NSW Floods: Farmers cut-off for months

Some farmers in central west New South Wales have remained isolated for four months due to roads that are flooded or broken, or both.

Central west New South Wales residents continue to dig in against a seemingly unending wall of water, with those who call the sleepy hamlet of Condobolin home firmly in the sights of a swollen Lachlan River.

The town has been battling flooding for four months, but the high waters flowing from Forbes will sink the town under its highest water levels in 70 years with Condobolin Bridge gauge expected to reach around 7.4m later this week or early next week

Some locals farms have been cut off from the town for several months and farmers have been told that they will be spending a bit longer in isolation.

But locals will not be alone, with a small army of NSW State Emergency Service volunteers descending on the township to help with sandbagging, door knocking, re-supply and livestock movement.

About 1200 sheep trapped by floodwaters were rescued via helicopter in Forbes yesterday.

There are currently 100 NSW SES warnings in effect; 10 at Emergency Warning level, 64 Watch and Act, and 20 at Advice.

NSW SES Condobolin Unit Commander, Susan Bennett understands first-hand how intense the ongoing flooding has been for her community.

“Our volunteers and local community have been working together for months with major flooding affecting the town,” Ms Bennet said.

The NSW SES has responded to 293 requests for assistance in the past 24 hours, including 10 for flood rescues.

Lachlan Shire Mayor John Medcalf said the town’s population of 3500 will rely on its airport for supplies for some time.

“We have 4500 kilometres of road within our shire. And I’d say every road in the shire is impacted,” he told AAP.

Local Government NSW declared a state wide roads emergency last week due to flood damage, saying it will require state and federal funding to fix.

Several towns including Walgett, Lightning Ridge and Collarenebri remain isolated.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet echoed the situation in Victoria by promising to work with councils and the federal government to fix the broken roads network.

“We know the next fire will come, the next flood will come, and that investment is crucial to the lifeblood of those regional communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, residents in Bathurst, Oberon, Wallerawang and Lithgow remain without gas after flooding damaged a pipeline running under the Macquarie River last week.