Fourth body found in floodwaters as tens of thousands left stranded
The body of a fourth person has been discovered as emergency services continue to battle record-breaking floods in NSW for the sixth straight day.
A man, believed to be in his 70s, was found after his car ran off the road at Nana Glen, north-west of Coffs Harbour, on May 23, police said.
On May 22, the body of a 60-year-old woman was pulled from her car while driving to Coffs Harbour.
The body of a man aged in his 30s was also discovered at Rosewood near Wauchope, while David Knowles, 63, from Moto, north east of Taree, was also found dead in his home.
A 49-year-old man who reportedly walked into floodwaters at Nymboida, about 40km south of Grafton, is still missing.
The 60-year-old woman, whose body was pulled from floodwaters on May 22, was told to "continue with caution" just half an hour before her four-wheel-drive was overcome in the deluge.
A police officer gave her his phone number after warning her not to enter floodwaters, but 30 minutes later, she called for help.
Travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour, the woman had taken a detour to avoid road closures on the Pacific Highway.
NSW Police Northern Commander David Waddell said the woman had spoken to a police officer just west of Dorrigo at about 7pm on May 21.
"They travelled in convoy. As they travelled towards Coffs Harbour, they reached some floodwaters at Coramba Road, which is near Wild Cattle Creek bridge," he told reporters in Newcastle.
"But he, driving the BMW, decided to go back."
The water she later drove into "was obviously faster flowing and deeper water", he said.
It was not until the next day that rescuers were able to find her body near Brooklana on the Lower Bobo Road, west of Coffs Harbour.
"We've located a woman in her vehicle, deceased," Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.
Her family had been notified, and the death was being investigated by Coffs Harbour detectives, while the police officer involved was receiving assistance.
"Obviously, the police officer who spoke to the woman is very traumatised and we're wrapping support services around him," he said.
"It's just a tragic circumstance."
Tributes have poured in for David Knowles, the first victim identified from the floods.
Mr Knowles had stayed at his property on North Moto Road near Taree to look after his cattle as the waters rose.
Mr Knowles's daughter said her father died a hero.
She said he had also been approached by an SES evacuation crew on May 21 but directed the crew to another family further upstream.
"He didn't want to leave his farm on a good day," she said. "We all couldn't be prouder of you Dad. We love you."
The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, wrote on X that Mr Knowles' death was "devastating".
"The thoughts of all Australians are with his loved ones and the community at this time," he wrote.
Emergency warnings advising people to evacuate or seek shelter remain in place in many locations from Bellingen in the north to Paterson in the south.
There were 153 flood warnings active in the affected Hunter and mid north coast regions on the morning of May 23 - 40 of those at emergency level.
More than 48,000 people are isolated due to floodwaters. Around 5700 households and businesses are without power.
A full list of warnings can be found on the SES website.
NSW SES State Duty Commander Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said while the rain will start to ease later today, the risk from flooding is far from over.
"We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
A priority for today will be commencing resupplying isolated communities, he said.
NSW SES has begun using helicopters to transport boats and equipment, with planning underway to commence bulk resupply.
Conditions across the mid north coast were expected to ease by May 23, with the focus of the rainfall shifting to parts of the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
Heavy rainfall is possible in parts of the Central Coast, including Newcastle and Gosford.
Residents in Newcastle and the Central Coast have been advised to stay indoors due to intense rainfall.
As the weather system moves south from the mid north coast, the SES is warning of the risk of flash flooding, storm-related incidents and minor flooding on the Colo, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers.
The Nepean Dam is currently spilling, and it is possible the Warragamba Dam may spill sometime Friday or Saturday.
"The real risk over the next 24 hours is flash flooding, with heavy rainfall totals between 60 and 100mm possible," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
"Roads may become cut quickly and without warning. We ask the community to remain vigilant and never drive through flooded areas."
Heavy rainfall is expected to extend further south to the Southern Tablelands and inland South Coast later on Friday. which may be affected include Bowral, Braidwood, Bega, Katoomba, Goulburn, Nerriga and Captains Flat.
