Disaster zones in NSW flood-hit regions

Natural disaster zones have been declared in flood-hit parts of regional NSW and
$500 million has been wiped off the state's predicted $3.2 billion bumper crop
harvest, authorities say.
Disaster zones were declared on Friday around Mudgee, Weddin, Wellington,
Warrumbungle, Cootamundra, Coonamble, Harden and Young shires, all of which have
sustained significant damage from recent heavy rain.
Millions of dollars worth of damage has been caused by flooding, NSW Emergency
Services Minister Steve Whan said. The disaster zones could be extended if there are
more heavy downpours, he said.
"Mid-Western Regional Council, based in Mudgee, has estimated that it has sustained
more than $12 million in damage to roads, causeways, culverts, drains, sports
fields, parks, water and sewerage infrastructure and public buildings," Mr Whan
said.
"The council's clean-up bill to remove debris is estimated at another $1 million.
"Weddin and Young shires also have suffered damage to infrastructure, particularly
roads, after sustained recent rains.
"Likewise, Wellington and Warrumbungle shires experienced damage to roads, bridges
and culverts," he said.
The disaster zones trigger eligibility for government payouts.
Industry and Investment NSW estimates up to $500 million has been wiped off the
value of the NSW winter crop because of the rain.
Farmers had been expecting a bumper crop following good conditions in the spring.
But the values have now dropped significantly as the rain continued to deluge
regional centres into summer.
"This is simply devastating to farmers who, after 10 years of drought, will now see
one sixth of their crop lost to rain," Mr Whan added.
Householders have also been affected by the flooding.
On Friday night, residents of Wagga Wagga were briefed on evacuation procedures as
it joined a growing list of NSW population centres on alert amid rising flood
levels.
The State Emergency Service (SES) held the public meeting to address residents of
North Wagga and Gumly Gumly in southern NSW.
"We want to talk to them about the possibility of evacuation - about what they can
do to prepare themselves and their property, what options they have if they have to
leave and can't go to family or friends," an SES spokesman told AAP.
The meeting came as strong overflows from the Burrinjuck Dam on the Murrumbidgee
River continue to threaten the area.
"We worked out that 70,000 Olympic swimming pools a day (are being released from the
dam)," the spokesman said.
"Wagga is a concern for us on Sunday morning because there is still uncertainty over
how much higher the river will rise."
Wagga Wagga's council chambers were closed on Friday and the shopping centre car
park was flooded.
Areas along the banks of the Murrumbidgee have already faced evacuation; two caravan
parks in the nearby town of Gundagai were cleared as flood waters deluged the area.
Earlier on Friday, two properties in Jugiong were also evacuated.
In central western NSW, conditions have eased at Parkes, where earlier on Friday
roads became impassable because of flash flooding, affecting the town's 10,000
residents.
The automatic weather station at Parkes airport recorded 106mm of rain in the 24
hours to 9am (AEDT) on Friday.
Forbes in central NSW also faced flash flooding with more than 70mm of rain during
the past 24 hours.
In northern NSW, Coonamble continues to be isolated by floods from the Castlereagh
River.
The village of Pilliga with a population of 140 is also cut off after heavy rainfall
overnight along with the nearby town of Wee Waa.