Emergency food drops to isolated properties

WINGHAM SES co-ordinated emergency food drops to around eight properties isolated in the Caparra area after two bridges were washed away by floods.

A helicopter landed in Central Park on Wednesday morning and flew to a Caparra property to deliver the supplies.

Goldsmith Bridge and Granny Fahey Bridge on Caparra Road have both been damaged by floodwater leaving a number of households stranded for days.

Residents above Goldsmith Bridge can make it out, but are forced to take the long way around through Dingo Tops.

However, a number of properties between the two bridges are stranded and have been for some time.

Deputy controller of Wingham SES, Lyn Adams said most of the people in the affected area are usually well prepared for isolation and have stocked up on supplies, but after two weeks of flooding, they were in need of extra assistance.

"That's what we're here for," she said.

SES crew member George Sheldon accompanied the helicopter pilot and crew to Caparra to deliver supplies and said much of the water has subsided.

"Everything looks pretty normal, you can just see all the dirt from where the water has been," he said.

George added that from the air he could see Goldsmith Bridge had been ripped away and washed more than a kilometre down river.

Lyn Adams said Granny Faye bridge is expected to be repaired within the week with no indication on how long it will take for Goldsmith to be replaced.

It was reported four Greater Taree City Council trucks were in the area inspecting the situation at the crossings.

Lyn said the Wingham SES crew has been busy with back-to-back callouts and jobs associated with the wild and wet weather for the last three weeks .

"Exhaustion is setting in," she said.

The crew were appreciative that an SES team came from Wollongong to relieve the local volunteers last night, allowing them some much needed rest.

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