Communities along the Warrego and Darling Rivers may experience minor flooding for weeks, the SES warned.
READ MORE: Young family rescued after pleading for help from rising floodwaters
Across the affected regions, 168 schools are closed across the state.
Since May 21 11 TAFE NSW campuses have also been closed, including Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Taree.
A total of 168 early childhood services are also shut across NSW.
Sixteen schools reopened on May 23. A full list of school closures can be found here.
The Albanese and Minns governments activated disaster recovery allowances for 16 local government areas.
This applies to Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
The federal government also confirmed disaster recovery allowance payments would be available to people affected by heavy rains in the council areas of Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog and MidCoast.
The financial support was available to workers who lost income, such as those who were unable to go to work or whose employer had to cease operating.
The Pacific Highway is closed in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree.
The Oxley Highway is closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview.
Giinagay Way is closed between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads.
Waterfall Way is closed between Bellingen and Raleigh, and between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora.
Failford Road is closed between The Lakes Way and the Pacific Highway at Failford.
South of Sydney, the Illawarra Highway is closed on Macquarie Pass.
A full list of road closures can be found at Live Traffic NSW.
Trains are not running between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line due to flooding on the tracks at Cockle Creek.
No trains are running on the Hunter Line due to flooding at Sandgate.
Limited replacement buses are running on both lines, however they are unable to access some stations due to flooding.
Dungog RSL Club
Club Gloucesters
Club Taree
Manning Point Bowling Club
Wingham RSL
Bulahdelah Golf Club
Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club
Kempsey Showground
Panthers Port Macquarie
Coffs Harbour C.ex
Urunga CEX
Nambucca RSL Club
Old Bar Bowling Club
Wauchope Showground
Coopernook Hall.
Bellingen Memorial Hall
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
BoM warnings
The body of a fourth person has been discovered as emergency services continue to battle record-breaking floods in NSW for the sixth straight day.
A man, believed to be in his 70s, was found after his car ran off the road at Nana Glen, north-west of Coffs Harbour, on May 23, police said.
On May 22, the body of a 60-year-old woman was pulled from her car while driving to Coffs Harbour.
The body of a man aged in his 30s was also discovered at Rosewood near Wauchope, while David Knowles, 63, from Moto, north east of Taree, was also found dead in his home.
A 49-year-old man who reportedly walked into floodwaters at Nymboida, about 40km south of Grafton, is still missing.
The 60-year-old woman, whose body was pulled from floodwaters on May 22, was told to "continue with caution" just half an hour before her four-wheel-drive was overcome in the deluge.
A police officer gave her his phone number after warning her not to enter floodwaters, but 30 minutes later, she called for help.
Travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour, the woman had taken a detour to avoid road closures on the Pacific Highway.
NSW Police Northern Commander David Waddell said the woman had spoken to a police officer just west of Dorrigo at about 7pm on May 21.
"They travelled in convoy. As they travelled towards Coffs Harbour, they reached some floodwaters at Coramba Road, which is near Wild Cattle Creek bridge," he told reporters in Newcastle.
"But he, driving the BMW, decided to go back."
The water she later drove into "was obviously faster flowing and deeper water", he said.
It was not until the next day that rescuers were able to find her body near Brooklana on the Lower Bobo Road, west of Coffs Harbour.
"We've located a woman in her vehicle, deceased," Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.
Her family had been notified, and the death was being investigated by Coffs Harbour detectives, while the police officer involved was receiving assistance.
"Obviously, the police officer who spoke to the woman is very traumatised and we're wrapping support services around him," he said.
"It's just a tragic circumstance."
Tributes have poured in for David Knowles, the first victim identified from the floods.
Mr Knowles had stayed at his property on North Moto Road near Taree to look after his cattle as the waters rose.
Mr Knowles's daughter said her father died a hero.
She said he had also been approached by an SES evacuation crew on May 21 but directed the crew to another family further upstream.
"He didn't want to leave his farm on a good day," she said. "We all couldn't be prouder of you Dad. We love you."
