Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke said the damage across Harden and Murrumburrah from severe storms on Monday varies from businesses who were dealing with up to two inches of water in their stores, to nearby farmers and wildlife.

“We’re seeing trees that are down, fences that have gone into creeks, the bird life has been impacted and most importantly, pastures have been shredded,” Ms Cooke said.

“These pastures are really important to feeding livestock, which again, is such an important part of this community.”

“I spoke directly with the NSW Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib and provided him with a verbal briefing of some of the damage I’ve seen firsthand,” Ms Cooke said.

“He has offered his support for the community and Hilltops Council. I’ve indicated that a Natural Disaster Declaration is the most likely solution to help with the ongoing cleanup effort.”

Ms Cooke said storm damage has also been reported in Harden, Temora, Junee, Cootamundra, Boorowa and Galong.

Rain and hail battering houses with such force it smashed roofs and windows and gouged facades, leaving a thick white trail of ice the town drainage system was hard-pressed to penetrate.

According to the Australian Bureau of Meteorology, one of the storms delivered around 48 mm of rain and hail to the twin-towns (Harden-Murrumburrah) CBD in the half-hour to 6.27am on Monday. This followed an earlier storm around 2am and another about 4.30am, which took rainfall totals of 89mm in the 24 hours to 9am.

The town was awash as a flooded Murrimboola Creek, which sits at the centre of Harden-Murrumburrah, surged through the area, across parkland and into the streets.

Businesses closed and sandbagging took place to prevent further damage to buildings as emergency crews work to also restore phone services and power and remove trees and heavy limbs blocking local roads.

No injuries were reported but one person was rescued from a vehicle trapped in a flooded creek near Galong early in the morning.

Around 117 calls were fielded from residents in Harden following the second, more devastating rain and hailstorm about 6am.

Residents reported hail up to four centimetres in diameter.

The NSW SES called for additional emergency support from the neighbouring towns of Young, Yass, Cowra, Tumut, Cootamundra and Junee.

“We had out-of-area assistance arrive earlier this morning but more on its way to assist the local Harden unit with storm damage due to trees down or damaged and leaking roofs,” an SES spokesperson said.

The storms also impacted local wildlife. Hundreds of bloodied and stunned birds were discovered across the town and surrounds, with WIRES and NSW Wildcare setting up a triage centre at Harden Showground’s poultry shed.

Hilltops Mayor Brian Ingram met with Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke to assess the damage and said it was highly likely the town would be declared at National Disaster Zone.

Ms Cooke was on the ground just after the storm and said many buildings in the town had sustained serious damage but crews including those from Hilltops Council, Harden Fire and Rescue and NSW Rural Fire Service were assisting with damage control.

She confirmed she had already verbally briefed NSW Emergency Services minister Jihad Dib and he had offered his support for the Harden-Murrumburrah community.

“I’ve indicated that a National Disaster Declaration is the most likely solution to help with the ongoing clean-up effort,” Ms Cooke said.

This article appeared in Narrandera Argus, 13 February 2025.