Torrential rain cuts off NSW towns

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Lavenders Bridge, which runs through Bellingen, is submerged by water, top.
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Communities from Tweed Heads to the Hunter Valley have been put on flood alert as two weather systems threaten flash floods over the next 24 hours. An east coast low pressure system has already dumped up to 400 millimetres of rain over the Bellinger and Nambucca River catchments, completely isolating the towns of Bellingen and Thora and forcing the evacuation of about 30 people.

...Bureau hydrologist Justin Robinson said a flood watch had been issued for coastal areas from the Queensland border to the Hunter. "People living and working along rivers and streams must monitor the latest weather forecasts and warnings," Mr Robinson said. "It was 1.5 metres below the bridge and now you can't see the bridge at all ... it must have come up two metres or more just overnight," Mr Purcell said.

The bridge is north Bellingen residents' only connection with the main part of town. "Northside people are really cut off because there's only one shop here and my children can't go to school," Mr Purcell said.

Robert Brunnekreef, the owner of the Old Butter Factory Cafe in Bellingen, stood with 10 other people to watch as water came within centimetres of flooding his business and nine others. The river rose quickly. Men worked with a master key to elevate the stock in each store. Then, without reason, the waters stopped.

More: http://www.smh.com.au/national/torrential-rain-cuts-off-nsw-towns-20090217-89ke.html?page=-1