SERVICE ADVICE: NSW MID-NORTH COAST/HUNTER FLOODING

DOT Express has been closely monitoring potential impacts of the flooding event currently affecting the mid North Coast and Hunter regions of New South Wales as it relates to our linehaul operations between Sydney and Brisbane.

Latest advice for the Bureau of Meteorology and our Federal and State Government Agencies indicates that heavy rain is expected to continue today, before easing and clearing during tomorrow and Saturday. Flooding will last for many days as the large amounts of rain drain through the rivers.

Overnight, a further 150mm+ fell over parts of the Mid North Coast. In the past 12 hours (to 7am AEST), the heaviest rainfall totals have been at Bellingen (183mm) and Coffs Harbour (165mm).

Major Flood Warnings are in place for the Nambucca, Macleay, Hastings, Manning, Gloucester, Paterson Rivers and Wollombi Brook. Minor to moderate flooding is occurring across many other rivers throughout the Hunter and the Mid North Coast. More rivers may begin to experience major flooding, and the warnings will be updated frequently throughout the day as the situation changes.

Our linehaul operations between Sydney and Brisbane are continuing, with trailers departing earlier to try and offset delays caused by:

• the continued severe weather conditions plus increased traffic levels on the main thoroughfare currently available (the New England Highway);

• a two truck crash near Armidale mid-afternoon yesterday that resulted in the New England Highway being closed in both directions for over three hours adding further delays and affecting our driver’s available hours; and

• the increased travel time on the New England Highway from Sydney to Brisbane compared to the Princes Highway.

  
  

DOT Express will continue to work hard to to achieve a next day service for our linehaul operations, communicate any disruption to services within the network to our customers and ensure that our Drivers’ safety is not compromised in any way.

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact our team for more information.