FARMERS across the state are already watching rising floodwaters with trepidation, but with more rain on its way, some areas are facing the worst flooding they have seen in decades.
Many farmers have already seen extensive damage and loss to crops across NSW, including chickpeas, canola and wheat, but in areas such as Forbes, there are grave fears for livestock as rivers continue to break their banks and inundate grazing land.
Adrian Knobel, incident controller for the Central West Local Land Services (LLS) control centre at Dubbo, said the LLS had conducted more than a million hectares of aerial surveillance of flooded areas across the region.
He said large areas of inundated crops and farming land had been discovered during the surveillance, which also assisted with fodder drops to stranded livestock.
“People are also still confirming what they have actually lost,” he said.
He urged people to continue to report damage and to request assistance by calling 1300 795 299.
“I want to thank the farmers for reporting their losses and requesting help. Their cooperation helps us to help them,” he said.
NSW Farmers has reported on Tuesday evening that 50 goats were confirmed killed by flood waters, while 400 were missing or at risk, 15 sheep were killed with 1750 missing or at risk, and 200 cattle were missing or at risk.
NSW Premier Mike Baird visited the flood-ravaged town earlier this week, and promised funding assistance.
In the town itself, many streets and roads are flooded and closed to traffic.
Some residents have been evacuated and sandbagging has taken place to protect homes and businesses.
Disaster assistance has also been announced for other local government areas, including Bathurst, Bland, Blayney, Cabonne, Coonamble, Cootamundra-Gundagai, Cowra, Gilgandra, Hilltops, Lachlan, Mid-Western, Narromine, Orange, Parkes, Temora, Walgett, Warren, Warrumbungle, Western Plains and Yass Valley.
Retired NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Dave Owens has been appointed as the regional recovery coordinator to oversee the clean-up and recovery effort.
And with more rain predicted, with the Forbes area set to receive up to 40 milimetres of rain over the coming days, Mr Knobel said farmers in low lying areas, and particularly those west of Forbes towards Condobolin, where flood waters are heading, to prepare now.
“Move your stock to higher ground now,” he said.
