NSW: Thousands left stranded by rising flood waters
By midnight on Tuesday the SES had rescued 60 people on the NSW mid-north coast, mostly from the Coffs Harbour region.01 Apr 2009 1:04 AM
SYDNEY, March 31 AAP - Torrential rain on the NSW mid-north coast has now left almost 3000 residents isolated and forced the evacuation of people from at least 100 properties in Coffs Harbour.
Bellinger River peaked at 8.6 metres at 8pm on Tuesday, leaving 1600 residents of Bellingen stranded.
A further 1000 residents upstream of Bellingen in the Darkwood and Kalang areas could be isolated for the next couple of days, an SES spokesman told AAP.
"Down stream at Newry Island we've evacuated about 100 properties from that area," he added.
Residents of caravan parks at both Bellingen and Repton were evacuated, while people at 12 properties in Macksville, on the Nambucca River, were also forced to leave their homes.
At 6.15pm (AEDT) on Tuesday, Coffs Creek at Coffs Harbour peaked at 5.14 metres - just below the record level it was during the November 1996 flood.
"A lot of those people were people trapped in homes or walking through flood water," the SES spokesman said.
A number of roads have been closed, including the Pacific Highway and Waterfall Way.
Drivers can check the RTA traffic information line on 131 700 or log on to www.rta.nsw.gov.au for the latest information.
Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan will visit the region on Wednesday.
