Up to 800 properties may be evacuated as major floods hit western NSW

Up to 800 properties may be evacuated around Forbes in the NSW Central West as parts of the region are inundated by floods.

Recent heavy rain has caused the Upper Lachlan River to swell, threatening regional towns, including Forbes and Cowra.

Wyangala Dam has been releasing up to 85,000 megalitres of water a day over the past few days. Credit:Nick Moir

NSW State Emergency Service Chief Superintendent Greg Swindells said there had been about 1500 requests for assistance across the state as a result of recent weather, and 29 flood rescues.

Around the Forbes area, 100 calls have been made in 24 hours, mainly relating to sandbags.

“The community out at Forbes are quite resilient,” he said on Monday afternoon. “They’ve been preparing for this with us and the local council since June.”

Wyangala Dam, upstream from Forbes, is at 103.4 per cent capacity and water authorities are releasing tens of thousands of megalitres in a controlled spill.

The Bureau of Meteorology is predicting a major flood level at Forbes from Tuesday, similar to the damaging September 2016 floods.

“We’re obviously concerned that the flood levels at Forbes may reach levels as high as 2016, and even possibly higher,” Justin Robinson, from the bureau’s national flood operations, said on Monday.

He said floodwaters were taking a “little bit longer” to get to Forbes than as per previous warnings.

“Even though the rainfall has stopped, the flood is still in motion,” he said.

Forbes residents are preparing to evacuate as floodwaters race downstream. Credit:Nick Moir

“Now we’re expecting the floodwaters to exceed that major flood level overnight [on] Tuesday and Wednesday. We might see that peak actually occur sometime during the day on Wednesday.”

The SES is advising Forbes residents to “prepare to evacuate” by Tuesday.

Chief Superintendent Swindells said that, pending guidance from the bureau, that evacuation warning could be updated to an evacuation order for up to 800 properties and issued as early as Monday afternoon or evening ahead of Wednesday peaks.

SES crews door-knocked those in at-risk properties on Sunday to warn them.

“If you are in Forbes, your best opportunity is to start preparing your home or business and make arrangements to move to safety before flooding starts affecting you,” the SES said.

“The situation is likely to change, and it can escalate quickly.”

Forbes Shire Council mayor Phyllis Miller said it was a positive sign that only 40,000 megalitres of water was being released from Wyangala Dam on Monday, down from 100,000 megalitres in recent days.

“We’re a flood town, we’re used to it,” she said.

“You prepare the very best you can and hope for the best.

“We’re hoping we don’t get any further rain that will cause us grief.”

On Monday afternoon, the flooding at Forbes was rated as “minor” with water levels at 9.2 metres. The bureau said this could reach a major level of 10.65m during Wednesday, similar to 2016.

The Lachlan River at Nanami is likely to peak near 12.4m on Tuesday morning with major flooding, slightly higher than the 2016 peak, as floodwaters from Cowra combine with those from the Belubula River.

The Forbes Olympic Pool and Apex caravan park have closed indefinitely until the threat has passed, the mayor said.

A walk-in evacuation centre has been established at the Presbyterian Church on Harold Street. Forbes Town Hall, Concourse and Council Chambers will house the Emergency Operations Centre during the flood emergency.

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