 1930, 1968, 1976, 1978 and 1990. The largest recorded flood occurred in July 1866 and measured 15.75 metres on the Wingham gauge.
MidCoast Flood Update as at 10.30am Saturday 20 March, 2021:
It’s looking likely that this is a 1 in 100 year flood event. Please do not travel unnecessarily around the region. Our SES, Emergency and Council crews are stretched to their limits.
Manning River at #Taree is expected to peak within the next three hours, with the lower Manning continuing to rise as the day progresses. The river at #Harrington is also currently climbing heading towards high tide. We are monitoring levels across the region with Gloucester having peaked this morning and Wingham nearing its peak now.
Roads to the north and south into Taree are now closed and evacuation orders are in place for Taree Estate, Taree CBD, Dumaresq Island and #Cundletown. Please see NSW SES Taree City Unit Facebook Page
The Taree Evacuation Centre is operating at Club Taree.
Local Land Services have advised Taree saleyards is open for emergency stock relocation – there are a number of paddocks operating and some reserves of hay.
#ManningPoint is isolated and an evacuation centre has been established at the bowling club.
#Wingham: Wingham is also isolated, with an evacuation centre at the Wingham Golf Club.
#Bulahdelah: is isolated with an evacuation centre at the Bulahdelah Central School
#Gloucester: Gloucester is isolated and is now above a major flood level. The caravan park was evacuated yesterday.
Again, please take care on our roads – do not travel unnecessarily – and don’t ever enter flood waters.
For the latest information on road closures please keep your eye on myroadinfo – and please be patient, there are a range of emergency services working together to keep this information updated, however things change quickly.
Wingham is situated on the Manning River and has a long history of flooding.
The Manning River, Stoney (Gorman) Creek and Cedar Party Creek can all influence flooding in Wingham. Properties adjacent to Cedar Party and Stoney (Gorman) Creeks are prone to flooding with those in low-lying areas of Wingham Peninsula particularly susceptible to flooding.
Floodwater in the Wingham Peninsula area can be more than one metre in depth and flow faster than one metre per second. In the 1978 flood (14.9m) rapidly rising, fast flowing floodwater covered Wingham Peninsula and over 30 houses were evacuated from the township.
More recently, in the 1990 flood (12.75m), floodwater affected properties in Appletree Street, Combined Street, Comboyne Road, Coroma Place, Guilding Street, Mortimer Street East, Primrose Street, Queen Street North, and Ruth Street.
Other areas in Wingham likely to be affected by flooding include: Barnard, Beckham, Dawson, Flett, Isabella, Keech, Mortimer, Queen, Rowley, Steele and East Combined Streets and Khatabundah Road. You can be indirectly affected by flooding even if your property is not actually inundated.
It is important to prepare yourself for floods by making sure you have adequate supplies of non-perishable food and essential medications. Wingham can become isolated with access roads to and from the town as well as the railway line closing during major floods.
Access roads that may be closed during flooding include: WinghamTinonee Road at Bight Bridge, Wingham-Taree Road at Cedar Party Creek Bridge, Wingham-Taree Road at the Brick Kiln, Gloucester Road (Wingham to Gloucester) at Dingo Creek and Comboyne Road at Stoney Creek.
The Manning River can rise very quickly. You must be ready to evacuate when a significant flood is approaching. Deciding to remain in your home or business when it is surrounded by floodwaters or has water over floor level can be dangerous.
Your home or business may become a refuge for vermin, snakes and spiders. Services such as power, water, telephone, sewerage and gas may be unavailable for some time. You may be unable to call for help in an emergency that occurs after you are isolated.
See our other photos at Wingham Akoostic Music Festival
Wingham Flood Study: Review and Upgrade
Wingham is located approximately 45 kilometres upstream along the Manning River at the confluence of Cedar Party Creek. Due to the importance of the Manning River as a transport route, Wingham was established at the furthest point supply boats could reach up the river and therefore became the region’s major port.
A large portion of Wingham is elevated high above the floodplain; however, some portions, including Wingham peninsula, consist of undulating river terrace at a general elevation of less than 12 m AHD.
The purpose of this Flood Study is to develop a sophisticated, calibrated 2D hydraulic model that will accurately simulate flooding in the region of Wingham. This requires a hydrological analysis of rainfall over the Cedar Party Creek catchment in order to produce the necessary hydrograph inputs for Stony and Cedar Party Creek. The flood study was undertaken in two parts; a hydrologic and a hydraulic analysis.
