'Information was too slow': Multiple cars written off due to flood damage

Heavy rain caused fast-rising water and flash flooding at Oaklands Event Centre on Sunday, February 9.

As reported by ACM, a staff member of Oaklands reportedly ran around the centre's various businesses and lunch diners to let them know water was rising rapidly in the front car park and entrance.

However, at least one visitor said more should've been done and that she was now awaiting confirmation of write-off status for two inundated vehicles.

"There was no public announcement by management [alerting] over a loudspeaker announcing an emergency to everyone at the same time; no-one was running around to warn everyone at the same time," the woman from Canberra said.

"Everyone impacted on the day was talking about this - the simple fact the information was too slow.

"We were the last tables to be alerted to the flooding."

On the day of the flash flood, she was having lunch at Oaklands while visiting family who live on the Far South Coast.

"One person walked up to our table at 12.05pm telling [us], 'If you've parked on the grass, you might want to move your car'," she recalled.

"We ran, and [we] were way too late.

"No management announcements, no loudspeaker announcement over the loud noise of the rain, no warning of 'flood zone' in [the] parking area. Where was management in all of this?

"The implication many of us who lost our cars and sustained serious water damage because we were 'too busy sipping our lattes' is [and] will be very distressing to those who experienced the flooding."

Another woman present described it as "complete chaos".

She recalled a staff member walking past "in a big rush", saying she had just moved her car to higher ground "and if we were parked on the lawn, we should consider moving it".

"We rushed out despite being [parked] on the gravel, and it was too late," she said.

"My son's car was up to the glove box in water, mine halfway up the wheels.

"I scrambled into my car and reversed it back to the disabled car spot.

"The exit point was too flooded to get through, except for a couple of 4WDs before it became completely impassable."

Oaklands' owner Barry Moffitt said the flood was very sudden and unlike those he had witnessed previously.

"We will probably learn from the experience," he said.

"It came across as a wave of water. It wasn't just creeping in. It wasn't two or three hours; it was 20 minutes."

Although the event centre at the rear of the property had a PA system, Mr Moffitt said running around to alert cafe and brewery customers would have been his method.

"I would've told them to get their cars out of there," he said.

"That's the first time it's been like that in 17 years.

"You can put signs up, but people don't read them.

"We could have put one up very easily, but it would still happen."

Mr Moffitt said he would consider putting up a sign.