The New South Wales Premier will ask the prime minister for exceptional circumstances funding for flood-affected communities, as parts of the state face months of recovery amid more possible rain.
Dominic Perrottet visited Moama on the Murray River in the state's south today, where water levels not seen in decades have forced hundreds from their homes.
"I am continuing to work closely with the prime minister for further state and federal funding, which I expect to say more about shortly," Mr Perrottet said.
Mr Perrottet said his government has already applied for 'Category C' clean-up and recovery grants, and on Friday would meet with Anthony Albanese to ask for 'Category D' assistance, which is for exceptional circumstances once the damage has been assessed.
The premier also visited an emergency services hub in nearby Deniliquin, where personnel from the Australian Defence Force, State Emergency Service, Rural Fire Service and other agencies were based.
He said it was an example of how all levels of government had "learned from mistakes" of previous disasters and worked together in this response.
"To see federal, state and local government agencies all coming together … I believe puts us in a very strong position to deal with the challenges that are coming our way," he said.
"I think there's something positive out of this we can take back, we've learnt the lessons from emergency response, we've gone through so many."
The Murray River at Moama is still hovering around its expected peak of just under 95 metres above sea level, and authorities expect it to remain around that height for a number of days.
Further rain is forecast across parts of the Murray River Basin throughout the week, which the Bureau of Meteorology warns could lead to more flooding and river level rises.
There are 107 current flood warnings across NSW, and 19 schools remain closed.
The State Emergency Service received nearly 500 calls for help and carried out 17 flood rescues in the past 24 hours.
SES spokesman Greg Nash said flooding around Moama and Wagga Wagga was expected to ease today as swelling along the Murrumbidgee moved downstream.
"We're watching the river starting to push towards Narrandera and down stream towards Darlington Point on the Murrumbidgee," he said.
"If you are on the Murrumbidgee downstream of Wagga like those towns of Narrandera, Darlington Point, Balranald, just to start looking at their plans, start having a think about what the water impacts will be on them."
Homes inundated
Moree Plains Shire Mayor Mark Johnson said the flooding is taking an emotional toll on the town.
The Mehi and Gywdir rivers peaked on Sunday, inundating more than 390 homes and businesses in the town of about 8,000 people.
A huge area of productive agriculture land and crops were also destroyed.
The Mehi River in town has now dropped below the major flood level.
Premier Dominic Perrottet visited Moree yesterday to inspect some of the damage.
Mr Johnson said the community would bounce back.
"Thankfully it didn't peak to what we expected so there weren't quite as many homes and properties damaged or inundated," he said.
"[But] it's a really emotional time for our town."
Murrumbudgee rises overnight
Water levels rose along the Murrumbudgee River overnight after more rain and dam releases.
Moderate flooding has returned at Gundagai, with the river expected to reach eight metres.
It is currently at 7.5 metres and rising.
The Murrumbidgee is also expected to reach the minor flood level of eight metres at Wagga Wagga this evening.
The State Emergency Service has asked people living in parts of Flowerdale to prepare to isolate.
Burrinjuck Dam is sitting at just over 103 per cent of capacity, and releases are currently at 45 thousand megalitres a day.
Blowering Dam is at just over 99.8 per cent of capacity.
Slow to recede
The Murray River at Moama is currently at 94.95m (above sea level), while the Campaspe River appears to have peaked at 94.78m (above sea level).
The State Emergency Service has warned water will be slow to recede in many areas across the state, including in the south.
Nearby residents have started to notice marine life swimming unusually high in floodwater, with some gasping for air, which environmental agencies said was due to water quality issues.
Low oxygen levels have already been recorded in the mid-Murray River around Echuca-Moama, in the lower Murrumbidgee River at Balranald and in the Barwon River between Walgett and Bourke.
The Murray Darling Basin Authority have also reported crayfish leaving the water in Echuca and Moama.
