Voice of Real Australia is a regular newsletter from ACM, which has journalists in every state and territory. Sign up here to get it by email, or here to forward it to a friend. Today's was written by Audience Engagement Producer Kayla Osborne.
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When my phone pinged with a message from the SES about impending flooding last Saturday, I can't say I was too surprised.
The weather forecast was for a month's worth of rain in just one day, and boy did Camden cop it.
It's the fourth time in just six months that the lower lying areas in our busy little town in south west Sydney have been inundated with floodwaters.
Two petrol stations, restaurants, a caravan park, playing fields and more are all under water yet again.
This time river levels were even higher than what we saw when floods last swept through the town in April.
The Bureau of Meterology reported the Nepean River at Camden Weir peaked at 12.72 metres around 2pm on Sunday and was at 11.72 metres and falling this morning.
And the Nepean River at Menangle Bridge peaked at 16.61 metres at 7.50am yesterday and was at 13.36 metres and steady this morning.
Several roads in and out of the neighbouring Wollondilly region are also closed due to flooding. And Sydney's Hawkesbury region is experiencing similar issues.
Driving over the biggest bridge into Camden yesterday was a sight to behold. The sprawling paddocks and windy river had transformed into fast moving murky brown water.
It's another tough time for businesses, especially in the wake of a global pandemic.
But the shining light amidst the grey clouds is community spirit.
Residents have been offering those evacuated from their homes safe places to stay.
GoFundMe pages have been set up to support local businesses.
People banded together to rescue stranded livestock, to fill sandbags and to help businesses move their stock to higher ground.
Once this rain eases I know the community will pull together to help businesses recover from this event yet again.
South west Sydney often cops a bad rap for a myriad of reasons. But there is no doubt the community spirit out here is strong.
Locals will band together in times of need, neighbours will lend a helping hand and with rain set to continue over coming days it's more important now than ever.
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