NATURAL disaster declarations have been made in 17 local government areas across NSW as a result of the recent floods.
Of them, six are in the North West region: Gwydir, Inverell, Gunnedah, Moree, Narrabri and Tenterfield.
The natural disaster declaration means councils, business owners and residents will be able to access government funding to get back on their feet once the floodwaters subside.
More towns may be added to the list as the flooding pushes west.
Yesterday morning the Mehi River at Moree was at 7.76 metres and falling.
The SES said while moderate flooding continued, the river level was expected to fall to below minor flood level ? 5.5m ? later this afternoon.
Major rural flooding continued in the Gwydir Valley, downstream of Moree and Yarraman Bridge.
Yesterday morning the Gwydir River at Gravesend was still above minor flood level and had risen slightly overnight on Saturday, after light rain fell on Saturday morning.
The SES said the small amount of rainfall was expected to have no further effect on the downstream levels of flooding.
Experts predict floodwaters from NSW and Queensland could push as far west as Bourke by next month.
A spokesman for NSW Emergency Services Minister Mike Gallacher said the public cost of the latest floods had already reached $5 million.
He predicted yesterday that figure would increase as more of NSW became natural disaster declared.
On Saturday night the SES estimated about 10,000 people were stranded in Moree, 2300 in Wee Waa and more than 4000 in smaller surrounding areas.
Yesterday it was suggested towns, including Walgett and Brewarrina, would be the next to face significant isolation.
Member for Northern Tablelands Richard Torbay welcomed the news of the declarations.
"While parts of the state are facing isolation due to floods, the ongoing wet weather is causing further damage to roads, bridges and farm infrastructure which haven't yet recovered from damaging weather last year," Mr Torbay said.
"Ratepayers are now faced with massive bills to rectify this ongoing damage ... put simply, councils are not in a position to rectify it without substantial support from federal and state governments."
Assistance available through natural disaster declarations on an eligibility basis includes personal hardship and distress assistance; primary producer loans; primary producers transport subsidies; small business loans for individuals and, for councils, grants to meet the additional costs of emergency work to restore essential services. Affected sporting clubs that experience damage are also entitled to some assistance.
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