NSW floods: Forbes on alert as Lachlan River threatens to rise
THE worst is yet to come in parts of NSW already devastated by the biggest flood in their history. The water is draining away.
THE worst is yet to come for Forbes families and farmers already devastated by the biggest flood in the area’s history.
Residents of central western NSW should expect “a long flood” over the next few weeks.
“This will be a rolling cycle of flooding through communities .... as rain comes in again later this week,” SES acting Deputy Commissioner Mark Morrow said today.
Unlike previous drenchings, locals yesterday said the water was not draining as it has previously done after downpours. And last night a “significant” volume of water was predicted to hit the region again tomorrow.
The NSW government has fast-tracked aid packages for farmers and residents, but thousands of people could be unable to return to their homes for weeks.
Deputy Premier Troy Grant told The Daily Telegraph the “resilient” residents could not afford to become complacent.
“There are lots of people in this town experienced with floods but they need to know we have never seen anything like this flood,” Mr Grant, who visited Forbes yesterday, said.
“I fear some people will be complacent but the landscape has changed since the last major flood and water is not going where it once did and now it isn’t draining.
“That means when the next wave comes on Tuesday it will be like pouring water into a completely full bath. We honestly don’t know what that will do to the town so we need to prepare.”
The Baird government will today fly assessment officers to dozens of inundated farms to start the relief funding process. Mr Grant said farmers could have financial relief within weeks but warned rebuilding roads and homes would take much longer.
Lachlan River peaked last night at 10.7m — but it will continue to rise today.
Forbes SES controller Rocky Walshaw said the flood was unusual and it was difficult to predict when it would subside.
“This water will stay here for a fair while at this level, it will slowly go down, but it will be a long flood,” Mr Walshaw told ABC TV today.
SES volunteers have travelled to Forbes from all over the state. They have been called out to more than 2300 jobs, with dive crews used to swim an elderly woman to safety yesterday afternoon. She was one of 95 people dragged to safety after getting caught in dangerous currents.
Dozens of farms have nearly been wiped out, with some reporting that up to 80 per cent of their crops are now under water. Snake catcher Paul Newcombe was called in to remove a red-bellied black snake in the waters. Defence also sent several Army trucks to help.
Weatherwatch meteorologist Don White said the cumulative impact of months of wet weather was taking its toll. On average, NSW recorded its third-wettest winter on record this year. Add to that the fact that two-thirds of inland NSW has recorded its wettest September on record and it becomes clear why so much land has reached saturation point.
“Of slightly more concern now is the potential for perhaps 20mm-25mm of rain on Wednesday or Thursday,” Mr White said. “We’ve had this build-up over the whole month. You look at Orange and its wettest September was 188mm back in 1892. They’ve had close to 240mm already this month.”
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