AAP
A massive clean-up is under way in northern NSW as floodwaters subside, but some communities remain cut off and townspeople and farmers are struggling without power and supplies.
State Emergency Service (SES) Clarence-Nambucca spokeswoman Sam Colwell said while the Clarence River had dropped from Tuesday's record levels, Yamba and Iluka at the river's mouth were likely to be isolated for at least two more days.
The Clarence-Nambucca SES has taken more than 600 calls for assistance in the past three days.
"We're still operational, keeping an eye out for people in trouble, or who didn't evacuate, and we've started supply drops for isolated rural areas," Ms Colwell said.
"We'll be doing drops of medication for people in Yamba and Iluka."
Ms Colwell said some people had chosen to stay at their homes despite SES evacuation warnings and orders.
Farmers across the region were assessing the damage and attending to stock.
Dairy farmers Kath and Gavin Robb were unable to milk their cows for nearly two days, after a power pole snapped outside their dairy on Sunday night.
After hearing Mrs Robb speak on radio on Tuesday morning, a former farmer offered the use of a generator which meant they could start milking at midday on Tuesday.
"The quality of the milk has been affected as the cows go into shutdown mode and the bacterial count goes sky high, meaning the cows will get mastitis," Mrs Robb said.
"It will be a month until we're back into any sort of normal situation.
Essential Energy had restored power to around 13,000 households and businesses in the region by Tuesday night, but about 7000 were still without power on Wednesday morning.
The company's acting regional manager Daniel Bylsma said helicopters would fly repair crews and equipment into inaccessible areas from the Clarence Valley to the Queensland border, to restore electricity as soon as possible.
"We had some wins overnight and today all our efforts will be focused on repairing the high-voltage network as quickly and safely as possible, which will get power back to the largest number of people," Mr Bylsma said.
About 750 people evacuated from Maclean on Tuesday night have been able to return after an "all clear" on Wednesday morning.
The Clarence River hit 3.1 metres near Maclean and is not expected to rise further, the Bureau of Meteorology said on Wednesday.
The river peaked at 8.08 metres in Grafton, upstream from Maclean, the highest level in recorded history.
In the NSW northwest, the State Emergency Service has issued a minor flood warning for Boggabilla, where the Macintyre River was expected to peak at 9.7 metres on Wednesday morning.
Major flooding is occurring in the Queensland town of Goondiwindi, about 9km upstream, with levels steady at 8.6 metres.
Minor flood warnings were also in place for the Hunter River at Singleton, with a peak expected about midday (AEDT).
Moderate flooding is expected at Maitland later on Wednesday night and minor flooding from the Wollombi Brook occurred at Bulga, also in the Hunter region.
Acting NSW Police Commissioner Nick Kaldas said police were being "very active" in flood-affected areas to prevent looting or stealing.
He said he was not aware of alleged thefts in Queensland, "but certainly that's not our experience in NSW".
Mr Kaldas told reporters in Sydney rescue operations and floods management had gone very well.
"It needs to be said that 3700 requests for assistance in NSW in relation to the flooding, 55 flood rescues and over 1500 people unfortunately under evacuation orders - I have to say it has gone very well," Mr Kaldas said.
"By any measure, the efforts of all the agencies, working very much hand in glove, have to be applauded on this occasion."
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