THE coordinator of disaster relief for the Hunter storms Brigadier Darren Naumann stopped into Singleton to assess damage with council and landowners on Tuesday.
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“There’s not only clear damage to roads but properties, stock losses and farm infrastructure as well,” Brigadier Naumann said.
“It’s my role to facilitate repairs and make sure there aren’t any bureaucratic roadblocks to get funding.”
With an estimated 85 tonnes of debris, 61 trees still to be removed and 23km of roadside drainage to be repaired, Singleton Council’s general manager Lindy Hyam says council is well under way with recovery works, but there is still more to be done.
Council officers spent time with the Brigadier in the morning debriefing him before seeing the extensive damage caused on Gresford Road on the approach to the unnamed bridge which is expected to be closed for at least one year.
The embankments leading to the bridge on both sides have been eroded away.
Mitchells Flat Road has also been closed due to damage to pavement, however council has approved funds to start work on the area next week.
“The region’s economy has been hit as a result of the storm, business is down 20 per cent since before the storm, we want people to know that businesses are open,” Brigadier Naumann said.
One of the first initiatives NSW government is introducing is a $1million tourism grants to help develop new marketing campaigns, or expand existing ones, to attract visitors to the Hunter.
“We want to see thousands of people heading to the Hunter over the winter months and enjoying the local wineries, attractions and accommodation,” Brigadier Naumann said.
“Although the clean-up continues, tourism operators are up and running and their doors are well and truly open.”
Brigadier Naumann said each of the disaster regions he visited had unique challenges or damages and Singleton have had loss of pasture, erosion on roads while the coast had trees in the 10s of thousands down.
“It’s unprecedented in size,” he said.
Singleton depot has been incredibly busy with additional waste including green waste and animal carcasses.
Flooding of open spaces has caused sink holes on private properties and loss of top soil.
“Going forward, it is council’s main concern to ensure all damages are assessed, rectification methodology and estimates are prepared for each major site and repair works are undertaken through contractual arrangements,” Ms Hyam said.
