Rain wreaks havoc west of Sydney

A retaining wall has given way under the force of torrential rains west of Sydney,
rupturing gas and water mains, flooding properties and closing roads.
Chifley Road at Lithgow is closed and emergency services have cordoned off the area
as a precaution until the mains are secured, said Fire Brigades spokesman
Superintendent Ian Krimmer.
In the hour up to 5pm (AEDT) the region received torrential rain, inundating shops
on Lithgow's Main Street.
Supt Krimmer confirmed the ceiling of one property had collapsed.
Fire rescue teams, police and the State Emergency Service are on the scene and
awaiting gas main repairs.
At nearby Mt Victoria, the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) reported a "landslide"
across the Darling Causeway and is urging drivers to use caution.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) late on Wednesday afternoon issued a severe
thunderstorm warning for regions including the NSW Central Tablelands, Southern
Tablelands and parts of the Hunter, Illawarra, Central West Slopes and Plains and
Snowy Mountains.
Population centres including Orange, Mudgee, Bathurst, Katoomba, Goulburn and
Wellington can expect "large hailstones, very heavy rainfall and flash flooding" for
the remainder of Wednesday.
The BoM warning is due to be updated at 8.20pm (AEDT).