A second body has been located by police, almost a week after a ute washed away in floodwaters in central west NSW.
Emergency services were called to Prestons Creek, about 50 kilometres from Boorowa on Monday, October 31, after reports the vehicle with four men had gotten into trouble at a flooded causeway.
Two of the men in the cabin swam to safety while two other men believed to be in the tray could not be found.
A first body was found by police divers on Thursday, and the second this morning.
Both are yet to be formally identified but are believed to be those of the missing men.
Clean-up begins, severe weather warning issued further south
The clean-up is continuing in Forbes as a severe weather warnings brings fears of renewed flooding in parts of the Riverina.
The already-affected communities of Wagga Wagga, Narrandera and their surrounds were within the warning area issued Sunday afternoon, for isolated thunderstorms and heavy rain.
There are currently flood warnings at the major level in place for 10 rivers.
Emergency services are preparing towns downstream of Forbes as the large volume of water moves through the system.
"We have moved strike team down to Condobolin, which is downstream of Forbes, and we are assisting that community in getting prepared as quickly as we possibly can," NSW SES spokesman Adam Jones said.
"Specifically, we are looking at Forbes and Condobolin on the Lachlan River. We have Wagga Wagga on the Murrumbidgee and going down with Narendra and Hay."
Forbes became submerged in floodwaters as the Lachlan River peaked at 10.7 metres Saturday evening, close to the levels of the 1952 floods.
To 4pm Sunday, the SES responded to 291 requests for assistance statewide, and made 11 flood rescues.
Floodwaters have receded but are expected to remain high despite the easing conditions.
"We are going to see this river height sit here for a couple of days probably before it starts to drop away, so that community still needs a lot of support," Mr Jones said.
To the west of Forbes, a boil water alert has been issued for the town of Tottenham, due to the flooded Lachlan River.
Parts of the central west are expected to be without gas for 3-4 weeks, after floodwater damaged the Young-Lithgow pipeline.
Meanwhile, work is underway to deliver supplies to residents around Walgett who have been cut off by the closure of the Castlereagh Highway.
Recovery to cost 'millions'
The clear skies were an opportunity for locals like Pip Davies to start to survey the damage.
"There is a lot of clean-up to be done," she said.
"It is going to cost the community millions and millions of dollars.
"It is just devastating for so many people."
It is the fourth flood the town has faced this year, and Ms Davies said the community was good at coming together in times of crisis.
"That is what Forbes is about — the community."
Ian Clifford has lived in and around Forbes his entire life.
He said this flood was like none he had seen before.
"The speed that it came up, I had about two hours [to prepare], thinking I had another day. It was a bit of a shock."
At its peak, there was about 1 metre of water through his property.
When he went back today, the water had dropped by about 25 centimetres.
Inside the home, the fridge floated upside down and a TV remote bobs on the current of the water still flowing through.
Mr Clifford was relieved to find his cockatoo, budgies and pigeons had survived.
"I was amazed, it was just another thing that picks you up, that lightens you," Mr Clifford said.
Evacuation orders lifted for some further south
Further south, residents in North Wagga have been told they can return home after being under an evacuation order since Thursday night.
Laurie Blowes said he returned home as soon as he was able to.
"I was lucky enough to have the brother-in-law put me up for a few days but the minute they said I could come home I came home," he said.
"You appreciate the help but there's nothing like being home."
*Additional reporting by Nick Parmeter
