Heavy rain has caused flash flooding and river rises in several towns across New South Wales overnight, while Victorian communities brace for the Murray River to peak.
Follow the live updates.
Key events
- NSW: Almost the entire state 'has been affected by a natural disaster' at some point
- NSW: 'So many of the flood rescues that we see occur because people are putting their own lives at risk'
- Weather stabilising in parts of NSW, but the 'threat is still very real'
- Woman's body found on banks of flooded river in NSW
- Echuca has already tripled its average rainfall for October
- You can watch the Victoria flood update here
- Six people rescued from rising floodwaters in Moama in the middle of the night
- 'Worst of the rainfall' has passed in Lismore amid flash flooding overnight
- 'Massive' list of flood warnings as rivers rise on east coast
- Communities across NSW, Victoria brace for more rain
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Live updates
By Bridget Judd
Where to find emergency assistance and information
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For emergency assistance, contact the SES on 132 500
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If your life is at risk, call Triple Zero (000) immediately
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Roads and bridges may be impacted by flash flooding. You can find the latest Victorian evacuation orders here and the latest NSW evacuation orders here.
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For the latest weather updates visit the Bureau of Meteorology
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If you're not sure what to do when there's a flood, here's the best way to plan
Listen to ABC Local Radio for regular updates:
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ABC Radio Melbourne on 774am or online
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ABC Radio Sydney on 702am or online
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Search for a different frequency using the ABC Radio Finder
By Bridget Judd
Cost of flood recovery 'will be significant', NSW Premier says
Mr Perrottet says authorities are seeing areas of NSW "that haven't seen floods like these in 100 years".
"And so it is a difficult time. It is going to take time as well for the floodwaters to recede and the clean-up.
"... Given the extent of the flooding, my expectation would be that there will be significant costs involved once again, particularly on the rebuilding of local roads."
By Bridget Judd
NSW: Almost the entire state 'has been affected by a natural disaster' at some point
Mr Perrottet says there are "so many affected" local government areas across the state.
"By the time we get through this event, we have almost the entire state at some point in time that has been affected by a natural disaster of one form or another.
"Now in relation to the Northern Rivers... at this stage we have downgraded the warnings for the Northern Rivers from severe to moderate and that's pleasing because it was obviously a very difficult night last night and there was a lot of concern in that community.
"From what the people of the Northern Rivers have gone through over the last 18 months, there is a lot of anxiety in that community and that is understandable."
By Bridget Judd
NSW: 'So many of the flood rescues that we see occur because people are putting their own lives at risk'
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says people are losing their lives because they're not "heeding the warnings".
"What happens is that people see the waters and they think that the level is much lower than it actually is because they cannot see the road beneath the water," he says.
"We've got to continue to drive this message. So many of the flood rescues that we see occur because people are putting their own lives at risk driving through floodwaters. Now we cannot be clearer."
By Bridget Judd
NSW could see 'a bit of a reprieve' into the weekend
The Bureau of Meteorology’s Steven Bernasconi says adverse weather conditions across the state are expected to ease from mid-week.
"The good news is that on Wednesday through to Saturday the adverse weather conditions will start to abate and we should have a little bit of reprieve out into the weekend.
"That said, we are monitoring another system in the west of the country that has the potential to impact the state on Sunday but as it is a little bit further out we will keep it on our radar."
By Bridget Judd
NSW: If you're asked to evacuate, it's best to do so 'while you can'
NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York says teams have had to "go in and try and persuade people to evacuate from their homes" over the last 24 hours.
"We don't make these orders lightly. We do it to protect you and your families, that it is best to evacuate whilst you can and whilst it is safe.
"By not evacuating when the waters do rise and then you realise that you have made the wrong decision by remaining at your premises, it then puts the lives of our volunteers at risk to go out and help you and they may be busy on many rescues or other duties."
By Bridget Judd
'This is a partnership': NSW SES urges residents to avoid floodwaters
NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York says it's "very sad to hear the loss of a life as a result of these floods".
"It's important to remember there were four people in that vehicle, their lives were put at danger as well as the lives of volunteers and staff that go out to rescue people who make decisions that affect them and puts their lives at risk.
"So it is really important that you know that the community knows that this is a partnership."
By Bridget Judd
Weather stabilising in parts of NSW, but the 'threat is still very real'
Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke is speaking now.
She says there are still nine major flood warnings in place.
"The weather is starting to stabilise in many parts of New South Wales but the threat is still very real.
"The risks are there and on that basis very much asking communities to continue working with us through this time so that we can work together to keep you and your family safe during these quite challenging times."
She says the impact is currently the greatest in Moree where around 4,000 people have been told to evacuate at some point over the past few days.
"Unfortunately hundreds of properties have been impacted by these floodwaters. Each community is facing a different threat, dependent on where you are in New South Wales at the present.
"So my message today is please stay up to date with the advice and the warnings as they pertain to you in your local community."
