More towns declared flood disaster zones

Two more towns in the north-west of New South Wales have been declared natural disaster zones following flooding over the past fortnight.

It brings the number of towns in the disaster zone to nine.

Emergency Services Minister Steve Whan says councils, residents and business owners in Gilgandra and Walgett affected by the floods will now be able to seek assistance from the State Government.

"That's based on estimates of damage to infrastructure in that area exceeding $1 million," he said.

"It's important that we can help the shires, particularly with their repairs to roads. A lot of unsealed roads in that region have suffered quite a lot of damage.

"All those areas now have access to assistance with infrastructure repairs for councils, and for primary producers with loans and fodder transport subsidies."

Meanwhile, floodwaters moving down the Namoi River have caused moderate flooding overnight in the Pilliga region, in the state's north-west.

A number of local roads and rural properties have been isolated at Bugilbone and Goandra.

The SES says flooding at Bugilbone is expected to last until early next week but floodwaters at Goandra could take up to a week to recede.

Floodwaters at Wee Waa are subsiding, although the SES says some rural properties there also remain isolated.

Map: Gilgandra 2827

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/01/08/2787881.htm