UPDATED 3:00pm Flood recovery is in full swing for farmers in the Hunter. The Singleton Agriculture Coordination Centre is now in place to coordinate the emergency response.
Last week, wild weather lashed Sydney, the Hunter Valley and Illawarra with gale force winds and torrential rain flooding the Upper Hunter.
Maitland was hit with 430 millimetres in 48 hours and flash flooding in Dungog claimed the lives of three elderly people, while four houses were washed away.
NSW Premier Mike Baird appointed Retired Brigadier Darren Naumann the Regional Recovery Coordinator for the Hunter and Central Coast floods.
Brigadier Naumann will chair the Regional Recovery Committee of affected Councils and government agencies and oversee recovery centres in Dungog and Maitland to assist local communities.
He will provide a report after three months on the progress of the recovery.
Mr Baird also said he had put in place protections for emergency services volunteers involved in storm recovery operations to prevent employers for penalising them for giving up their time.
Local Land Services and the Department of Primary Industries have sent 30 staff to work on the ground at the new Singleton Centre.
The Singleton Centre will assist with moving stock out of floodwaters, fodder requests and reporting agricultural damage.
For non-emergency requests land owners can call the Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593 to speak with local staff.
Farmers with animal emergencies or requiring animal rescues should contact the NSW State Emergency Service (SES) on 132 500 immediately.
Hunter Local Land Services general manager Brett Miners said staff will prioritise requests to get farmers back on their feet as soon as possible.
"Transport carriers are available and on standby to assist.
"We are also working as part of the Dairy Response Group to provide transport and logistical support for dairy farmers, who have been doubly affected by both floodwaters and power outages affecting milking equipment.
"Dairy farmers who require generators should contact the SES.”
The Rural Assistance Authority is working in flood declared areas. 12 local council areas have been listed: Cessnock, Dungog, Gosford, Great Lakes, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle City, Pittwater, Port Stephens, Singleton, Warringah and Wyong.
Primary Industries Minsiter Niall Blair said the Rural Assistance Authority is assisting farmers and small businesses.
“Today, a helicopter is conducting sweeping assessments of affected areas, organising fodder drops and assisting those in areas which are still inaccessible by vehicle.
“I have also requested assistance from Marine Rescue to assist farmers who are accessible only by boat.”
“Local Land Services is also helping address concerns about the welfare of stock stranded and standing in water - veterinary assistance is available and emergency fodder is on hand to provide affected animals as soon as the flood water subsides,” Mr Blair said.
“At this stage, it is too early to obtain an accurate assessment of damage however we expect significant stock losses, infrastructure damage and crop and pasture losses.