By Bridget Judd
Almost 500 calls for assistance in NSW over the last 24 hours
Mr Perrottet says there have been 482 requests for assistance over the last 24 hours.
"We've had 37 flood rescues and we have over 520 personnel on the ground as well as the ADF resources and in addition to that assistance from interstate," he says.
"As we've said, and we continue to say, please do not drive through floodwaters. Please do not drive through floodwaters. You are putting your life, you are putting your family's lives, at risk. If it is flooded, forget it," he added.
By Bridget Judd
NSW Premier: 'If there is an emergency order in place, please evacuate'
Mr Perrottet says there are more than 120 warnings in place across the state.
"Of those 122, we have 20 emergency warnings, so they are evacuation orders that are in place.
"Can I stress again to everybody across New South Wales, if there is an emergency order in place, please evacuate.
"Do not wait for a knock on the door from the SES, please evacuate, follow the instructions that are in place."
By Bridget Judd
NSW Premier extends condolences after death of woman in floodwaters
We're hearing from authorities in NSW now.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet is addressing the death of a woman in floodwaters in NSW.
"This morning we received advice of a young woman who has died near Gulgong in the Central West and on behalf of the Government and the people of New South Wales can I extend my condolences to the family and to the friends.
"Can I also thank our SES responders who were there carrying out that rescue. We have hundreds of SES volunteers on the ground right across our state doing amazing work, putting their life on the line."
By Bridget Judd
IN PICTURES: It's a nervous wait for locals in Echuca as waters rise
The ABC's Gavin Coote is in Echuca and snapped these photos a short time ago.
By Bridget Judd
Authorities in NSW will provide a flood update at 1:00pm AEDT
We'll hear from NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet, Deputy Premier Paul Toole, Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke, NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York and the Bureau of Meteorology’s Steven Bernasconi.
By Bridget Judd
Woman's body found on banks of flooded river in NSW
The body of a woman has been located on the banks of a flooded river in NSW’s Central West, after a car was last night swept off a causeway nearby.
Emergency services were called to Cooyal Creek, at Gulgong, about 30km north of Mudgee about 11:00pm yesterday after reports a vehicle had been swept into floodwaters.
The driver, a 45-year-old man, and two male passengers – aged 43 and 26 – escaped the vehicle and made their way to safety.
However, authorities were last night unable to find a 28-year-old woman, who was also a passenger in the vehicle.
While the body is yet to be formally identified, police said they believed it was the missing woman.
By Bridget Judd
Almost 400 roads are closed across Victoria due to flooding
There are 397 roads closed across the state due to flooding.
Areas of concern include:
- Echuca
- Kerang
- Shepparton
- Mooroopna
- Orrvale
- Murchison
By Bridget Judd
Echuca locals hopeful 'the worst of it is over today'
Jemima Lewis, who has been keeping the community’s spirits up with her DJ sets, took last week off to prepare for the floods.
She lives on the other side of Echuca’s flood levee and said the water has been rising steadily overnight.
“It’s probably come up at least two or three inches around our property … it’s pretty hairy here."
Her husband’s been pumping water out of their property at least once an hour.
“We’re still dry for now, but hopefully the worst of it is over today and then we can start coming down the other side,” she said.
By Bridget Judd
Residents in Bungawalbin need to prepare to isolate
By Bridget Judd
Echuca has already tripled its average rainfall for October
The Murray River keeps rising around Echuca in Victoria's north, putting increased strain on in the town's flood defences.
The ABC's Iskhandar Razak reports from the banks of the Murray at Port Echuca.
Iskhandar: The waters here keep coming inland as the river hits and exceeds its forecast peak today, and could go as high as 95 metres. Water at the river bank at the port has come in 50 metres inland, and park benches, tables and roads have been engulfed. But the river is still at least ten metres away from a tiny dirt levee built here. A larger two metre high, 2.5 kilometre levee in the town is also holding strong and keeping floodwaters out of hundreds of homes. It's been raining all day and Echuca has already tripled its average rainfall for October.
By Bridget Judd
A big thank you to all the volunteers
CFA Chief Officer Jason Heffernan says there are currently 4,000 volunteers engaged in flood operations across Victoria.
"There's many examples of volunteers being out, helping the community, preparing the community, and in fact, had their own homes inundated and certainly we've seen that in many locations and that just is what our volunteers do.
"They want to help the community, in doing their best to protect the community, Quite often at that personal sacrifice.
"So again, I say thank you to those volunteers and recognise the efforts that you have done where it has also included some degree of personal loss."
By Bridget Judd
Water level in Kerang expected to remain steady for 4-5 days before receding
SES Chief Operations Officer Tim Wiebusch is addressing some of the different peaks. He says the water level in Kerang is "likely to remain steady" for the next four to five days before it starts to recede.
"The good news for communities on the Goulburn River from Murchison through to Shepparton and also for the communities downstream of Eppalock through Rochester and the like, at this stage we're only looking at moderate flooding levels, potentially at the upper end in some cases, if we see that upper flood level."
