The Sharks Leagues Club has been declared an emergency meeting point for the residents of Kurnell following a fierce storm which has caused considerable damage to the area today.
Property damage and the closing of Kurnell Road has forced a number of residents out of their homes, with Sharks Leagues Club expected to house as many as 300 people until the area is deemed safe.
There is a possibility the displaced Kurnell residents won’t be able to return home tonight and they could be housed at the Leagues Club until the morning.
The desalination plant and the Caltex refinery at Kurnell were also suffered damage in the storm which in terms of the wind velocity was compared to a category 3 tornado. Winds were said to have exceeded 200kph.
Local police and emergency services personnel are assisting the Sharks in helping to make the displaced residents as comfortable as possible until such time as they can return home.
Kurnell residents have been told electricity and sewerage will not be reconnected to the storm-devastated suburb until tomorrow as police issued a stern warning to “sight-seers” to stay away from the area.
The police this afternoon released the following statement;
“The suburb of Kurnell is currently without power and sewerage. It is expected these services may not be able to be restored until tomorrow (Thursday 18 December 2015),” the statement said.
“An Evacuation Centre has been established for residents affected by the storms at Cronulla Sutherland Leagues Club, 461 Captain Cook Drive, Woolooware.
“The Centre will be managed by Family and Community Services and partner agencies.
“There will be a public meeting for residents of Kurnell at Cronulla Leagues Club, at 7pm tonight.
“If people need temporary accommodation for domestic pets they should attend the Evacuation Centre with their pets in cages or restrained.”
The Sharks would also like to thank Groundbake at Cronulla for supplying bread and the Cronulla Pie Shop for donating pies and sausage rolls, while Bunnings at Caringbah have also offered their assistance.
