14th May, 2024.
In a demonstration of community giving and strength, our wonderful Wollondilly community showed up to lend a helping hand to those businesses inundated in the flash flood on Friday 5th April 2024. The result of a single heavy rain event, the downpour inundated Stonequarry Creek at Picton, causing flooding and damage to stores and properties located on the main street. My heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers and SES and RFS who have worked tirelessly overnight without sleep, including the members of the SES Wollondilly Unit and RFS Southern Highlands. Staff of the Wollondilly Shire Council were out in force also helping with the recovery, working very hard with cleanup to get the Main Street open again in no time. The rain also affected nearby suburbs including Tahmoor. Pastor Clayton Ryan of Tahmoor Baptist Church kindly offered the church as a safe haven welcoming anyone affected by the current power outages in Tahmoor. Weather events such as this show the strength of our community under pressure, and I am heartened by the selfless efforts of everyone involved in helping those affected get back on their feet.