Forbes, Eugowra flood images show devastation in NSW Central West

Heart-rending images have shown the extent of flood devastation in towns across the state’s Central West, where roads have been torn apart, entire streets underwater and towns cut off.

Eugowra in NSW's Central West is depicted underwater following the November 2022 floods. Aerial imagery by Nearmap.

Confronting images have shown the grave extent of major floods inundating communities in NSW’s Central West, from Forbes and Eugowra to Canowindra and Bathurst.

Rivers have almost reached record heights, causing devastating carnage in communities across the region, with the spilling Wyangala Dam and further anticipated rain causing further anxiety in hard-hit towns.

New images have now shown roads in Eugowra torn apart, while swathes of terrain across the towns of Condobolin and Canowindra still remain underwater.

Meanwhile, once green fields are now totally inundated in Forbes, where residents have now been evacuated twice in the same fortnight.

The images were captured by the Nearmap proprietary aerial camera system attached to planes.

Nearmap aims to capture aerial imagery following every major natural disaster in Australia that has a significant impact on property, infrastructure, and communities.

The images are then provided to businesses including government, insurance and property to communicate current information following natural disasters when ground access and inspection resources are limited.

On Thursday the Forbes community was asked to evacuate for the second time in two weeks, as the Lachlan River reaches a 10.7m peak – just short of the 10.8m record set in 1952.

The disaster has now prompted more than 16,000 requests for assistance, more than 800 rescues and more than 5000 damage assessments in flood-affected communities.

One woman – believed to be missing Eugowra resident Diane Smith, 60 – has been found dead, with two other men believed to be missing in the floodwaters.

The NSW SES is now working in communities downstream of Condobolin and Euabalong as incoming floodwaters are expected to cause evacuation orders and isolation for some community.

The Australian Defence Force has also provided 180 personnel and high clearance vehicles to assist in the Central West.

Supermarket giant Coles has now donated more than 7500 essential groceries and sanitary products including breakfast cereal, water, milk, canned food, noodles and pet food to the Forbes High School evacuation centre. It also provided hampers to residents of flood-hit Eugowra.

Coles regional manager for NSW supermarket operations Aaron Ralph said the team was doing everything it could to provide urgent support to the community.

“Our team knows a lot of people who have been cut off from essential food and sadly many, including one of our team members, who have lost the entire contents of their home,” Mr Ralph said.

“Donating essential items such as water, milk and breakfast cereal is the least we can do to show our support.”

The supermarket has also made additional orders for items such as rubber gloves and garbage bags to meet residents’ demand as clean-up begins.