After reading the news that the Bureau of Meteorology forecast a La Nina event that would bring an increased risk of floods, North Wagga stalwart Laurie Blowes decided to look for ways to ease the minds of his fellow residents.

"I rang the SES and asked them where I could find cheap sandbags and thought we would have to look after the cost ourselves," he said.

"Ian Leckie, who is in the SES, said 'what about we have a meeting and talk about it'. He came and spoke to the whole North Wagga Residents Association meeting, and so this was born.

"Ian suggested that two or three of us went out to have a look at the Uranquinty cache, so we had a look at that and thought, let's do it."

Mr Blowes then reached out to Wagga City Council to see if there was a grant available, and it was not long because he was told there would be funding.

"It was a collaboration of the SES, council, North Wagga residents, and it's done," he said.

IN OTHER NEWS:

"We were prepared to do it ourselves, but the council has stepped up to the plate and done this for us, and the SES has been so helpful.

"I think it will help the residents when the pressure does get on to know that we have this facility right here, right now in the middle of our suburb. We are not reliant on things having to come in."

The container has a stockpile of sandbags for early property protection, whether that's sandbagging their doorways, windows or toilets to prevent sewage from flowing up.

It also stocks wheelbarrows, shovels, high-vis vests, and gloves handed out to community members.

To coincide with the cache, a community action team has also been created.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York explained that this group of like-minded community members band together to help prepare for and respond to floods.

"Overall, this enables NSW SES to extend its resources through the community and help them prepare and respond to potential storms and floods," she said.

Nichole Priest, the southern zone commander for SES, said this was a perfect example of a team effort to ensure that communities are better protected in emergencies.

"Here in North Wagga, we are starting to work with the Residents Association," she said.

"They already understand what their flood risk is, so they are the best ones to talk to about what is needed in the event of an emergency.

"[The community action team] will link with our Wagga unit operationally, and we will use it as a two-way communication line into the community at risk."

Ms Priest said the cache would act as a hub during a flood event, and NSW SES partnered with the council to find the best spot.

"Now we are working on the traffic plan on how to bring people safely in," she said.

"The idea is we will have cars around the oval, so we are not blocking the roadways.

"It really has been a team effort between the SES, North Wagga Residents Association and council."

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content: