People uprooted from their homes just weeks ago by catastrophic floods are being forced to evacuate again as flooding returns to northern NSW.
In flood-hit Lismore, the Wilsons River rose several metres on Tuesday and is expected to reach a major flood level.
The Bureau of Meteorology warns the river could reach 10.6 metres.
People have been told to leave central Lismore by 4pm on Tuesday, with floodwaters expected to again flow over the town’s levee.
The rains have dredged up a sense of finality for restaurateur Marijonas Vilkelis, but he is pushing on.
“You wonder whether this is the end of it,” he told AAP.
Mr Vilkelis is staying with his daughter in her Goonellabah home up the hill from the devastated town.
He said his vegetarian restaurant, a mainstay of Lismore’s CBD for three decades, had been “completely gutted” by the floods in February.
Mr Vilkelis was preparing to reopen, but crates full of essential equipment had been looted.
He has spent the last few weeks cleaning it up and an online fundraiser has been set up with more than $13,000 donated so far.
“I’ve recovered before. I’m going to do it again and I’ll keep on doing it until I find a good reason not to,” he said.
Flood Recovery Minister Steph Cooke told parliament on Tuesday the SES had positioned resources including aircraft in the region, in anticipation of flooding.
About 4000 defence and 1000 emergency services personnel remain in the region.
Some 6600 people have also been ordered to leave in parts of Tumbulgum, Mullumbimby, Billinudgel, North Lismore, South Lismore, Coraki and Kyogle.
A further 9100 people have also been issued evacuation warnings for Condong, South Murwillumbah, East Lismore and Girards Hills.
The SES has conducted 14 flood rescues and received 462 calls for help in the past 24 hours.
Vision captured by SES shows the mobilisation of ADF personnel, strewn rubbish in Lismore’s CBD from the previous floods and debris in muddy water.
Debra Matheson, manager at the BaptistCare Mid Richmond aged care facility in Coraki, is bracing for the worst.
“People have gone into panic mode again. With the river expected to peak at 10pm, it’s like PTSD all over again just when they’re starting to get their head straight,” she told AAP.
Many of her staff from Lismore, Casino and beyond have heeded calls for evacuation and have made the aged care home their base over the coming days.
Robin Smith, a chef from Evans Head who has worked at the home for the last year, said she did not wait for evacuation orders and has been sleeping there for several nights.
“We can be stuck out here with no deliveries for days,” she said.
Her Lismore restaurant was shuttered due to COVID-19, but Ms Smith isn’t letting the imminent return of floods prevent her from preparing meals.
“You just get in and do it,” she said.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said it has been all hands on deck as the rain and flood threat returned overnight, and the response to evacuation orders on Monday was more organised than in February.
The ruined contents of flooded homes still line Lismore streets, she said.
“People’s lives are out on the footpaths … it’s going to be everywhere,” Ms Saffin said.
“This really was a horrific event … and it requires a very different response from government.”
Ms Saffin told reporters she wants a “reconstruction commission” that provides a single point of contact so flood victims are not left dealing with multiple government agencies.
Rain is expected to continue on the NSW east coast for much of the week.
AAP
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