Southern NSW floodwaters set to peak

Evacuations are nearing completion in southern NSW with floodwaters expected to peak
within 24 hours.
In North Wagga Wagga, East Wagga Wagga and Gumly Gumly, evacuations were 99 per cent
complete, the State Emergency Service (SES) said on Sunday.
"There are still a few residents coming out," an SES spokesperson told AAP.
Two levies are protecting the area around Wagga Wagga.
The 10-metre high wall surrounding the suburbs of North Wagga Wagga, East Wagga
Wagga and Gumly Gumly is expected to hold back the flood peak of 9.9 metres expected
on Sunday night.
The other levee, protecting the city of Wagga Wagga, is 11 metres high and doesn't
look like it will be threatened.
The Murrumbidgee River there was expected to reach 9.6 metres on Sunday night and 10
metres early on Monday.
Evacuations in northwest Gumly Gumly and eastern Wagga Wagga covered an area with a
population of just under 1,000 people, according to SES spokesman Matt Kirby.
All roads into Wagga Wagga were likely to be closed by Sunday afternoon.
The Westpac Rescue Helicopter was on hand and was used to airlift a farmer who had
attempted to move the cattle on his property but got trapped by rising water.
An evacuation order was also put out at Coonamble, further to the north, at 1pm
(AEDT) on Sunday as the Castlereagh River swelled.
People living within the Coonamble levee area in the east have been told to evacuate
by 8pm (AEDT) on Sunday.
About 420 houses and approximately 1,200 people in the area were at increased risk
if the levee failed.
The Castlereagh River at that point is expected to peak at 5.5 metres at 9am (AEDT)
on Monday.
"After 5.4 metres there is an increased risk of the levee failing. It's a small but
real chance," an SES spokesperson told AAP.
Currently 12 rivers in NSW have a flood warning.
There have been 56 flood rescues and the SES has warned that people should not
enter, drive or ride through floodwaters.
NSW Premier Kristina Keneally and state Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan are
expected to inspect the damage to the Wagga Wagga region and receive a briefing from
the SES and other authorities on Monday.
"We are continuing to monitor the situation in flood-affected regions closely so
that the government can provide help where it is needed," Ms Keneally said in a
statement on Sunday.
"The crop losses are a devastating sting in the tail for farmers who have been
battling 10 years of drought.
"The government is ready to help these communities and will look to providing
additional assistance if conditions do not improve, such as extending the natural
disaster declaration to more areas," Ms Keneally said.
"I want to pay tribute to the SES volunteers and all who have been on the ground
working to respond to the floods."
Ms Keneally said that there were already estimates that up to $500 million had been
wiped off the value of NSW crops.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) issued flood warnings for swathes of the state's
central west as people in Eugowra and Dubbo were forced to flee their homes amid the
flooding.
Additional flooding is expected in the Namoi, Macquarie and Bogan river catchments.