Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
ABC News
ABC News
National

More flood assistance funding considered for farmers as Moama, Narrabri brace for river peaks

NSW premier Dominic Perrottet has signalled assistance for the agricultural industry in flood-affected parts of the state will be made available. 

The Premier and Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke were in Moree on Tuesday, surveying flood damage.

While no extra funding was announced for the region, Mr Perrottet said disaster funding was available and discussions had already taken place with the federal government about more financial support. 

"This is a food bowl for Australia, right here in Moree — a billion dollars of agricultural produce," he said. 

"We've already been in discussions with the Commonwealth Government in providing … financial support to help our primary producers get through, and where we can do more, we will.

"It's very important, for me as premier, to be on the ground, to speak to people, to hear from the experience and to see myself the scope of the work that lies ahead of us, for us to get that done."

Moree Mayor Mark Johnson acknowledged how difficult this period has been for his town. 

While the flood did not peak as high as expected, several people remain isolated and the damage to primary producers is yet to be revealed. 

"It's a really emotional time for our town," he said. 

"Our shire was just starting to get back on our feet, and now we're being crushed again."

A total of 391 businesses in the area have been inundated around Moree.

Residents remain isolated as rivers continue to fall

While the Gwydir and Mehi Rivers continue to fall at Moree in the state's north-west, many residents remain isolated.

Cecilia and Graham Baker had 30cm of water inundate their downstairs bedroom and laundry.

The couple have been all but isolated since Thursday, with neighbours only able to reach them if they wade through shin-deep floodwater. 

"It's been very, very stressful," Ms Baker said. 

"We didn't really know what was happening with all the water coming down from the hills and out of the dam, but anyway, we're just in the clean-up stage now.

"So we're hoping things get a bit brighter."

Sewerage system under pressure

Meanwhile in Narrabri, the Narrabri Creek, which runs through the town, is expected to peak near 7.6 metres by Wednesday.

Some school children have been sent home because of fears the sewerage system is at risk of bursting.

Narrabri Shire Council deputy mayor Darrell Tiemen has asked people to limit their use of the system for now.

"We're very, very concerned," he said.

"At the moment the sewerage system is holding up, but only just — it's at capacity.

"This is worse than the flood we had last year, and it's certainly picking up.

"If this is the start of the La Nina season, we're in for a tough summer."

Further south, Gunnedah residents are once again pulling together to deal with their fifth flood in 12 months.

The State Emergency Service said water was starting to recede, but warned it could be a slow process.

Gunnedah evacuation centre manager Noeline Broomfield said she was worried about how people were coping.

"For a community like Gunnedah this is the fourth of fifth time in 12 months, first time, yeah we can do this, second time, we know how to do this, fourth or fifth time … it's starting to be quite debilitating," she said.

Further west, Walgett residents are stocking up on supplies as the town prepares for roads to be cut off by flooding.

The Namoi and Barwon rivers are expected to exceed the moderate flood level by reaching about 12 metres by the end of next week.

There are more than 128 current flood warnings across NSW  in parts of Moree, Dubbo, Mudgee and Moama on the NSW-Victoria border, and 52 schools across the state that have closed due to flooding.

NSW SES outlines key areas of concern in the state's floods

Moama braces for peak Tuesday

The Murray River at Moama has exceeded the 1993 major flood level, with a height of 94.92 metres above sea level.

The river was currently at 94.93 metres, and was expected to peak later on Tuesday.

Moama residents have described the town as looking like a "war zone" as the floodwater edges closer.

Resident Ivy Jensen was in Moama for the 2011 floods, but said it didn't compare to what the town was experiencing now.

"It's really difficult living out of a suitcase, having two girls and schools being cancelled as well, and working on top of that," she said.

"The wait, I think, is the worst part."

Freight train crash

The crew of a freight train has been rescued at Naradhan, west of Lake Cargelligo, after rail tracks came adrift due to heavy rain.

Carrying a cargo of grain, the train encountered severe track flooding and some wagons separated from the locomotive.

Fire and Rescue New South Wales was called just after midnight and worked for about an hour-and-a-half to remove two uninjured workers from the Pacific National train.

In a statement, a Pacific National spokesperson said the company was reviewing its operations across their regional network due to flash flooding.

 
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.