Thousands ordered to evacuate from Hay

Updated

March 15, 2012 23:33:32

The State Emergency Service has ordered the evacuation of the New South Wales Riverina town of Hay by Saturday as floodwater makes its way to the town.

The order has angered some residents, who believe recent works on the town levee will stop inundation.

However, Hay Shire councillor Peter Dwyer says it has not been certified by engineers, so the orders of the emergency services should be followed.

“I suppose people in Hay, those who can remember the ’56 flood and the ’74 flood – I was here for the ’74 flood – a lot of water coming down the river, it really didn’t inundate the town at all,” he said.

“But things change in 40 years as everyone knows and I can’t guarantee the safety of 2,500 residents of Hay and you’d be a very brave person to do that.”

Major flooding is expected at nearby Carrathool on Thursday night or Friday morning when the Murrumbidgee River peaks at 8.2 metres, but there are no evacuation orders for that community.

Topics:
floods,
disasters-and-accidents,
hay-2711,
nsw,
australia

First posted

March 15, 2012 23:20:24



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