Winds risk flood recovery in Greater Sydney, Hunter Region as Maitland cops more flooding

The Hunter region has copped further flooding while two new terrifying rescues have emerged. Read our latest flooding updates.

A joint effort from Fire and Rescue NSW and the SES has seen two families rescued from violent flooding in the Hunter region.

Strike Team Charlie One arrived at an isolated farm at Millers Forest near Raymond Terrace at about 10am to save a mother and her two young children, one aged 11-months and the other, three years old.

The mother and her two children were trapped by rising floodwaters when Charlie One pushed through submerged fencing and dangerous condition in a powerboat fishing them out of dangerous territory.

A still from FRNSW footage of a rescued mother and her two toddlers from floods in Millers Forest on an isolated farm. Picture: FRNSW

The Hunter River has peaked at Maitland as tens of thousands of residents, along with hundreds of Defence troops, conduct a mammoth clean up across the flood-stricken region and in Greater Sydney.

The river reached 10.4m at Belmore Bridge in Maitland on Friday morning and is on a very slow decline, but the SES warning that the town is still a flood risk and will remain a key focus.

Several evacuation orders have been downgraded to ‘return with caution’ advice, but 39,000 people remain affected by 69 evacuation orders and thousands are still displaced from their homes.

NSW SES spokesman Adam Jones warned that flood-affected properties present a serious hazmat risk and urged residents to steer clear until a safe return was guaranteed.

“It’s very serious and we don’t take lightly removing people from their home. We are asking communities to adhere to the evacuation orders where they still stand,” he said.

SES crews delivering supplies to residents of Broke who are still cut off without power and water. Picture: David Swift

The Windsor Bridge is now visible after going under flood waters five days ago. Picture: John Grainger

“You need to return with extreme caution … and wear protective clothing. The dirt and mud is a hazmat zone. You need to be incredibly careful around it. And, that doesn’t take in account the emotion toll.”

As heavy rainfall ceased across affected areas on Thursday, the number of rescues dropped to 30 in 24 hours, including 10 overnight, with the majority being medically-related.

Residents along Hawkesbury River start to clean up as sun-filled skies return. Picture: John Grainger

The SES has issued 71 ‘return with caution’ notices for areas near the Georges River, Illawarra, Woronora and Hawkesbury.

PICTURES: FLOOD DEVASTATION IN NSW

Outside of rescues, the mainly volunteer-based crews are working with emergency services and 250 Australian Defence Force troops to deliver resources, gather intel and help flood-stricken communities.

Premier Dominic Perrottet wore a sombre expression as he surveyed widespread flood damage across the Hunter from the sky on Friday morning.

Skies have cleared across NSW and most places received less than 5mm of rain in the last 24 hours, meaning residents will finally be granted a reprieve.

The Premier views the floods in the Hunter Region in a chopper on Friday morning with Minister for Emergency Services and Flood Recovery Steph Cooke. Picture: David Swift

Sunshine fills the Hunter Region as residents wake up to the flood damage. Picture: David Swift

Many homes in the Hunter Region have been swallowed by the swollen river. Picture: David Swift

However, the Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) warned some “breezy” wind conditions could jeopardise a safe clean up.

“It will get a bit breezy particularly from the Hunter through Sydney and into the Illawarra,” BOM meteorologist Jake Phillips said.

“They’re not strong winds, but with fairly saturated soils, the winds could increase the risk of trees being knocked over.”

Pleasant conditions are supposed to stick around for the next few days with daytime temperatures around 15 to 17 degrees on average along the coast.

Though the rain has stopped, the clean-up effort has just begun. Picture: John Grainger

Many homes remain inaccessible along the Hawkesbury and have been ripped apart by the floods. Picture: John Grainger

However, the threat of rain is forecast to return on Saturday night or early Sunday morning, and is expected to drop “along the coastal fringe” and “not push very far inland”.

“It’s a pretty dry day along the coast tomorrow (Saturday), but tomorrow night or early Sunday we’ll start to see showers develop along the coast. That’s the next rain of interest,” Mr Phillips said.

“If it sticks to that plan, it shouldn’t contribute to the flood peaks much. However, if you’re on the coast and trying to clean up it could be a bit of a nuisance.”

The lush, green landscape of the Hunter Valley resembled a murky inland sea on Friday when brown water descended on Maitland, which flooded the tiny town of Broke, and ripped roads to shreds.

NSW SES tweeted it had taken on over 370 flood rescues and 7600 requests for assistance from flood impact across the state this week, and over 2,600 members had been deployed.