NSW weather: Lismore on high alert, Moree evacuating
Lismore warned another life threatening flood event is on the way and Moree is forced to evacuate as emergency services minister admits: ‘There’s not a single part of NSW I’m not concerned about’.
NSW
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A “high impact event” is set to hit the northern rivers from Sunday and into the week as a coastal low moves down from Queensland, hitting exhausted Lismore for the third time this year.
“We are quite literally sandbagging the state at present,” Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke said.
“There isn’t a river system west of the divide that isn’t in flood to some extent … there is not a single part of New South Wales that I am not concerned about at this point in time.”
“The risks include life-threatening flash flooding, trees coming down, damaging winds, and hazardous surf … the Bureau of Meteorology is predicting potentially major flooding at Lismore,” Ms Cooke said.
30,000 sandbags are being deployed each day with more than half a million protecting NSW communities.
In addition to the 100 ADF personnel already deployed to the Central West, a further 100 will be sent to the Northern Rivers and 50 on standby in the Hunter.
Residents in the country town of Moree have been forced to evacuate and Moama on high alert while Lismore anxiously waits another potentially life threatening flood.
Every road into Moree is closed due to flooding, with more than 4,000 people told to evacuate last night due to major flood levels in the Mehi and Gwydir Rivers.
It’s the town’s second major flood in the space of just over 12 months, with two flood peaks expected over the weekend.
The SES conducted 17 flood rescues overnight around the state with 348 calls for assistance.
The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting possible major flooding in Lismore next week as the Northern Rivers continues to rebuild after the deadly March floods.
Minister for Emergency Services and Resilience Steph Cooke warned the Lismore community to prepare for potentially life threatening flash flooding.
“There is not a single part of NSW that I’m not concerned about at this point in time,” she said.
According to the Bureau, flood levels in Moree will peak this morning, while a second is expected to reach the 2021 flood level of 10.43 metres by Sunday.
Moree Plains Shire mayor Mark Johnson said the flood warnings were of “grave concern” for the region.
“We might get to levels that we haven’t seen since 1955,” he said.
“We could have up to 300 homes impacted so this is a significant turn for the worse.”
More than 70 people have registered at an evacuation centre in Moree, and that number is expected to rise.
Clr Johnson said the shire was still working to rebuild following the last major flood in 2021, and the latest event would have devastating impacts on local farmers and producers.
“The wheat harvest promised to be a huge success for our farmer and much of that could be destroyed,” he said.
“Moree and the surrounding districts are resilient people but right now this is a very serious situation.”
At Gravesend, east of Moree, the Gwydir River peaked at 16.21 metres overnight, causing significant damage to the Gravesend Bridge – which was partially washed away and replaced by an inland sea.
Residents in the northwest NSW town of Wee Waa have been told to prepare to be cut off by flood waters for up to ten days.
The SES warned all roads in and out will be submerged in flood water and homes could lose power and water.
The SES said conditions could be too dangerous to rescue residents.
In the state’s south, flood waters from the swollen Murray River are lapping at homes in Moama.
Half a million sand bags and the town’s levee are keeping the flood waters at bay, with river heights set to top the disastrous 1993 floods.
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