Flood update: More areas in NSW cleared for return by residents and business owners

Flood waters in New South Wales and Queensland continue to recede with more locations officially cleared for a cautious return.

Rubbish from homes and debris from recent flooding at Tweed Valley in Murwillumbah. Source: AAP

Those leading the clean-up in Lismore say it will take at least six months for the town to return to any semblance of normality with many older homes destined for the bulldozer.

Meanwhile, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) has raised fears for wildlife as a result of the recent floods including sea life such as turtles consuming increased volumes of plastic waste spilling out into the ocean.

WWF says carers and vets are reporting a 50 to 60 per cent increase in wildlife needing help in flood-affected areas.

Due to riverbank burrows being washed away, ground-dwelling animals such as echidnas are more frequent on roads and therefore at risk of being run down by vehicles, the WWF says.

SES New South Wales has advised that residents can return with caution to the South Windsor Sewage Treatment Plant, the western part of the Richmond Lowlands, parts of Pitt Town, parts of Ebenezer, parts of Freemans Reach, parts of Agnes Banks and parts of Angus.

In New South Wales, flood warnings remain in place for the Lower Hunter River, the Hawkesbury River, the Lachlan River, the Culgoa, Birrie, Bokhara and Narran Rivers, the Paron River, the Barwon River, lower Weir and lower Macintyre Rivers.  

In Queensland, flood warnings remain in place for the Daintree and Mossman Rivers, the Mulgrave River, the lower Condamine River and the Balonne River, the lower Weir and Macintyre Rivers, the Moonie River, the Paroo River, the Bulloo River, the upper Barcoo River and Eyre Creek.

Flood relief payments are available through the Australian Government and the National Recovery and Resilience Agency with up to $2000 per adult and $800 per dependent child in some flood-hit areas.

Search your location on the Queensland and New South Wales Floods map to see what financial support is available in your area.

With the flood clean-up well underway in two states, experts are reminding people of the dangers of mould.

Mould can cause a runny nose, itchy eyes and a sore throat as well as extreme fatigue, muscle and joint pain, inability to sleep and “brain fog”.

If the mould problem is large and widely spread, the advice is to call in specialist cleaners however for smaller problems, the public can follow these steps as part of their clean-up:

1. Remove and dispose of mould-affected carpet and/or soft furnishings such as sofas and mattresses.
2. Ventilate the area by opening windows and doors and switching on fans.
3. Mix one teaspoon of tea tree oil per one cup of water in a spray bottle and spray affected areas.

Some of these orders are still in place. An updated map with the Sydney suburbs still affected by evacuation orders is available here

Stay outside of the flood areas, with family, friends or at accommodation. If that’s not possible, evacuation centres are available.

Keep up to date with the latest forecast from the Bureau of Meteorology.

You can check road closures on Live Traffic NSW.

Follow the latest changes by checking the NSW State Emergency Service website.

If you are in a life-threatening emergency situation, call Triple Zero (000). Call the NSW SES on 132 500 if you have experienced damage from storms, wind, hail or a fallen tree and if a tree branch is threatening your property or a person’s safety.