Bega, Moruya areas become disaster zones

The NSW government has declared natural disaster zones in flooded regions of the
south coast.

More than 200mm of rain fell on Monday on the state's far south coast causing the
Moruya and Bega rivers to overflow.
Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan declared the Bega and Eurobodalla local
government areas natural disaster zones, pledging support for people affected by the
floods.
"These declarations mean that a range of people who have suffered property damage,
including residents, primary producers and business owners, can seek assistance," Mr
Whan said in a statement.
"In particular, (it) will assist the Bega and Eurobodalla Shire Councils with the
cost of repairing serious damage caused by flood waters and heavy rain."
About 30 people had to be evacuated from homes at Moruya and Bega on Monday.
Evacuation centres were set up at a basketball court at Moruya and in the town hall
at Bega.
"There were about 30 people at the evacuation centres and most of those have now
gone back to their homes," an SES spokesman said.
Flood warnings remain current for the Moruya and Bega rivers.
Meanwhile, the weather bureau says the threat of more thunderstorms and heavy rain
over NSW appears to have passed after several days of wild weather.
The State Emergency Service (SES) had received more than 1800 calls for assistance
state-wide since Friday, a spokesman told AAP.
"We are hardly getting any calls today," the spokesman said on Tuesday.
Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecaster Peter Zmijewski said residents across NSW
could look forward to fine weather this week in most parts of state.
"We're not really expecting anything out of the ordinary," he said.
"I don't think we will be seeing much rain on the south coast over the next four days.
"There might be some isolated showers today, possibly showers on Friday but no
significant precipitation.
"We're expecting coastal showers over the next four days on the north coast and
northern tablelands."
Community Services Minister Linda Burney said volunteers and government agency staff
were busy on Monday making sure flood-affected residents had a dry and safe place to
sleep.
"Food, clothing, shelter and personal support was provided to people who sought
shelter at the evacuation centres and stranded travellers were assisted with
emergency accommodation," Ms Burney said in a statement.
The flooding closed the Princes Highway between Narooma and Cobargo and caused
numerous local road closures in the Eurobodalla area.
On the Princes Highway near Bodalla, motorists are being warned to expect delays
while road works are carried out.
The works will continue until at least the end of the week, the Road and Traffic
Authority (RTA) says.
Meanwhile, several life savers from the Far South Coast Surf Life Saving branch will
be nominated for bravery awards after diving in to treacherous surf on Tuesday to
rescue a 44-year-old man.
The man was walking along Dickinson Point at Horseshoe Bay when he was swamped by a
huge wave and swept off the rocks just after 10am (AEDT).
The man was pulled in to shore by lifesavers and treated with oxygen therapy on
shore before being transported to Bega Hospital.
"It was incredibly brave given the dangerous surf and minimal equipment," Surf Life
Saving Far South Coast emergency co-ordinator Andrew Edmunds said.
"If they hadn't taken the actions they did, the man surely would have drowned."