The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, wrote on X that Mr Knowles' death was "devastating".
"The thoughts of all Australians are with his loved ones and the community at this time," he wrote.
Emergency warnings advising people to evacuate or seek shelter remain in place in many locations from Bellingen in the north to Paterson in the south.
There were 153 flood warnings active in the affected Hunter and mid north coast regions on the morning of May 23 - 40 of those at emergency level.
More than 48,000 people are isolated due to floodwaters. Around 5700 households and businesses are without power.
A full list of warnings can be found on the SES website.
NSW SES State Duty Commander Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said while the rain will start to ease later today, the risk from flooding is far from over.
"We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
A priority for today will be commencing resupplying isolated communities, he said.
NSW SES has begun using helicopters to transport boats and equipment, with planning underway to commence bulk resupply.
Conditions across the mid north coast were expected to ease by May 23, with the focus of the rainfall shifting to parts of the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
Heavy rainfall is possible in parts of the Central Coast, including Newcastle and Gosford.
Residents in Newcastle and the Central Coast have been advised to stay indoors due to intense rainfall.
As the weather system moves south from the mid north coast, the SES is warning of the risk of flash flooding, storm-related incidents and minor flooding on the Colo, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers.
The Nepean Dam is currently spilling, and it is possible the Warragamba Dam may spill sometime Friday or Saturday.
"The real risk over the next 24 hours is flash flooding, with heavy rainfall totals between 60 and 100mm possible," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
"Roads may become cut quickly and without warning. We ask the community to remain vigilant and never drive through flooded areas."
Heavy rainfall is expected to extend further south to the Southern Tablelands and inland South Coast later on Friday. which may be affected include Bowral, Braidwood, Bega, Katoomba, Goulburn, Nerriga and Captains Flat.
Communities along the Warrego and Darling Rivers may experience minor flooding for weeks, the SES warned.
READ MORE: Young family rescued after pleading for help from rising floodwaters
Across the affected regions, 168 schools are closed across the state.
Since May 21 11 TAFE NSW campuses have also been closed, including Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Taree.
A total of 168 early childhood services are also shut across NSW.
Sixteen schools reopened on May 23. A full list of school closures can be found here.
The Albanese and Minns governments activated disaster recovery allowances for 16 local government areas.
This applies to Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
The federal government also confirmed disaster recovery allowance payments would be available to people affected by heavy rains in the council areas of Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog and MidCoast.
The financial support was available to workers who lost income, such as those who were unable to go to work or whose employer had to cease operating.
The Pacific Highway is closed in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree.
The Oxley Highway is closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview.
Giinagay Way is closed between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads.
Waterfall Way is closed between Bellingen and Raleigh, and between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora.
Failford Road is closed between The Lakes Way and the Pacific Highway at Failford.
South of Sydney, the Illawarra Highway is closed on Macquarie Pass.
A full list of road closures can be found at Live Traffic NSW.
Trains are not running between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line due to flooding on the tracks at Cockle Creek.
No trains are running on the Hunter Line due to flooding at Sandgate.
Limited replacement buses are running on both lines, however they are unable to access some stations due to flooding.
Dungog RSL Club
Club Gloucesters
Club Taree
Manning Point Bowling Club
Wingham RSL
Bulahdelah Golf Club
Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club
Kempsey Showground
Panthers Port Macquarie
Coffs Harbour C.ex
Urunga CEX
Nambucca RSL Club
Old Bar Bowling Club
Wauchope Showground
Coopernook Hall.
Bellingen Memorial Hall
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
BoM warnings
The body of a fourth person has been discovered as emergency services continue to battle record-breaking floods in NSW for the sixth straight day.
A man, believed to be in his 70s, was found after his car ran off the road at Nana Glen, north-west of Coffs Harbour, on May 23, police said.
On May 22, the body of a 60-year-old woman was pulled from her car while driving to Coffs Harbour.
