SES respond to 700 calls on NSW South Coast as evacuated residents return

Yass river crossing damage

A NSW council has called for the state to declare a natural disaster and assist local government with recovery, after a deluge of rain caused widespread flooding.

NSW SES responded to 1600 calls since Friday, 700 of which came from the South Coast as some areas were drenched with up to 300mm of rain.

As rivers swelled hundreds of residents in Moruya, Nowra and Sussex Inlet were evacuated on Sunday night.

SES Commissioner Carlene York said most call outs had been to storm and property damage but 40 flood rescues were performed.

She said services were on high alert for the fast flowing Shoalhaven River, which peaked at 9am Monday and began to fall with a moderate flood warning in place.

Commissoner York said the river had been littered with debris.

Moruya's city centre was being assessed on Monday and residents would be allowed to return home, Commissioner York said.

The Moruya River peaked lower than expected at 1am Monday.

Gundary Oval in #Moruyapic.twitter.com/nmL5YDcdp9

— Adriane Reardon (@adrianereardon) August 10, 2020

Queanbeyan-Palerang Mayor Tim Overall said there was still a number of road closures across the region and assessment of the damage would begin on Monday.

A bridge on Neringla Rd at the Araluen Creek collapsed on Monday morning, which left several residents trapped.

Cr Overall estimated the damage to cost "well over $250,000" and called on the NSW Government to declare a natural disaster which would trigger funding assistance from the state and federal governments.

"It's right across the area, from the Braidwood area down to Araluen, right through to Bungendore through to Queanbeyan," he said.

Cr Overall said some residents weren't heeding advice not to drive through flood water.

Yass river crossing at Shingle Hill Way.

"I understand from the SES, most of the rescue work they've had to undertake is assisting people who have entered flooded crossings and roadways in four-wheel-drive vehicles and have had to be rescued," he said.

"It's not being 100 per cent adhered to unfortunately and that's of great difficulty to the SES."

The Queanbeyan River at Queens Bridge was forecast to peak at close to six metres on Sunday night, with minor flooding.

The flood warning was cancelled by 5am Monday as the river dropped below flood levels.

Yass Valley Mayor Rowena Abbey described the weekend of wild weather as impressive and scary as water inundated the region.

The Riverbank Park playground was doused in water on Sunday and one house came close to being impacted, however Cr Abbey said most damage was to roadways.

Bitumen had been ripped away from a low level crossing of the Yass River at Shingle Hill Way.

Timber had been washed down the river and water covered the bridge.

It’s just a little bit wet in #Yass at the moment. I promise there is usually a road under there. pic.twitter.com/m5lFLJaD4R

— Elizabeth Veasey (@liz_veasey1) August 9, 2020

"Once the waters recede we will actually assess how much damage has been done," she said.

Yass residents were warned on Sunday night the dam levels could reach alert level, however that didn't come to pass as rain eased into Monday.

The worst of the weather for the Canberra region and NSW South Coast has passed as the low pressure trough moves offshore.

Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Alex Majchrowski said rain would likely return on Wednesday but the falls wouldn't be as extreme.

Canberra could expect up to 5mm on Wednesday with increasing showers over the weekend, he said.

"It's still going to be cloudy today and it's going to be a bit showery but nothing compared to what we've seen earlier," he said.

Severe weather was forecast for the Illawarra region with damaging winds and hazardous surf expected to hit six metres on Monday.