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Hundreds evacuated, coastlines eroded as wild weather moves south

Waves crash against a garden swimming pool that was washed away from a property on the beach front after heavy rain and storms at Collaroy

Waves crash against a garden swimming pool that was washed away from a property on the beach front after heavy rain and storms at Collaroy, Sydney. Source: AAP

Beachside homes and buildings have been smashed by huge waves and flood warnings remain in place for a number of NSW rivers, but the complex low that brought the torrential rain and strong winds has moved south and conditions have eased.

The NSW SES was called out to more than 9000 jobs over the weekend and performed 270 rescues in flooded areas.

"Many of them because people have driven into water. You don't know how deep the water is and how fast the water is flowing and often you don't know if the road is even there underneath the vehicle," SES Acting Commission Greg Newton told the Nine Network on Monday.

The SES was still to work through about 3000 of the 9000 call-outs.

"Our crews will be out there at first light this morning to get that clean-up going," Mr Newton said.

He said authorities were still concerned about a number of swollen rivers that had "significant amounts of water in them", particularly the Nepean and the Hawkesbury out of Sydney.

The storm has cleared Sydney but will smash the state's south coast for another day, dumping another 100mm on the already-soaked region, before moving south towards Tasmania.

The Nepean and Hawkesbury rivers in outer Sydney remain on flood watch.

The Manly ferry is expected to be replaced by buses on Monday morning, while trains from Granville to Cabramatta are out due to a landslip and between Bondi Junction and Martin Place.

Major flood warning at Tasmania's Meander River basin

A major flood warning has been issued for the Meander River Basic, and heavy rain continues to batter the state.

Tasmanian police say the Meander River is expected to peak at between 3.4 metres and 3.7m at Deloraine by Monday afternoon.Overnight, the SES said it had rescued several people in the state's north and northwest, after they became stranded while trying to drive through floodwaters as heavy rain continues to lash the state.

Roads are closed and the SES has warned residents in the Kimberley, Railton, Latrobe and Forth region they may experience flooding as the Mersey and Forth Rivers rise faster than anticipated.

Some residents in the Wynyard area were forced to move due to the rising water levels, while the Emu River at Wivenhoe has burst its banks and reportedly flooded a nearby industrial area.


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