Preparations are being made to immediately evacuate remaining residents from a New South Wales town by plane, with fears it could be impacted by floodwater.
The Lachlan River is set to reach a record flood peak of 8 metres at Euabalong in the state's Central West on Thursday and possibly inundate the town.
The town of 200 people is already isolated by floodwater with road access cut.
The SES said anyone evacuating should assemble at the Royal Hotel now, as it was organising a flight to nearby Lake Cargelligo.
Jess Chaplin, from the NZ contingent working with the SES, said she understood there were still 40 community members left in town.
"We are asking anyone who is willing to take that option to let us know now so we can arrange a flight out," she said.
If evacuees are unable to find accommodation with friends or family, there will be transport via bus to motels in Griffith.
Residents leave against orders
The SES says people choosing to leave an isolated town in the state's south a day after an evacuation order was enforced are putting the lives of their families and emergency services at risk.
An escort had been arranged to allow the 500 residents of Moulamein to leave yesterday afternoon, with rising floodwater from the Edward River and Billabong Creek expected to isolate the town for weeks.
SES spokesman Scott McLennan said while some residents had already left, only five people and a dog were part of the convoy.
About 90 per cent of residents had chosen to stay in the town, with a shelter-in-place warning in place and all access roads closed.
"We do know that there are some people choosing to keep relocating themselves even though the floodwaters are there and covering the roads, and the roads are quite damaged," Mr McLennan said.
"Some people are making decisions for themselves and their families that may not necessarily be deemed safe by us or the council."
He said the decision of those leaving on Wednesday was "somewhat disappointing".
"They're not necessarily just putting their own families or themselves at risk, they're also putting the lives of our partner agencies and the SES volunteers, RFS volunteers, VRA volunteers who put on their boots and go and save them if they find themselves in trouble."
Further east, the Edward River peaked just below 9.2 metres at Deniliquin overnight.
SES warnings for the town have dropped to watch and act, but levels are expected to fall extremely slowly.
State-wide flood risk remains
The SES received 270 calls for assistance in the last 24 hour reporting period and performed three flood rescues.
Fifteen emergency warnings remain across New South Wales.
There are hopes the worst of the flood crisis at Condobolin on the Lachlan River in the state's central west has passed.
While water levels remain at historic highs, authorities have predicted no further rises.
Further downstream, Euabalong is now also completely isolated.
The SES has warned floodwater will remain high well into December.
Condobolin's SES unit commander Susan Bennett said residents in low-lying areas needed to remain alert.
"Fingers crossed that in Condobolin the highest level has been reached," she said.
"It's a Watch and Act situation here.
"People in low-lying areas are already affected but [need] to remain vigilant and keep a watch on what's going on and have a plan, just in case."
Farmers in the region are warning it will take years for properties to bounce back.
Condobolin farmer Diana Fear said she had lost more than half of her lucerne and canola crop in the floods.
She is worried about how she will replace key infrastructure on the property when so many others are trying to do the same thing.
"Depending upon the amount of damage, it will take potentially years," she said.
"Everybody needs fencing, everybody needs levy banks fixed up. We would like to do what we can as soon as possible but going forward, you still have to get a crop in next year.
"You still have to do the day to day things to make money."
Calls for more support
Residents in the devastated town of Eugowra have expressed gratitude for one-off flood payments announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese yesterday, but warn they will need more support to get back on their feet.
Mr Albanese and Premier Dominic Perrottet visited the town yesterday to announce federal grants of $50,000 for small businesses and not-for-profit groups affected by the floods.
Residents can receive a NSW Disaster Recovery Payment of $1,000 for each eligible adult and $400 for each child, while primary producers can apply for a $75,000 NSW Special Disaster Grant.
Anthony Robinson lives in Eugowra and lost everything in the flood, including his house, and says the payments won't be enough.
"A thousand dollars; it's nice but it's not much. It's not going to rebuild a house, is it?"
