Three New South Wales towns isolated by flood waters have formed a “flood island” triangle requiring airdrops of food and medicine, as more than 100 flood warnings remain in place across a state reeling from a weeks-long emergency.
There were 16 emergency warnings in place across NSW on Monday morning, with some towns predicted to see flooding like “they’ve never seen before”, the State Emergency Service said, while a massive clean up has begun in Wagga Wagga and Forbes, where water levels peaked over the weekend.
Alethea Duley, of the NSW SES, said the state’s central west was the main area of concern.
Major flooding was still occurring in Forbes – where the Lachlan River reached a peak of 10.67 metres on Saturday, slightly below record levels – as well as approximately 100km away at Condobolin.
“As soon as Forbes recedes, that [water] will then go downstream to Condobolin, where flooding that they’ve never seen before will occur,” Duley said.
Condobolin may see a peak of 7.3 metres later this week, she said.
The NSW SES received more than 300 calls for help and performed 13 flood rescues in the 24 hours to Monday morning.
A pregnant woman who was rescued in Forbes by the SES after her waters broke over the weekend has safely delivered her baby, Western NSW local health district has confirmed.
Ashley Sullivan, from the NSW SES, said that a volunteer transported the woman across the middle of the river in a high-clearance vehicle to Forbes hospital.
Congratulations to Chitra & Mamata, who welcomed beautiful little Imaan yesterday at #Forbes Hospital🌟
— Western NSW LHD (@wnswlhd) November 5, 2022
Our wonderful Maternity Team helped safely deliver little Imaan after a big night for the new parents, including a transfer to hospital over floodwater thanks to the @NSWSES! pic.twitter.com/L5yGowtDMb
Transportation of essential workers continues to pose challenges, with nurses being ferried to Forbes hospital via SES boats.
The local council has also issued residents with a “boil water order” until further notice.
NSW SES volunteer/nurse, Annabelle combined her professional skills with her volunteering skills to transport nurses to the Forbes hospital through the floodwater in one of our boats. pic.twitter.com/aFEcUs3XqX
— NSW SES (@NSWSES) November 6, 2022
Duley said flooding was continuing along the Murrumbidgee River, with the area outside the town’s levee in north Wagga Wagga still seeing moderate flooding. However, return with caution notices have been issued.
Along the Barwon-Darling River, Duley said that the towns of Walgett, Collarenebri and Lightning Ridge make up a “triangle of communities that are completely isolated … like a flood island in the middle”.
The three towns are surrounded by flood waters and Duley said the SES was using aircraft to drop medical supplies and food, as well as fodder for livestock.
In Victoria, 39 warnings and advice messages were in place across the state, including the most recent evacuation warning on Sunday for Kenley within the rural city of Swan Hill.
A state control centre spokesperson said on Monday that flood waters were continuing to rise along the Murray River downstream of Wakool Junction, with “major flooding presently occurring at Kenley”.
The spokesperson said the Murray River at Swan Hill was likely to exceed the moderate flood level of 4.6 metres on Monday, and may exceed the major flood level of 4.7 metres on Friday.
The spokesperson said many preparations were under way, with the Murray River potentially reaching major flood levels comparable to 1975 by the end of the month.
Albury has reached moderate flood levels due to releases from the Hume Dam combined with Kiewa River flooding, with flooding also occurring at Corowa, Yarrawonga, and Tocumwal.
At Echuca, waters were likely to remain above major flood level until at least Tuesday, the spokesperson said, and major flooding could continue into next week along the Murray River to Moama.
Jemima Lewis is staying with in-laws in Echuca, as her house was outside the levee and has been “completely damaged” by three weeks of sitting in stagnant blackwater.
Lewis said only a few areas in the town were still inundated, with most of Echuca “back to normal”. She said this was the time of year that the seasonal tourism town usually receives its biggest influx of visitors, who she hopes will return.
The state control centre spokesperson said the levels of the Murray River at Torrumbarry Weir are expected to remain steady at major flood level through to mid November.
At the primary school at Koondrook, which was issued with an evacuation message on Friday, the spokesperson said there were concerns about the integrity of the levee.
