Hi guys,

Due to the lack of information on our area I thought I'd post a few photos and give an update on what's happening here at Lightning Ridge N.S.W. and the surrounding area. Mods please feel free to remove any info you think doesn't warrant/need support.  

I should advise anyone concerned to contact the SES as I can only offer information on what I'm hearing on the radio updates and what I see each day out on the flood waters. The SES have a constant aerial visual happening with helicopters up everyday.  

We were isolated yesterday -roads closed in all directions from town- but we won't actually be officially isolated until mid next week as I just heard via SES on a radio update. The volume of water we are receiving is at, or similar to that of the 1974 event. Many locals (my father included) have never seen so much water in places, particularly out at the Weetalibah Crossing (25kilometre's North of Lightning Ridge on the Castlereagh Highway). The first day it started flooding (18th January) it was already above the peak reached back in March 2010. It has risen significantly since then. The water is now half a kilometre wide across the highway out there and looks very impressive.
The water is filling, well topping up the Coocoran Lake rapidly and causing further flooding of the Castlereagh Highway about 20kilometres North of town. This happened in 1974 also.
We have pretty  significant flooding South of town as of yesterday also. The roads are now closed off towards Walgett as the floods are so widespread out there. I haven't even been able to get out to the Big Warrambool flood plain as the roads are already close at the Grawing/Cumborah turn-off situated 8kilometres South of the town on the Castlereagh Highway.      

We have flood waters encroaching on the Eastern edge of Lightning Ridge also. There has been a levee built around the Artesian Bore Baths at the end of Pandora Street as a precaution. Not sure if it will reach it but you never know. It should hold up pretty well on the off-chance it does go up that high.

I heard this morning that flooding is now taking place way out on the Rotten Plain road that leads into Grawin situated 40kilometres West of Lightning Ridge but I will have to confirm that. This will flood due to it being the Southern part of the Coocoran Lake basin.

The bulk of this floodwater came down from the Angledool area as they had a record flood level of 3.1mtrs (only got to 2.8mtrs in March 2010)
Angledool and Goodooga have been isolated for some time now and we are expected to be isolated here for some time also. I heard it could be into the weeks but that can always be revised back given road conditions.

I will be taking as many photos as I can as this event is getting to 1974 proportions.

Kindest regards.

Photos are in sequence starting on the 18th, up to 21st January.
1. Weetalibah Crossing just starting to flood on the 18th Jan.
2. SES launching the rescue boat (only an exercise I think) where we normally...

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