Wagga Wagga avoids major flooding

7 Mar 2012, 6:02 am   -   Source: AAP

Thousands of Wagga Wagga residents will return to their homes once the SES declares the area all clear, as towns downstream brace for floods.

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Thousands of Wagga Wagga homes and businesses are safe from the threat of a rising Murrumbidgee River, as NSW State Emergency Services (SES) prepare for the floodwaters' next victims - towns downstream.

Water levels of the Murrumbidgee River peaked at 10.56 metres at 4pm (AEDT) on Tuesday and began falling.

The peak levels were just below those of the 1974 floods.

The Bureau of Meteorology initially predicted the peak would reach 10.90 metres.

About 9000 residents were evacuated as the rising levels threatened to flood the city, with Premier Barry O'Farrell declaring the area a state of emergency on Tuesday.

NSW SES said central Wagga Wagga was not under any immediate threat of the river breaching its levee on Tuesday night, but residents would not be able to return home until at least Wednesday when the SES had declared the area all clear.

"It is a matter of safety at the moment," Rolf Poole from NSW SES told AAP.

"We're not going to allow people back into Wagga Wagga at this stage."

Prime Minister Julia Gillard will visit the flood-ravaged city on Wednesday to survey the damage firsthand.

More than 650 residents in areas surrounding Wagga Wagga were allowed to return to their homes on Tuesday, as the SES declared the areas of Lockhart, The Rock and Uranquinty "all clear".

The SES says the focus is now turning to the next towns to be hit by the floodwaters.

Floods are expected to hit Forbes on Thursday with water levels predicted to peak at 10.65 metres, dividing the town in three.

Narrandera, south of Griffith, will also be inundated on Thursday, with levels expected to reach 8.8 metres.

"Those communities also need to continue their preparation," Mr Poole said.

On Tuesday, Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher had declared nine NSW local government areas natural disasters.

The declaration allows residents in the areas access to additional flood recovery assistance.

Young, Upper Lachlan, Boorowa, Weddin, Coolamon, Corowa, Gundagai, Snowy River and Cooma-Monaro Councils are on the natural disaster declarations list, which is expected to increase.

"We are also expecting to declare more local government areas by the end of the day," Mr Gallacher said in a statement.

Across the state about 15,000 people have been ordered from their homes because of flooding, predominantly in the Riverina area, Griffith and Wagga Wagga.

The bureau has issued a severe weather warning for the Sydney metropolitan, South Coast, Illawarra and Hunter regions for Wednesday afternoon and evening.

It forecasts heavy rain, with possible thunder, that may lead to flash flooding in those areas.

NSW Floods

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