NSW floods: Charles sends message of support; Floods turn deadly as clean-up begins

King Charles has expressed his ‘great concern’ over recent Vic floods as NSW emergency personnel continue to search for an elderly man.

Eugowra residents survey the wreckage of houses washed off their foundations, cars and other items strewn through the town. A huge storm which hit the town late on Sunday caused flash flooding which has smashed this small community. Picture: Chris Watson / Farmpix Photography

King Charles has sent a message to Australians expressing his and Queen Camilla’s “great concern” over the terrible floods in recent weeks in Victoria.

In a communique from Buckingham Palace the King said on Wednesday: “Our heartfelt thoughts are with all those affected and for the losses that have been suffered.

“Whilst I realise that this emergency is not over, I do want to pay tribute to the extraordinary efforts of those members of the emergency services, Australian Defence Force and the thousands of community volunteers who have been involved in rescue and recovery efforts.”

He said it has been particularly inspiring to see how communities have pulled together to protect homes and livestock and to support each other during this appallingly difficult period.

“We send our kindest and special wishes to all Victorians as you continue to demonstrate your remarkable resilience and strength,’’ he added, signing the note, Charles R.

NSW floods turn deadly

Meanwhile in NSW emergency personnel in the state’s embattled central west region continue to search for an elderly man after the body of a missing 60-year-old woman was found in the town of Eugowra during a flood recovery operation.

As hundreds of residents assessed flood damage across the central west region, police confirmed they had found the body of a woman in Eugowra, who is believed to be missing resident Dianne Smith, 60, who last spoke to relatives at 9.30am on Monday.

“When relatives were not able to contact her again she was reported missing to officers from Parkes,” NSW Police said in a statement, adding they had yet to formally confirm the identity of the woman.

The death marks the first fatality of the floods crisis in the central west.

Dianne Smith last spoke to a relative on Monday.

Authorities continue to search for 85-year-old man, Ljubisa Vugec, who went missing in floodwaters near Eugowra, with police saying they had serious concerns for the man as his family had not been able to reach him since Monday.

Meanwhile, historic flooding has devastated Eugowra and other central west towns, including Forbes, Borenore, Canobolas, Molong, Canowindra, Walli and Tuena, with residents rescued by helicopter and boats after heavy rainfall forced emergency releases from a major dam, overwhelmed river systems

Eugowra residents, who remain largely uninsured with some premiums rising above $40,000, continued to return to their properties, with much of the town centre destroyed by flash flooding.

On Wednesday, Insurance Council of Australia confirmed insurers were already on the ground in several towns across the central west region surveying the damage, having made a “catastrophe declaration” on Tuesday.

A spokesman said insurers will meet again on Wednesday evening to discuss whether the flood event should be reclassified as a catastrophe, with the possibility of relief teams to enter flood zones as early as Thursday.

After the Northern Rivers flood earlier this year, the NSW government announced an $800m voluntary buyback scheme in October. On Tuesday, Premier Dominic Perrottet stopped short of extending the same scheme to residents across the flood-affected central west.

“At this time, when the catchments are full and the rivers are full, the ground is wet … So we can’t protect against that [flooding] in every single occasion. What we can do is focus on projects in those areas that reduce flooding, and reduce danger to people’s lives.”

Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles, who travelled to Forbes on Wednesday to survey the damage, said federal government support would be available.

“The NSW government is the lead tier of government in terms of declaring what level of support is required here, that’s in terms of whatever payments are available,” he said.

Asked whether he would consider expanding a land buyback scheme to other flood-affected regions, Mr Marles said discussions were already under way.

“We’ve had that [discussion] with the NSW government in respect of other parts of NSW ... that is a very important conversation which is happening now,” he said.