Repairing and rebuilding after the floods
The 2022 floods affected many parts of Mullumbimby, along with communities up the valleys. A lot of homes and shops have since been repaired, but some are still in the middle of rebuilding, and others were patched up quickly and now need proper work.
If water has been through your home or business, here’s what we’d suggest:
- Don’t use anything that went under water until it has been checked. That includes power points, switches, wiring, the switchboard and appliances.
- Get an inspection and test. We’ll check insulation resistance, look inside wall cavities where possible, and tell you what can stay and what must go.
- Plan the rebuild with the next flood in mind. Where it suits the building, raising the switchboard and outlets, or running circuits from the ceiling down, can reduce damage next time.
- Keep your paperwork. You’ll get a NSW Certificate of Compliance for Electrical Work for everything we do, which is useful for insurers and future buyers.
Our electrical safety inspection is the right starting point for flood-affected properties.
Hinterland acreage
Go a few minutes out of Mullum, towards Main Arm, Wilsons Creek or Upper Wilsons Creek, and you’re into steep, green country with properties spread across big blocks. Electrical work out here is a different job from town work.
Long runs and pumps
Houses, sheds and water pumps can be hundreds of metres apart. Cables need to be sized for voltage drop under AS/NZS 3008 so equipment at the end of the run gets the voltage it needs. Pumps drawing from creeks, dams and tanks need correct protection and weatherproof enclosures.
Solar, batteries and patchy supply
Many hinterland properties have solar and battery systems, and some rely on them heavily. We do the switchboard and wiring side of these systems and make sure the rest of the installation is safe and tidy.
Access
Some properties have steep driveways, creek crossings or causeways that are tricky after rain. Tell us about access when you book so we can plan the day.
Town homes and shops
Mullum’s town streets have older timber cottages, weatherboard homes and some fibro, many of them well loved and still running original wiring. Old fuse boards, a lack of safety switches and too few power points are all common. A switchboard upgrade is a good first step, and if the house needs more, a staged rewire can be planned over time.
For shops, cafés and community buildings in the town centre, we handle fit-outs, emergency lighting and fault finding.
NSW rules and times
All Mullumbimby work is done under the appropriate NSW licence. NSW smoke alarm rules require at least one working smoke alarm on each level, which differs from Queensland. And from October to April, we book in NSW daylight saving time.