The Latest Breaking News from Carlene York

Australia's weather forecaster warned on Saturday of potential heavy flooding in parts of New South Wales, as much of the country braces for unusually heavy rains in coming months due to a third straight La Nina weather event.

The weather event is characterised by above average rainfall for northern and eastern Australia.

"There is already wet soil, high rivers and full dams right across our state, and with more rain on the horizon comes the very real possibility of flooding."

Parts of western Sydney will be able to access disaster relief payments as NSW continues to recover from this year's spate of devastating flooding.

New flood rescue boats purchased in the wake of the devastating Lismore floods have not arrived in the flood-prone NSW town.

NSW SES Commissioner Carlene York defends the work of volunteers in the wake of the flood inquiry report, telling them they did a "fantastic job", as she calls for more funding.

"The car accident scenario was a joint agency response with NSW Ambulance and NSW Fire and Recue."

A new information campaign to help culturally diverse communities in Sydney's north-west deal with a flood crisis will help keep them safe, the NSW SES Commissioner says.

SES perform 252 flood rescues overnight and thousands urged to evacuate as threat of inundation remains in Hawkesbury and Nepean

Authorities urge people to adjust travel plans and avoid driving on Monday amid heavy rain and flooding in parts of NSW

Thousands of residents were ordered to evacuate southwest Sydney, Australia's biggest city, on Sunday with torrential rain and damaging winds pounding the east coast and floods expected to be worse than those that hit the region in the past year.