Some of the estimated 20,000 people impacted by this week's flooding on the New South Wales North Coast could start returning home from this weekend, emergency services say.
Nine evacuation orders are still current across the Northern Rivers for areas around the Richmond River, Wilsons and Clarence Rivers.
Inspector Troy Gersback from the Northern Rivers SES said there was some major flooding still happening in the Richmond River around Bungawalbin, Woodburn and areas downstream with the tidal impacts from the high tide.
He said despite the Wilsons River at Lismore dropping below minor flood levels, it was still not safe for people to return to the Lismore CBD, Lismore basin, low-lying parts of east Lismore, Gerards Hill, North and South Lismore and, for the Clarence, the low-lying areas of Iluka.
"We have seen some sewage mixing with floodwater around the Lismore area ... and I guess that's part of [those] broader safety concerns that we need to ensure are addressed," Mr Gersback said.
Building supply issues will slow recovery
Woodburn resident and cafe owner Alex Clark is stuck in Lennox Head and cannot get back to Woodburn.
His house and cafe have been flooded for the second time in just over four weeks.
"I'm trying to get back to see how much damage has been done to the cafe. I saw the water was going through the shop on the news," he said.
"As soon as another disaster hits the town it brings in the looters, and I just don't understand them and how they can prey on people already suffering,".
Mr Clark said the biggest problem in trying to recover was the shortage of building supplies.
"The insurance company says it will be at least six months before they can start to repair my home and cafe but that's only if they can get supplies," he said.
Mr Clark is visiting real estate agents today to try to get accommodation for 12 months or risk being homeless.
Evacuation centres still open
Three evacuation centres are still open across Lismore, Coraki and Evans.
"There's still quite a large number of people we understand at Coraki and the evacuation centre at Lismore, but obviously a lot of people have been moved into temporary accommodation from the flooding events of weeks gone past, and potentially taking refuge then with other family and friends throughout the region as well," Mr Gersback said.
Up to 60 flood victims have been ordered to leave emergency accommodation to make way for Easter tourists, with the Department of Communities apologising for the disruption.
Under the evacuation orders, there is an estimated 15,000 people still isolated by floodwaters, along with others who were already away from their homes because of the first flooding in February.
But Mr Gersback said there would be some communities that would have access issues as well because of road damage or landslips.
Ballina airport open but with restrictions
Ballina airport has re-opened this morning after being closed earlier in the week, but it is only allowing light commercial aircraft into the airport at this stage for safety reasons.
Airport manager Julie Stewart said because of the 40-tonne limit on the runway for the next two days, Jetstar, Qantas and Virgin's larger aircraft would not be able to use the runway until another assessment was carried out on Monday.