The body of a man aged in his 30s was also discovered at Rosewood near Wauchope, while David Knowles, 63, from Moto, north east of Taree, was also found dead in his home.
A 49-year-old man who reportedly walked into floodwaters at Nymboida, about 40km south of Grafton, is still missing.
The 60-year-old woman, whose body was pulled from floodwaters on May 22, was told to "continue with caution" just half an hour before her four-wheel-drive was overcome in the deluge.
A police officer gave her his phone number after warning her not to enter floodwaters, but 30 minutes later, she called for help.
Travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour, the woman had taken a detour to avoid road closures on the Pacific Highway.
NSW Police Northern Commander David Waddell said the woman had spoken to a police officer just west of Dorrigo at about 7pm on May 21.
"They travelled in convoy. As they travelled towards Coffs Harbour, they reached some floodwaters at Coramba Road, which is near Wild Cattle Creek bridge," he told reporters in Newcastle.
"But he, driving the BMW, decided to go back."
The water she later drove into "was obviously faster flowing and deeper water", he said.
It was not until the next day that rescuers were able to find her body near Brooklana on the Lower Bobo Road, west of Coffs Harbour.
"We've located a woman in her vehicle, deceased," Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.
Her family had been notified, and the death was being investigated by Coffs Harbour detectives, while the police officer involved was receiving assistance.
"Obviously, the police officer who spoke to the woman is very traumatised and we're wrapping support services around him," he said.
"It's just a tragic circumstance."
Tributes have poured in for David Knowles, the first victim identified from the floods.
Mr Knowles had stayed at his property on North Moto Road near Taree to look after his cattle as the waters rose.
Mr Knowles's daughter said her father died a hero.
She said he had also been approached by an SES evacuation crew on May 21 but directed the crew to another family further upstream.
"He didn't want to leave his farm on a good day," she said. "We all couldn't be prouder of you Dad. We love you."
The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, wrote on X that Mr Knowles' death was "devastating".
"The thoughts of all Australians are with his loved ones and the community at this time," he wrote.
Emergency warnings advising people to evacuate or seek shelter remain in place in many locations from Bellingen in the north to Paterson in the south.
There were 153 flood warnings active in the affected Hunter and mid north coast regions on the morning of May 23 - 40 of those at emergency level.
More than 48,000 people are isolated due to floodwaters. Around 5700 households and businesses are without power.
A full list of warnings can be found on the SES website.
NSW SES State Duty Commander Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said while the rain will start to ease later today, the risk from flooding is far from over.
"We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
A priority for today will be commencing resupplying isolated communities, he said.
NSW SES has begun using helicopters to transport boats and equipment, with planning underway to commence bulk resupply.
Conditions across the mid north coast were expected to ease by May 23, with the focus of the rainfall shifting to parts of the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
Heavy rainfall is possible in parts of the Central Coast, including Newcastle and Gosford.
Residents in Newcastle and the Central Coast have been advised to stay indoors due to intense rainfall.
As the weather system moves south from the mid north coast, the SES is warning of the risk of flash flooding, storm-related incidents and minor flooding on the Colo, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers.
The Nepean Dam is currently spilling, and it is possible the Warragamba Dam may spill sometime Friday or Saturday.
"The real risk over the next 24 hours is flash flooding, with heavy rainfall totals between 60 and 100mm possible," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
"Roads may become cut quickly and without warning. We ask the community to remain vigilant and never drive through flooded areas."
Heavy rainfall is expected to extend further south to the Southern Tablelands and inland South Coast later on Friday. which may be affected include Bowral, Braidwood, Bega, Katoomba, Goulburn, Nerriga and Captains Flat.
Communities along the Warrego and Darling Rivers may experience minor flooding for weeks, the SES warned.
READ MORE: Young family rescued after pleading for help from rising floodwaters
Across the affected regions, 168 schools are closed across the state.
Since May 21 11 TAFE NSW campuses have also been closed, including Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Taree.
A total of 168 early childhood services are also shut across NSW.
Sixteen schools reopened on May 23. A full list of school closures can be found here.
