Tom Morgan and Vince Morello
More than 1000 people are isolated in northern NSW as heavy rains wreak more havoc across the flood-stricken region.
The village of Bonalbo, with a population of 500, and the 150-strong community of Ewingar are completely cut off, says the State Emergency Service.
Also, Darkwood and Upper Thora on the upper Bellinger River are isolated.
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The SES says 1200 people had been stranded by Monday evening and it was facing a hectic night having already made six flood rescues by 7pm (AEDT).
As heavy rain persisted in the northeast of the state, minor flood warnings were issued for Wilsons River at Lismore, Richmond River at Kyogle and Coraki, the Bellinger River at Thora, and the Clarence River at Grafton and Ulmarra.
“The SES continues to monitor the welfare of all persons in isolated communities and to provide assistance as required,” an SES spokesman said.
Six campers isolated at Collum Collum Station have been airlifted to safety, while 20 people trapped in floodwater on the Bruxner Highway, 30km east of Tenterfield, were also rescued.
The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) has issued a floodwatch advisory until Tuesday for the region with showers developing into heavy rain.
Rain and thunderstorms which may lead to flash flooding, are forecast for the Northern Rivers and Northern Tablelands districts, the bureau says.
Further north, coastal communities near the Queensland border were bracing for wet weather late on Monday and possibly Tuesday that could bring minor flooding.
The Wilsons River at Lismore is expected to reach a height of 4.4m on Tuesday about 3am (AEDT), which would result in minor flooding.
West of Lismore, about 30 people on rural properties at Tabulam became isolated due to heavy rain and flooding on Monday along the Clarence River, Mr Campbell said.
In the state’s far west, near the border with Queensland, floodwaters are expected to cut off the community of Goodooga on Tuesday or Wednesday.
“Once Goodooga is isolated in the middle of this week it will remain so for four weeks and possibly as many as eight weeks,” Mr Campbell said.
Unlike the northeast of NSW, the area around Goodooga is directly affected by water moving south from flood-ravaged Queensland.
Source: www.smh.com.au
