Trent Zimmerman (North Sydney, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Last week Australia experienced the extremes of weather, with the devastating bushfires in northern Queensland and the tempest that hit Sydney on Wednesday. Residents in my electorate struggled to recall a rain event so intense and with such immediate impact. From Hunters Hill to Neutral Bay, residents woke to find houses flooded, streets and cars awash and our transport infrastructure severely disrupted during the morning peak hour. Social media lit up with remarkable photos of the impact of the intense downpour.

The weather put to the test our emergency services, and we can be exceptionally proud of the way in which they responded. The professional emergency services worked hand in glove and were joined in their efforts by the wonderful volunteers of the SES. I want to thank all the personnel involved for their efforts and our local councils for what they did after the event to clean up our suburbs so very quickly.

I particularly acknowledge the role of the SES. In my electorate we are well served by the volunteers of three units: Hunters Hill, Willoughby-Lane Cove and North Sydney. I have been contact with all three of their controllers—Louise Bertoni, Dale Harley and Jason Li—since those events of last week. Across the Lower North Shore, the SES responded to over 200 requests for assistance. These included at least 13 flood rescues. These were part of more than 1,000 jobs that the SES responded to across Sydney. We can be very proud of their efforts, their dedication and their professionalism, and I convey my thanks on behalf of a grateful community.

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