The Albanese and Minns governments activated disaster recovery allowances for 16 local government areas.
This applies to Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
The federal government also confirmed disaster recovery allowance payments would be available to people affected by heavy rains in the council areas of Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog and MidCoast.
The financial support was available to workers who lost income, such as those who were unable to go to work or whose employer had to cease operating.
The Pacific Highway is closed in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree.
The Oxley Highway is closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview.
Giinagay Way is closed between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads.
Waterfall Way is closed between Bellingen and Raleigh, and between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora.
Failford Road is closed between The Lakes Way and the Pacific Highway at Failford.
South of Sydney, the Illawarra Highway is closed on Macquarie Pass.
A full list of road closures can be found at Live Traffic NSW.
Trains are not running between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line due to flooding on the tracks at Cockle Creek.
No trains are running on the Hunter Line due to flooding at Sandgate.
Limited replacement buses are running on both lines, however they are unable to access some stations due to flooding.
Dungog RSL Club
Club Gloucesters
Club Taree
Manning Point Bowling Club
Wingham RSL
Bulahdelah Golf Club
Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club
Kempsey Showground
Panthers Port Macquarie
Coffs Harbour C.ex
Urunga CEX
Nambucca RSL Club
Old Bar Bowling Club
Wauchope Showground
Coopernook Hall.
Bellingen Memorial Hall
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
BoM warnings
The body of a fourth person has been discovered as emergency services continue to battle record-breaking floods in NSW for the sixth straight day.
A man, believed to be in his 70s, was found after his car ran off the road at Nana Glen, north-west of Coffs Harbour, on May 23, police said.
On May 22, the body of a 60-year-old woman was pulled from her car while driving to Coffs Harbour.
The body of a man aged in his 30s was also discovered at Rosewood near Wauchope, while David Knowles, 63, from Moto, north east of Taree, was also found dead in his home.
A 49-year-old man who reportedly walked into floodwaters at Nymboida, about 40km south of Grafton, is still missing.
The 60-year-old woman, whose body was pulled from floodwaters on May 22, was told to "continue with caution" just half an hour before her four-wheel-drive was overcome in the deluge.
A police officer gave her his phone number after warning her not to enter floodwaters, but 30 minutes later, she called for help.
Travelling from Sydney to Coffs Harbour, the woman had taken a detour to avoid road closures on the Pacific Highway.
NSW Police Northern Commander David Waddell said the woman had spoken to a police officer just west of Dorrigo at about 7pm on May 21.
"They travelled in convoy. As they travelled towards Coffs Harbour, they reached some floodwaters at Coramba Road, which is near Wild Cattle Creek bridge," he told reporters in Newcastle.
"But he, driving the BMW, decided to go back."
The water she later drove into "was obviously faster flowing and deeper water", he said.
It was not until the next day that rescuers were able to find her body near Brooklana on the Lower Bobo Road, west of Coffs Harbour.
"We've located a woman in her vehicle, deceased," Assistant Commissioner Waddell said.
Her family had been notified, and the death was being investigated by Coffs Harbour detectives, while the police officer involved was receiving assistance.
"Obviously, the police officer who spoke to the woman is very traumatised and we're wrapping support services around him," he said.
"It's just a tragic circumstance."
Tributes have poured in for David Knowles, the first victim identified from the floods.
Mr Knowles had stayed at his property on North Moto Road near Taree to look after his cattle as the waters rose.
Mr Knowles's daughter said her father died a hero.
She said he had also been approached by an SES evacuation crew on May 21 but directed the crew to another family further upstream.
"He didn't want to leave his farm on a good day," she said. "We all couldn't be prouder of you Dad. We love you."
The Prime Minister, Anthony Albanese, wrote on X that Mr Knowles' death was "devastating".
"The thoughts of all Australians are with his loved ones and the community at this time," he wrote.
Emergency warnings advising people to evacuate or seek shelter remain in place in many locations from Bellingen in the north to Paterson in the south.
