Key Points
- Flood-hit NSW communities face a massive clean-up this week as water levels recede.
- Some residents have returned to assess damage, but authorities say it's too early to measure the full impact.
- Another body has been found in Prestons Creek, believed to be that of one of two men missing in floodwaters.
Flood-hit NSW communities face a massive clean-up this week as waters slowly recede and the focus of the crisis shifts to other central west towns.
Some 101 flood warnings were in place late Sunday as the state remained in the midst of the weeks-long emergency that hit the towns of Forbes and Wagga Wagga in recent days.
The Lachlan River at Forbes reached a peak of 10.7 metres on Saturday, slightly below a record set in 1952, while south at Wagga Wagga the Murrumbidgee River peaked on Friday at 9.72m, its highest level in a decade.
As water levels dropped on Sunday, some residents of affected towns returned to assess damage, however state emergency services cautioned it was too early to measure the full impact.
"It's going to be a big couple of days of emergency response in this community until these floodwaters recede and then we can get in and do those damage assessments," NSW SES chief superintendent Ashley Sullivan told ABC TV.
Meanwhile, a second body located by police divers in Prestons Creek, about 50km from Boorowa, is believed to be that of one of two men flung from the back of a utility swept away in floodwaters.
Police recovered the first body on Thursday. While the bodies have not been formally identified, they are believed the missing men from the utility and police have concluded the search operation.
Communities have been warned that in coming days, rises were likely at Carrathool and further downstream at Hay, with major flooding possible from mid-November.
Condobolin, a town of around 3,500 people situated on the swollen Lachlan River, is also said to be in the firing line of flooding in the days ahead.
Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Sunday authorities were better prepared in their flood response than in floods earlier this year in Lismore, noting the rapid deployment of 50 defence force personnel to help with rescues and clean up in Forbes, Moama and Moree.
Meanwhile, around 20,000 residents remained without hot water and gas for cooking in Bathurst, Lithgow, Oberon and Wallerawang for another month after a gas pipeline was damaged due to the Macquarie River flooding.
Deputy Premier Paul Toole said on Sunday that APA Group - the owner of the gas pipeline - was working on solutions to restore gas supply as quickly possible.
Across the border in Victoria, more than 40 flood alerts were in place on Sunday.
