2021 NSW Floods Support Updates
Important:
- An emergency may trigger a power outage.
- Equipment connected over the nbn™ network will not work during a power outage.
- For power supply and outages, please contact your energy provider.
- If you have a medical alarm, fire alarm or lift emergency phone, we recommend you contact your device provider, and your phone or internet provider to enquire about the operation of these services in a power outage.
Friday 9 April at 3:53pm
NBN Co has successfully restored almost all nbn services to all premises that had been affected by the New South Wales and South East Queensland floods. Work continues on a small number of services affected which are complex in nature, predominately due to accessing the network equipment due to road damage.
In total, the company restored services to more than 66,000 premises that were left without nbn services for a period of time during the three-week duration of the primary flooding event.
Impacts to the network were mostly power related, necessitating generator deployments across critical infrastructure sites and the repair and replacement of some water-damaged equipment, primarily in NSW.
We are continuing to carry out detailed assessments of all equipment in flood-affected areas, and we continue to closely monitor the performance of the network to ensure it is operating to optimum standards.
Following the completion of our Rapid Impact Assessments, a more complete Recovery Plan will be created and executed by the Recovery team in collaboration with the appropriate stakeholders.
5 April at 10:53am
The flooding situation across NSW has eased. While riverine flooding occurs across some western communities, most communities are recovering from the event.
NBN Co continues to work over the long weekend on its recovery efforts, restoring services to approximately 130 premises in the last three days. Approximately 70 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services.
To date, more than 66,000 premises that were left without nbn services for a period of time since the emergency began have now been restored.
NBN Co is monitoring the weather event that is occurring in Central and Southern Queensland, with heavy rainfall likely to cause flash flooding in the next 36 hours. NBN Co is ready to respond to any network outages should these occur from this event.
1 April at 1:20pm
Major flooding is still being experienced across many communities and is expected to continue for several days. Numerous lower level flood warnings remain in place.
The vast majority of power has been restored across New South Wales, however remaining flood waters in some areas continue to hamper efforts to restore local power supplies.
NBN Co continues to make good progress on its recovery efforts, restoring services to approximately 100 premises in the last 24 hours. Approximately 200 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services.
To date, more than 65,300 premises that were left without nbn services for a period of time since the emergency began have now been restored.
NSW state emergency management operations continue in the recovery mode and NBN Co will continue to support recovery efforts.
31 March at 2:21pm
Major flooding is still being experienced across many communities and is expected to continue for several days. Numerous lower level flood warnings remain in place.
The vast majority of power has been restored across New South Wales, however remaining flood waters in some areas continue to hamper efforts to restore local power supplies.
NBN Co continues to make good progress on its recovery efforts, restoring services to approximately 700 premises in the last 24 hours. Approximately 300 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services.
To date, more than 65,400 premises that were left without nbn services for a period of time since the emergency began have now been restored.
NSW state emergency management operations are moving from response into the recovery stage and NBN Co will continue to support recovery efforts.
30 March at 1:53pm
Major flooding is still being experienced across many communities and is expected to continue for several days. Numerous lower level flood warnings remain in place.
The vast majority of power has been restored across New South Wales, however remaining flood waters in some areas continue to hamper efforts to restore local power supplies.
Approximately 1,000 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services. Most power-related impacts have been restored, and we are now focussed on repairs to water-damaged assets.
We expect to see some further recovery of nbn services today, however, as many of these ongoing outages require complex repairs and/or cabinet replacements, the restoration of nbn services to affected premises is likely to take several days.
We are addressing these remaining outages as a priority and closely monitoring the movement of floodwaters downstream.
To date, more than 65,000 premises that were left without nbn services for a period of time since the emergency began have now been restored.
NSW state emergency management operations are moving from response into the recovery stage and NBN Co will continue to support recovery efforts.
26 March at 2:10pm
Rain in New South Wales has cleared but major flooding is still being experienced across many communities and is expected to continue for several days. Flooding threatens to impact new areas as floodwaters move downstream.
Major flood warnings no longer exist in NSW, however there are number still present in regional Queensland.
Subsequent power outages have been observed across large areas of NSW with much of the power network damaged as a result of inundation with the possibility of delayed power restoration in some areas.
Approximately 1,500 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services.
With floodwaters receding in some areas and our engineering teams able to validate the impacts of the floods and power outages, we have been able to gather a more accurate picture of the total impact to nbn services during the emergency situation.
A total of approximately 64,000 premises were left without nbn services for a period of time since the emergency began, largely as a result of power outages. The vast majority of services have now been restored.
25 March at 6:52pm
Rain in New South Wales has cleared but major flooding is still being experienced across many communities and is expected to continue for several days. Flooding threatens to impact new areas as floodwaters move downstream.
Major flood warnings remain in place for Hawkesbury River communities as well as northern NSW and along the Queensland border. The next 12 hours will be critical to observe if further network impacts occur in these areas currently under flood warnings.
