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Torrential rains continue to batter the New South Wales coast, causing immense damage and widespread evacuations in the Australian state.
The state government will consider making a natural disaster declaration as floods continue to threaten parts of the coast.
Overnight some 500 people have been evacuated from areas around Kyogle and South Murwillumbah where more than 300mm of rain fell in just three hours.
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flood warnings for the Tweed, Richmond, Wilsons, Bellinger, Orara, Bogan,Warrego and Paroo rivers.
Emergency Services Minister Nathan Rees says initial advice from SES crews in the region indicate that the flooding is going to be far worse than initially predicted.
He says it's possible up to three thousand people will have to be evacuated from the towns and many caravan parks.
About 500 people near Thora, in rugged valley country west of Coffs Harbour, were expected to be cut off from essential services after the Bellinger River reached the only road bridge in the area.
But fears that the Hobarts Bridge would be submerged have abated and the State Emergency Service (SES) has downgraded the threat.
Emergency crews remain vigilant on the north coast after storms dumped more than 150mm at Lismore and surrounding areas in the past 24 hours.
At Kyogle, rescuers have been unable to reach a family who found refuge in a machinery shed on their property this afternoon after the area flooded.
The family is not in danger and volunteers are waiting for waters to recede before attempting a rescue, SES spokesman Phil Campbell said.
People and holiday vans from a caravan park at Kyogle have been relocated closer to town, and three women and their two dogs were rescued from their property following a landslide.
Floodwaters on the Wilsons River are expected to rise in the town to 16 metres, a major level, by 10am tomorrow (AEDT) and may flood a number of businesses, Mr Campbell said.
At Mullumbimby, a number of people were rescued from three four-wheel drive vehicles after they drove into floodwaters.
The SES has responded to about 100 calls for assistance in the past 24 hours - mainly for leaking roofs.
Mr Campbell said the Wilson River was not expected to rise high enough to cause widespread damage at Lismore.
"We're watching the area around Lismore but we've only got the caravan park that we've had to relocate residents from," he said.
"We're not expecting any significant problems."
The Bureau of Meteorology has issued flash flooding and damaging surf warnings for the northern rivers region and mid-north coast.
The weather front is weakening as it moves south but residents can expect steady rain tonight and into tomorrow before showers ease in the afternoon.
Waves at least three metres high will batter the northern half of the NSW coast and produce conditions more severe than those which caused beach closures on New Year's Day.
Surf Life Saving Australia (SLSA) expects conditions to close many beaches from the Queensland border to Sydney tomorrow with waves exceeding three metres.
"We're expecting even stronger, more dangerous conditions than what caused beaches to close earlier in the week," SLSA spokesman for NSW Brett Moore told AAP.
- AAP
