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ONE spectacular by-product of this week’s deluge is the impact it has had on the area’s falls.
Minnamurra Rainforest National Parks and Wildlife management closed the park on Tuesday due to visitor and staff safety concerns, and re-opened on Thursday, encouraging people to see the falls in all their glory.
Manager Peter Kennedy said while it would have been better to get the amount of rain the area received in two days, over two weeks instead, it was better than not getting rain at all.
‘‘I was staring to get concerned as the indications are that we are heading into El Nina, meaning a dryer and and warmer spring and summer, and I started to question as to where we would be with the lack of rain .
‘‘Such heavy rain as we just had doesn’t penetrate the soil,’’ Mr Kennedy said. ‘‘When we have the same rain volume over two weeks, rather than two days, it starts to recharge the groundwater systems and the falls last longer.
Mr Kennedy said while the rainforest trees made it impossible to install rain gauges, last week’s event, while significant, did not compare to the 2011 floods.
‘‘This was nowhere near as bad as that,’’ he said. ‘‘In 2011 the whole of the Jamberoo Valley floor was flooded. There was an enormous amount of water and that had a major impact on the park, although not particularly with infrastructure. There was a lot of work to tidy up after those floods.''
Mr Kennedy, who has worked the park for 22 years, said while the East Coast Low weather pattern seemed more regular, he could not say that high rainfall events were becoming more common.
‘‘These east coast lows seem to be a bit of a new phenomemon and bring with them very adverse weather conditions -such as the tornadoes of February 2014, ‘‘ he said. ‘‘God forbid we start to see that kind of activity on a regular basis but river systems most probably need a good flush.
Mr Kennedy said while the falls were in flood was the perfect time to explore the beauty in our backyard.
‘‘We like to promote what I call the Waterfall Run,’’ he said. ‘‘People will travel vast distance to explore other natural attractions when we have something incredible so close to home.
‘‘People can start with the walk at Minnamurra Falls, drive up Jamberoo Mountain Pass to Carrington Falls and then go from Robertson to Belmore Fallls and on to Fitzroy Falls.
‘‘That’s four water falls and after the rains we have had, they are amazing. From there you can go down Barrengarry Mountain to the Kangaroo Valley and back via Berry. It’s a really good loop.
For more information on Minnamurra Rainforest or any of the other falls, visit www.nationalparks.nsw.gov.au