Subsequent power outages have been observed across large areas of NSW with much of the power network damaged as a result of inundation with the possibility of delayed power restoration in some areas.
Approximately 2,340 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services. The vast majority of nbn service outages are the result of localised power outages.
With floodwaters receding in some areas and our engineering teams able to validate the impacts of the floods and power outages, we have been able to gather a more accurate picture of the total impact to nbn services during the emergency situation.
We now understand that a total of approximately 64,000 premises have been left without nbn services for a period of time since the emergency began, largely as a result of power outages. The vast majority of services have now been restored.
24 March at 12:03pm
The weather across New South Wales has cleared, however floodwaters continue to impact many communities across the state and this is expected to persist for several days.
Approximately 3,400 premises in flood-affected areas are currently without access to nbn services. The vast majority of nbn service outages are the result of localised power outages.
By midday on Wednesday 24 March, approximately 26,000 services that had been impacted by this incident have so far been restored. We will undertake a more detailed assessment of all nbn infrastructure assets once flood waters have receded and it is safe to do so.
NBN Co has deployed generators to several staging areas across New South Wales and has installed generators to impacted sites where it has been safe to do so. All nbn transmission facilities remain fully operational.
NBN Co continues to plan on the ground with local authorities for the recovery for this event. We stand ready to deploy our temporary network equipment to communities in need as water levels recede and it is safe for us to do so.
23 March at 3:50pm*
Severe weather continues to impact eastern and northern inland parts of New South Wales, bringing heavy rain with the potential for gale force winds, flash flooding and riverine flooding.
Weather is expected to improve on Wednesday 24 March, however, this will not reduce the flooding risk as flood water moves through the systems.
In total, there are currently around 5,900 premises in flood-affected areas that are currently without access to nbn services. The vast majority of nbn service outages are the result of localised power outages.
By midday on Tuesday 23 March, approximately 20,000 services that had been impacted by this incident have so far been restored. We will undertake a more detailed assessment of all nbn infrastructure assets once flood waters have receded and it is safe to do so.
NBN Co is working with the NSW Government and the Australian Defence Force (ADF) to undertake aerial and ground-based reconnaissance of network infrastructure assets, wherever possible.
Major flooding is expected along the Orara, Gywdir, Hawkesbury, Hastings, Macleay, Hunter and Colo rivers. As a result of the inundation, power outages have occurred and are ongoing in specific suburbs and towns throughout New South Wales. We understand that due to the limited access to some areas of the state, there is the possibility of delayed power restoration in some areas.
NBN Co has deployed generators to several staging areas across New South Wales and has installed generators to impacted sites where it is safe to do so.
Some nbn infrastructure facilities have endured minor water ingress but no major nbn transmission facilities have been submerged by the flood waters. All nbn transmission facilities remain operational currently.
We are working closely with emergency services and power suppliers and monitoring the situation closely as the severe weather system continues to develop and unfold.
We have mobilised our fleet of Road Muster trucks and other portable assets, which are equipped with satellite and Wi-Fi broadband services, and our people and resources are on standby for deployment if requested by the NSW emergency services. We are awaiting further instruction from emergency services personnel leading the emergency response, and we will support in any way we can.
22 March at 4pm*
Severe weather continues to impact eastern and northern inland parts of New South Wales, bringing heavy rain with the potential for gale force winds, flash flooding and riverine flooding.
Major flooding is expected along the Hawkesbury, Hastings, Macleay, Hunter and Colo rivers. As a result of the inundation, power outages have occurred and are ongoing in specific suburbs and towns from Sydney to Coffs Harbour. We understand that due to the limited access to some areas of the state, there is the possibility of delayed power restoration in some areas.
There are currently around 7,000 premises in flood-affected areas that are without access to nbn services. The vast majority of nbn service outages are the result of localised power outages.
NBN Co has deployed generators to several staging areas across New South Wales, and has installed generators to impacted sites where it is safe to do so.
By midday on Monday 22 March, approximately 15,000 services that had been impacted by this incident had been restored.
Some nbn infrastructure facilities have endured minor water ingress but no major nbn transmission facilities have been submerged by the flood waters. All nbn transmission facilities remain operational at this time.
We are working closely with emergency services and power suppliers and monitoring the situation closely as the severe weather system continues to develop and unfold.
We have mobilised our fleet of Road Muster trucks and other portable assets, which are equipped with satellite and Wi-Fi broadband services, and our people and resources are on standby for deployment if requested by the NSW emergency services. We are awaiting further instruction from emergency services personnel leading the emergency response, and we will support in any way we can.
Tips to staying connected in an emergency
Staying mobile
Tuning in to local info
Backing up information
Preparation key to staying connected in an emergency
When it comes to staying safe – and connected – in the event of an emergency, it pays to be prepared.
The nbn™ network is robust, but it is important that residents are aware that services over the nbn™ network are likely to be affected by a large-scale event or power outages.
This is because equipment connected to services over the nbn™ network – both at the telephone exchange and within homes and businesses – will not work during a power outage.