Booksville

Authorities prepare for clean-up in flooded NSW

.Emergency service workers on New South Wales’s flooded mid-north coast say they will scale back relief operations tonight, ahead of a full scale clean-up effort in the region tomorrow.
When the worst of the rainfall hit Coffs Harbour yesterday afternoon, a frenzied relief effort got underway to try and help those stranded by rising floodwaters.
Tonight as flood waters across the region recede, volunteer emergency workers say they will get some rest ahead of full scale clean operation tomorrow.
“That won’t be enough to see a change in the river trends,” he said.
SES director-general Murray Kear says although more rain has been forecast, he expects river levels will continue to recede.
Relief efforts tomorrow will focus on getting emergency supplies to isolated communities, as well as cleaning up the disaster zone Premier Nathan Rees has described as “absolutely extraordinary”.
About 1,700 people are still isolated in communities on the Bellinger River.
Coffs Harbour Mayor Keith Rhoades says he is relieved the NSW Government has declared the region a disaster zone.
“We’ve got to wait until the waters recede and we can have a look assess the damage, cost it out and put in plans to get on and get the work done as quick as possible,” he said.
He says it will be some time before the full extent of the damage is known.
The bureau says showers will continue along the Northern Rivers and mid-north coast overnight and on Thursday.
The Bureau of Meteorology says conditions are easing along the coast, with waves not exceeding four metres in the surf zone.
A Flood Watch remains current for all NSW coastal rivers from the Queensland border to the Manning Valley and Taree area. .
Further north, residents at Tweed Heads and Byron Bay have been advised to prepare for flash flooding, as storms move towards the Queensland border.
Further north, residents at Tweed Heads and Byron Bay have been advised to prepare for flash flooding, as storms move towards the Queensland border.

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People needing emergency assistance in floods and storms are urged to call the SES on 132 500