Coutts Crossing NSW SES

Coutts Crossing NSW SES Volunteers from the Coutts Crossing - Nymboida region - helping in floods, storms and tsunamis.

Community NotificationIt’s been a busy 24 months for the Coutts Crossing SES Unit, rebuilding membership and getting the...
09/06/2026

Community Notification

It’s been a busy 24 months for the Coutts Crossing SES Unit, rebuilding membership and getting the Unit ‘back-online’, with still more to do.

We hear stuff, and it’s timely we provide some clarity.

Myth #1- NSW SES unit members are paid

NSW SES Unit members are unpaid Emergency Service Volunteers that sacrifice personal time to train and develop essential skills to assist their community during Floods, Storms and Tsunamis.

Myth #2 - NSW SES Units are responsible for Road Closures and Road Closure signage.

Depending on road location, Local Council or TfNSW are responsible for Road Closures and Road Closure signage, including opening and signage removal.

NSW SES Units as a courtesy to their communities and community safety, monitor’ local road conditions and contact the relevant road Authority if roads become unsafe or impacts the road user (when possible). NSW SES does not have the Authority to close roads or ‘Implement Traffic Control signs’, that is the responsibility of the road owner (Local Council or TfNSW).

Myth #3 - It’s NSW SES unit’s responsibility to ‘open roads and remove road closure signage’ or notify the Authorities to open roads and remove road closure signage.

Once the Road Authority has closed a road, it is the Authority and their staffs responsibility to monitor and inspect e.g., road pavement or bridge structure, and deem safe, prior to reopening and removing road closure signage.

Myth #4 - The road user or local resident can’t ask for a road closure.

We all have a responsibility to inform and keep each other safe.
In the Clarence Valley, if you see or know of a road that is impacted, unsafe and should be closed (or repaired), you can call for a road closure.
CV local roads BH: 66430200
CV local roads AH: 66266858
(NB: The AH # is a call centre and staff are not located in the Clarence Valley)
Major Roads - All hours 131700 (TfNSW - Traffic Management Centre)

In all cases, if you’re not satisfied with road closures, installation or removal of road closure signage, please contact relevant Authority responsible.

Final Word

In all life threatening situations, please call 000.
For Floods & Storms, please call 132500.

Not all NSW SES Units have the capacity to promptly attend, or have sufficiently qualified volunteer members to attend an incident (at any given time) however, we will escalate or refer the job to another SES Unit or Authority if required.

Please remember, unless you’re willing to step up, have gratitude for those in your community that do.

29/05/2026

Thanks to members Dani & Mick, Poley Bridge unaffected at this time.

Please be cautious throughout today.

29/05/2026

Update No.5 - 08:39

Local access will be affected today.

It’s very disappointing that people are still ignoring Road Closed signs.

A vehicle was ‘waved away’ about to attempt crossing @ 0.5m above the deck. For the sake of a 5 minute detour, please do everyone a favour.

We have members checking Poley bridge now, update shortly.

29/05/2026

Update No. 4

For those travelling home via McPhersons Crossing Rd / Bridge, please consider taking an alternate route, as the river level may not have peaked.

29/05/2026

Update No. 3

The Orara River is still rising at Coutts Crossing. Upstream at Glenreagh peaked 5-6 hours ago. We expect a peak late this afternoon/evening.

McPhersons Crossing bridge may become affected (currently 0.45m below deck), Poley Bridge unlikely to be affected, but still take caution overnight.

Update No.2 (Friday 06:00)Morning Coutts Crossing and surrounds.The Orara River level at Coutts Crossing is 1.8m and ris...
28/05/2026

Update No.2 (Friday 06:00)

Morning Coutts Crossing and surrounds.

The Orara River level at Coutts Crossing is 1.8m and rising.

Yesterday @ 15:30, the River was observed at 1.4m.

Upstream gauge at Glenreagh has risen 1.5m during the same period, which means McPhersons and Poley bridges may become affected throughout today

Both bridges currently unaffected, with river 0.7m below McPherson bridge @ 06:00.

Nymboida gauges are ‘steady’ with Nym 1.27 & Nym Weir 1.81.

Please take caution when approaching these areas, another update at 12:00

Image Glenreagh automatic gauge.

Update No.1 Evening Coutts Crossing and surrounds.Looks like we may have avoided the worst, with the low pressure system...
28/05/2026

Update No.1

Evening Coutts Crossing and surrounds.

Looks like we may have avoided the worst, with the low pressure system looking to land over the Lower Mid North Coast & Hunter areas.

We still received a good dumping of rain, and more likely to come this evening, with the sun to greet us Friday and over the weekend.

The Orara & Nymboida Rivers are rising, but unlikely to see ‘significant’ rises. Be vigilant around the usual locations this evening through to tomorrow morning.

Orara @ McPhersons Crossing bridge only 1m below @ 3:30pm and rising, so water may come over the deck tonight.

Take care on the roads, and ‘If it’s Flooded, FORGET IT!👌

⛈️Thunderstorms are forecast across the region today and into this evening. We may see severe thunderstorms around Coffs...
28/05/2026

⛈️Thunderstorms are forecast across the region today and into this evening. We may see severe thunderstorms around Coffs Harbour and south to the Mid-north Coast.

We can expect to see heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding. Damaging winds and large hail may also occur.

🚗Please drive to conditions and keep off the roads if you can.

🚫Steer clear of flood waters. If you come across a flooded road, turn around and find an alternative route.

📲Download Hazards Near Me or visit the NSW SES website to stay up to date with warnings and information.

📞 If you require assistance in floods and storms, call the NSW SES on 132 500. In life-threatening situations, call Triple Zero (000).

Issued at 9:45am AEST on Thursday 28 May 2026

Evening Coutts Crossing and surrounds.The BOM has issued an ‘Advice’ Flood Warning for our catchment (Orara River) from ...
27/05/2026

Evening Coutts Crossing and surrounds.

The BOM has issued an ‘Advice’ Flood Warning for our catchment (Orara River) from tomorrow, and likely into the weekend.

It’s also possible, dependant on the weather system track, that the Nymboida River may also see rises during the same period.

Heavy rain and thunderstorms are likely tomorrow morning, but particularly tomorrow afternoon and evening.

As our catchment is damp, so the Orara River and its tributaries will be ‘reactive’ if precipitation is heavy and reaches totals predicted.

Please keep up to date via the BOM and Hazards Near Me apps over the next 24-48 hrs.

Our Unit will provide FB updates for this weather event as it unfolds.

Coutts Crossing SES would like to congratulate Brett Wilson & Danielle Folley on achieving their Land Based Flood Rescue...
26/05/2026

Coutts Crossing SES would like to congratulate Brett Wilson & Danielle Folley on achieving their Land Based Flood Rescue capability at NSW SES’s Penrith White Water training facility last weekend.

The ongoing commitment of our members is growing our ability to better serve the community. We are on track to achieve our Storm & Flood pathway training goals over the next 12 months.

Address

Kangaroo Creek Road
Coutts Crossing, NSW
2460

Telephone

+61132500

Website

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