There were 153 flood warnings active in the affected Hunter and mid north coast regions on the morning of May 23 - 40 of those at emergency level.
More than 48,000 people are isolated due to floodwaters. Around 5700 households and businesses are without power.
A full list of warnings can be found on the SES website.
NSW SES State Duty Commander Assistant Commissioner Colin Malone said while the rain will start to ease later today, the risk from flooding is far from over.
"We may see renewed rises as water from earlier heavy falls makes its way downstream," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
A priority for today will be commencing resupplying isolated communities, he said.
NSW SES has begun using helicopters to transport boats and equipment, with planning underway to commence bulk resupply.
Conditions across the mid north coast were expected to ease by May 23, with the focus of the rainfall shifting to parts of the Southern Highlands, Blue Mountains and southern Hunter.
Heavy rainfall is possible in parts of the Central Coast, including Newcastle and Gosford.
Residents in Newcastle and the Central Coast have been advised to stay indoors due to intense rainfall.
As the weather system moves south from the mid north coast, the SES is warning of the risk of flash flooding, storm-related incidents and minor flooding on the Colo, Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers.
The Nepean Dam is currently spilling, and it is possible the Warragamba Dam may spill sometime Friday or Saturday.
"The real risk over the next 24 hours is flash flooding, with heavy rainfall totals between 60 and 100mm possible," Assistant Commissioner Malone said.
"Roads may become cut quickly and without warning. We ask the community to remain vigilant and never drive through flooded areas."
Heavy rainfall is expected to extend further south to the Southern Tablelands and inland South Coast later on Friday. which may be affected include Bowral, Braidwood, Bega, Katoomba, Goulburn, Nerriga and Captains Flat.
Communities along the Warrego and Darling Rivers may experience minor flooding for weeks, the SES warned.
READ MORE: Young family rescued after pleading for help from rising floodwaters
Across the affected regions, 168 schools are closed across the state.
Since May 21 11 TAFE NSW campuses have also been closed, including Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Port Macquarie and Taree.
A total of 168 early childhood services are also shut across NSW.
Sixteen schools reopened on May 23. A full list of school closures can be found here.
The Albanese and Minns governments activated disaster recovery allowances for 16 local government areas.
This applies to Bellingen, Central Coast, Cessnock, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Dungog, Kempsey, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, MidCoast, Nambucca, Newcastle, Port Macquarie, Port Stephens, Singleton and Upper Hunter.
The federal government also confirmed disaster recovery allowance payments would be available to people affected by heavy rains in the council areas of Kempsey, Port Macquarie, Dungog and MidCoast.
The financial support was available to workers who lost income, such as those who were unable to go to work or whose employer had to cease operating.
The Pacific Highway is closed in both directions between Coopernook and Purfleet, near Taree.
The Oxley Highway is closed between Thrumster and Wauchope, as well as at Rosewood, Long Flat and Mount Seaview.
Giinagay Way is closed between North Macksville and Nambucca Heads.
Waterfall Way is closed between Bellingen and Raleigh, and between Dorrigo Mountain and Thora.
Failford Road is closed between The Lakes Way and the Pacific Highway at Failford.
South of Sydney, the Illawarra Highway is closed on Macquarie Pass.
A full list of road closures can be found at Live Traffic NSW.
Trains are not running between Morisset and Newcastle Interchange on the Central Coast and Newcastle Line due to flooding on the tracks at Cockle Creek.
No trains are running on the Hunter Line due to flooding at Sandgate.
Limited replacement buses are running on both lines, however they are unable to access some stations due to flooding.
Dungog RSL Club
Club Gloucesters
Club Taree
Manning Point Bowling Club
Wingham RSL
Bulahdelah Golf Club
Tuncurry Beach Bowling Club
Kempsey Showground
Panthers Port Macquarie
Coffs Harbour C.ex
Urunga CEX
Nambucca RSL Club
Old Bar Bowling Club
Wauchope Showground
Coopernook Hall.
