Island SES volunteers head north

Members of the Phillip Island SES are among a taskforce of 26 VICSES members heading to NSW to assist in flood affected communities.

The taskforce will be based in Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast.

Crews will be supporting local NSW SES volunteers to respond to requests for assistance in the community related to building damage, fallen trees, and other storm and flood damage.

It may also include removing downed trees from thoroughfares; temporary roof repairs; flood mitigation, such as sandbagging and water diversion, but it will be highly varied as the extent of the damage becomes clearer.

Last week, the NSW SES requested support from Victoria through the State Control Centre, with the first VICSES led taskforce departing mid-week.

The VICSES volunteer flood and storm specialists will relieve local NSW SES crews, and respond to new jobs as they come through the NSW system.

The VICSES members are from a range of units across Victoria, including Phillip Island and Gippsland volunteers from Bairnsdale, Bruthen and Orbost.

Accident

Last Tuesday morning, local SES members along with police, ambulance and the CFA attended an incident on Back Beach Road near the quarry, after a truck overturned.

An SES spokesperson said the driver of the vehicle managed to climb out unharmed, describing it as a quick job and “thankfully uneventful”.