Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast, Hunter regions under threat as major rivers burst

SES crews are on flood-watch for Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter regions as 22 warnings remain in place, leaving Lismore residents fearing their third flood this year.

Intense rainfall has battered NSW overnight, sparking fresh flash flooding concerns for the Northern Rivers, Mid North Coast and Hunter regions as major waterways burst.

Across the state, 22 flood warnings are in place with SES casting watchful eyes on nine rivers in the regions of concern, as well as the Darling, Murray and Lachlan rivers.

Heavy, isolated falls have drenched the Northern Rivers, including 222m over three hours at Couchy Creek, triggering a severe weather warning for the region and putting Lismore, Tweed Heads, Murwillumbah, Byron Bay, Ballina and Casino on high alert.

In the last 24 hours, SES have conducted 14 rescues and received 193 requests for helps – bringing the total of rescues to 51 and assistance calls to 600 since efforts began this week.

“Anything up in the Northern Rivers we’re paying specific attention to. We’re focusing our rescue capabilities up there, but we still have the need to support the community in long-term floods as well,” NSW SES Adam Jones said.

A flooded bridge on Mt Mitchell Rd in NSW. Picture: NSW SES

“We’re not being stretched, because we’re working with our partner agencies. We’re able to be agile as situations pop up.”

The SES has pre-deployed aviation assets at Walgett, Parkes, Tamworth, Wee Waa, Port Macquarie, and Ballina, in addition to high clearance vehicles and flood rescue specialists with extra boats.

The NSW SES have conducted 49 flood rescues & received 543 requests across NSW, mostly in western parts. Picture: NSW SES

It comes as communities across the state’s north coast faced multiple flood warnings, with a trough over the NSW’s northwest moving east blanketing the North Coast and Mid North Coast while cutting off communities at Wee Waa.

The Bureau of Meteorology’s Jane Golding said much of the state’s coast – from the Queensland border through to the Central Coast – would be at risk of “significant flash flooding issues”.

NSW State Emergency Services Commissioner Carlene York said “we have learned lessons from the past”, with increased resources already tipped into Lismore and other communities around the state on flood-watch.

She said additional helicopters had been placed on standby at Lismore and other places around NSW, while a SES command centre has already been set up.

Three people were rescued by a police officer after they became trapped in their car by floodwaters in the state’s Hunter Region today. Picture: PMU

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said residents were “on edge” after major floods devastated the town across February and March.

“(We’re) very nervous but hoping for the best,” he said.

“Hopefully the weather system doesn’t develop but given the recent history everyone is very much on edge.”

It comes as a body of a man, believed to be in his 20s, was located in the Northern Rivers region on Thursday.

Lismore Mayor Steve Krieg said the community was nervous to be hit by another devastating flood event this year. Picture: Cath Piltz

Extra SES crews with specialist capabilities have been dispatched across NSW. Picture: NSW SES

About 1:15pm, emergency services conducted a wide-scale search after receiving reports of a swimmer having difficulty in the water near Barneys Point Bridge at Chinderah.

The body, found about 7pm, is believed to be that of the missing swimmer. Police confirmed the fatality was not flood-related and a report will be prepared for the information of the Coroner.

Emergency services Minister Steph Cooke said heavy rainfall and severe thunderstorms are expected to hit the Mid North Coast and Northern Rivers over the next 24 hours, but warned forecasts were rapidly changing.

“The forecasts at the moment are variable and changing and it’s against this backdrop that I’m really asking people to please continue to work with the emergency services organisations,” she said.