Heavy rain continues across NSW

Two NSW towns have received record December rainfall, while other parts of the state
have had heavy and widespread falls.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) says the rain is set to continue for days.
"We have still got a band of moderate to heavy rain through parts of the central
west plains and down through the Hunter," BOM duty forecaster Chris Webb told AAP on
Sunday.
"That band will continue and is slipping a bit further south and will take in parts
of the central coast."
He said Enngonia, north of Bourke, and Cumnock, between Dubbo and Orange, had
received record December rainfall, noting records had been kept there for more than
100 years.
"Both recorded the highest December rainfall on record in the 24 hours to 9am on
Boxing Day," he said.
The northeastern two-thirds of the state received fairly large patches of rain,
while the far southwest of NSW had been fine.
State Emergency Service (SES) spokesman Phil Campbell told AAP there was a minor
flood warning for the Castlereagh River, which flows through many central west and
northern centres.
"The main effect of the rain for rural property owners has been in terms of access,"
Mr Campbell said, adding that all unsealed roads were closed in the northwest of the
state.
"We also had a number of requests from owners concerned about livestock, in
particular breeding stock."
Some had already been relocated by helicopters with special lifting equipment, while
more removals were expected in the next few days.
Earlier, Premier Kristina Keneally said "it was really great to see the rain
falling, particularly in rural and regional parts, and the reprieve from the
predicted floods".
"We do have SES volunteers still on standby," she said.
"We still have calls from people needing assistance, but fortunately we have avoided
the floods."
On her recent visit to rural areas, farmers had said government support was
important but what they really needed was rain.
"It is probably worth remembering there are children in the state who have never
felt rain on their faces, and on Christmas morning they woke up to rain and, indeed,
blessed rain," she said.