With sporting fields closed and parks deemed "unsafe" for community events, the impacts of the unrelenting rainfall are still being felt across the inner west.
The first week of March saw more than 200 millimetres of rain fall in the inner west, according to the Bureau of Meterology - already well above the monthly March average of 129 millimetres.
The rain is expected to ease up towards the end of the week, but sporting clubs that were excited to get back out onto the field after lockdowns were lifted now have the challenge of field closures to contend with. All council run sporting fields - except Arlington Recreation Reserve which has an artificial surface - have been closed since February 22.
"The weekend which just passed is the second time we've had to delay the finals of our junior's summer program," said Paul Avery, president of the Balmain and District Football Club.
"We're hoping this Saturday coming there'll be some sunshine so we can actually finish our summer season. It's literally a dampener on the start of the winter season for us."
The Inner West Council said that all turf sporting grounds were waterlogged and a "significant improvement" in weather conditions would be needed before they could reopen.
After being deemed "the wettest place in NSW" two weeks ago, Marrickville Golf Club president Andrew Tighe was optimistic the course would be closed for just a couple of days. But with the Cooks River still breaking its banks, the course has been closed for play since February 28 and won't reopen until at least March 11.
Entertainment venues have also been wet weather casualties.
On Thursday night a gig by ARIA Award-winning artist Genesis Owusu at the Enmore Theatre was dramatically cut short after part of the floor caved in. Three piers at the point where the theatre inclined had shifted underneath the carpet - a result of excessive water inundating the area.
The King Street Carnival music festival - which was previously postponed due to COVID-19 - will go ahead this weekend without their main stages in Camperdown Memorial Rest Park and Sydney Park after the Inner West and City of Sydney councils said wet weather would make large-scale events in their parks "unsafe".
"We're bitterly disappointed after working on this festival for the past two years, especially as we finally look to have turned a corner COVID-wise," organisers said.
"To be faced with an unprecedented weather event is almost unimaginable for us."
Mayor Darcy Byrne thanked council staff and SES volunteers, who clocked up more than 2000 hours in 10 days, for their "hard work and compassion".
Have something to say? Send a letter to the editor at: editor@innerwestreview.com.au
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content:
- Bookmark Inner West Review
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters
- Follow us on Facebook
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
