NSW floods force 2,000 to be evacuated

A farmer has been rescued by helicopter and almost 2,000 people evacuated from their
homes as floods hit across NSW and rivers are expected to peak within 24 hours.
The Westpac Rescue helicopter plucked the farmer to safety after he became stranded
while trying to move livestock to higher ground northwest of Wagga Wagga, in the
state's south, on Sunday.
In North Wagga Wagga and Gumly Gumly, 720 residents had been evacuated, the State
Emergency Service (SES) said.
"These residents are staying with family and friends or have gone to an evacuation
centre," an SES spokesman told AAP.
A handful of people in North Wagga Wagga had stayed behind but authorities were
encouraging them to leave their home, the spokesman said.
Two levees are protecting the Wagga Wagga area.
It's hoped the 10-metre levee surrounding the suburbs of North Wagga Wagga, East
Wagga Wagga and Gumly Gumly will hold back the predicted 9.9-metre flood peak
expected on Monday afternoon.
But emergency services don't expect a 11-metre-high levee protecting the city of
Wagga Wagga itself will be threatened as the Murrumbidgee River rises to a predicted
9.6-metre high on Sunday night and 10 metres early on Monday.
SES spokesman Matt Kirby said evacuations in northwest Gumly Gumly and eastern Wagga
Wagga covered an area with a population of just under 1,000 people.
The Sturt Highway at Wagga Wagga has been closed in both directions and motorists
have been urged to check for other road closures in the area before travelling.
In the state's north, residents were told to evacuate at Coonamble at 1pm (AEDT) on
Sunday as the Castlereagh River swelled.
People living within the Coonamble levee area were evacuated by 8pm on Sunday with
the town becoming isolated by floodwaters.
The Castlereagh River there is expected to peak at 5.5 metres at 9am 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.
A moderate flood warning has been issued for the Colo River area, north of Sydney,
and some roads have been closed.
But the SES says the Colo River was not a major concern.
Currently, 12 rivers in NSW have a flood warning.
There have been 56 flood rescues and the SES warns people not to 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 be briefed by 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 fled their homes amid the flooding.
Additional flooding is expected in the Namoi, Macquarie and Bogan river catchments.
Residents in flood-affected areas can call a free telephone hotline for up-to-date
information, police say.
People with general flood-related, evacuation and road closure inquiries can call
the Public Information Inquiry Centre (PIIC), which is expected to operate until at
least Monday night, on 1800 227 228.
For emergency flood and storm assistance, people can contact the SES on 132 500 or
visit the website www.ses.nsw.gov.au
Up-to-date information on road closures is also available on the RTA website
www.rta.nsw.gov.au or from local councils.
For all other emergencies, the public is advised to contact triple-zero.