Far west NSW on flood alert along Darling River

Residents in NSW’s far west have been warned to remain on ‘high alert’ as floodwaters continue to rise across low-lying properties along the Darling River.

A spectacular aerial view of Lake Menindee, which is flooding and forcing the evacuation of nearby residents. Picture: Michael Tregear/Twitter

Hundreds of residents in the far west of NSW have been warned to remain on “high alert” as floodwaters continue to rise and impact low-lying properties along the Darling River.

On Sunday, emergency services said more than a dozen homes upstream from the town of Menindee had been flooded, as water continues to move across the state’s river network following several major weather events in 2022, including Gunnedah and Moree flooding last month.

NSW emergency services said 75,000 megalitres of water is being released from Menindee Weir into the Darling River, with the town’s nearby lakes already over capacity.

Last week, Water NSW and the Bureau of Meteorology said the river would peak at 10.7m, eclipsing the town’s 1976 record of 10.47.

An SES spokesman said low-lying properties upstream and downstream of Menindee remain in the “danger zone”, after some residents were told to prepare for record-breaking floods, with water levels to peak at 10.7m.

“We still have about 31 properties identified as potentially being affected by the potential peak, and we still have to assume that the peak may be reached,” SES spokesman Dave Rankine said on Sunday. “But it seems at the moment the river has not reacted with the rapid rises to that 10.7-metre level.”

Resident Darryl Cowie, who owns the Burke and Wills Motel near the banks of the Darling River, said the township remained safe despite the ongoing flood risk.

“Quite a few people and properties upstream and downstream from the town have been caught by surprise and there have been a few evacuations, but everyone is well prepared and there doesn’t seem to be any immediate urgency for the moment.

“I’ve got a few guests coming to stay (in the motel) over the next couple of days who have had their homes impacted, and there are others who are refusing to leave. But I think the situation is under control,” Mr Cowie said.

Lake Menindee 12 months ago.

Lake Menindee now in flood. Picture: Michael Tregear/Twitter

At a community meeting last week, emergency services warned the river was expected to rise from its 9.6m level over the next 36 hours, but Mr Cowie said residents remained calm and are adamant they will not evacuate unless there is a “very real threat”.

WaterNSW opened the Menindee weir gates last week to allow the “maximum amount of water” to flow through the system and further downstream, as flows increased from 35,000 megalitres per day to 45,000 megalitres per day.

Emergency services said its earlier predictions had been ­correct, after the SES anticipated some 35 properties would require evacuation before New Year‘s Eve.

“We still want people to remain vigilant, because we are expecting more flood activity over the coming days,” an SES spokesman said.

Properties along Irrigation Rd, McInnes Rd, Pooncarie Rd and the Wilcannia-Menindee Rd are among those that have been worst affected by flows from the Darling River.

A major flood warning remains for nearby Wilcannia and minor flooding is expected in Bourke to Tilpa, while significant flooding continues along the lower Murrumbidgee River at Balranald in the Riverina district.