NSW: NSW bracing for continued rain
18 Feb 2009 2:30 AM
SYDNEY, Feb 18 AAP - NSW is bracing for still more rain after four days of heavy soaking, with a number of areas on flood alert and one town totally isolated.
The north coast centre of Bellingen, which has a population of about 2,700, was still cut off on Wednesday morning after its its main road, Waterfall Way, was cut by floodwater the day before.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a flash flood warning for the northern rivers, mid north coast and hunter regions - where falls of up to 100mm are expected overnight and into Wednesday morning.
A moderate to major flood warning is current for the Hastings River, with a minor to moderate warning in place for Coffs Harbour.
Moderate warnings are current for the Manning, Orara and Nambucca rivers and minor warnings remain in place for the Bellinger and Macleay rivers.
State Emergency Service crews are closely monitoring the situation.
"We're keeping an eye on a low pressure system near the Queensland border which is moving down through the northern rivers and to the mid north coast," she said.
"Bellingen is still isolated and we are keeping an eye on Kempsey."
Meanwhile, the NSW government declared Bourke, in the state's north-west, a natural disaster zone following torrential downpours over the weekend and on Monday.
Almost 200mm of rain fell on Bourke in a 15-hour period starting on Friday - about two-thirds of the drought-affected region's annual rainfall.
Bourke Shire Council general manager Geoff Wise said damage to public infrastructure could cost $6 million.
"The highest cost is to highways and roads," he said.
A number of roads across the state's northwest, including the Kidman Way from Bourke to Cobar, remain closed.
