It’s a nervous wait for the people of Kempsey and surrounding areas with a major flood warning issued for the town.
The Macleay River was expected to peak at 6.9 metres around midday which would flood shops and businesses in Kempsey’s business district.
Around 1500 people have already been forced from homes and businesses in the area. There have also been evacuations from the smaller communities of Smithtown, Jerseyville, Kinchella and Gladstone.
Further south, the Pacific Highway is cut just outside Port Macquarie, while Hastings Drive, one of the main roads into Port Macquarie is under water.
The Pacific Highway is also cut at Clybucca.
The Oxley Highway is closed at Long Flat at O’Neils Creek, Waterfall Way remains closed at Dorrigo Mountain and Thunderbolts Way is still closed north of Gloucester.
Heavy rain is still forecast for parts of the Northern Rivers, Northern Tablelands and Hunter region, with floods warnings in place for 10 rivers along the north coast.