Bellingen Memorial Hall
SES 132 500
Triple zero 000
Service NSW 13 77 88
BoM warnings
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- Sky News AU
Convicted Bali bombmaker Umar Patek behind the deadly plot which killed 88 Australians launches cafe business
Convicted terrorist Umar Patek, who was the main bomb maker in the 2002 Bali bombings which killed more than 200 people, including 88 Australians, has launched a new café business, just a few hundred kilometres away from the devastating barbarism. Patek, whose real name is Hisyam bin Alizein, was released from prison in 2022 after serving 11 of a 20-year sentence, has claimed he has chosen 'another way' by launching his new coffee roasting business 'RAMU Coffee 1966 by Umar Patek', Ramu being a reversal of his own name. The former member of Indonesian Islamist group Jemaah Islamiyah said he had been known for something that 'hurt the world', but had now 'chosen a different path', as he plans to unveil his business on Tuesday in the Indonesian city of Surabaya. 'Now, I am brewing flavours and brewing peace,' he told South China Morning Post. Patek spoke to the outlet at the Hedon Estate café, which will stock his beans, and said before 'bitterness used to destroy', but now the 'bitterness (of coffee) heals'. 'Once, I concocted bombs, and now I concoct coffee,' Patek said. Patek told This Week in Asia he had told Indonesian media of his dream to build a business, with the owner of Hedon Estate reaching out and making it a reality. The café in Surabaya will be the base for his business launch, with Hedon Estate donating his equipment and the coffee beans to make his products. 'I thought it was so humanitarian of them to help me, particularly as the owner of the café is not Muslim. I hope that my new business will be a success and I will be able to be independent again,' he said. However, Sandra Thompson, the mother of 29-year-old Australian Clint Thompson, who was killed in the Bali bombings, questioned whether Patek had 'repented' for his crimes. 'Has this man repented? Does he still think what he did was morally right? Or has he just served a sentence then moved on?' Ms Thomson told the South China Morning Post. 'Two hundred and two lives plus an unborn baby and survivors still living with the effects of their injuries. Has he paid for that? Never, if he has no remorse.' Mr Clint was a promising rugby league player and president of the Coogee Dolphins squad when he and five other teammates were killed in the blast. Patek maintained he had apologised both publicly and privately. 'If I apologise, people say that I am pretending and being strategic… if I don't apologise people will say I am arrogant and don't care,' he said. 'This is not just about coffee. It is about change. It is about me choosing a new life.' Ms Thomspon said Patek was 'not important' in her life, but while she thought she could forgive, 'another one is allowed to live a normal life'. 'A life he took from all those families. My life has never been the same,' she said. Patek's impending café launch comes months after Sydney man, Erik de Haart, credited with saving lives in the immediate aftermath of the Bali bombings, died at the age of 67. Mr De Haart was with the Coogee Dolphins rugby league team in Kuta when the terrorists detonated the bombs. In 2023, two men convicted of conspiring in the Bali bombings, Mohammed Farik bin Amin and Mohammed Nazir bin Lep, were released from Guantanamo Bay following a plea deal in which they provided evidence against the alleged mastermind Hambali. Following his arrest, Patek, claimed he helped make the last 50 kilograms of the near one-tonne bomb which was placed in a van outside the Sari Club in Kuta. Patek was also convicted in connection to the 2000 Christmas Eve bombing at a church, which killed 18 people. He evaded capture for almost a decade after the Bali bombings, and moved between Pakistan and the Philippines, where he was affiliated with the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) militant group, before he was finally extradited in 2011 from Abbottabad, Pakistan, the same place Osama bin Laden was killed in a raid by US Navy SEALs.
The Advertiser
8 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Strip clubs to education hubs hacked in password grab
More than 2300 business websites, including dozens in Australia, have been compromised and used to steal consumers' information as part of a year-long, "highly orchestrated phishing campaign", a security firm warns. Almost 80 small and medium-sized Australian businesses have been hacked in the operation, with the websites targeted ranging from a children's education provider to three Queensland strip clubs. Australian online security firm CyberCX revealed details of the attack on Tuesday after alerting compromised businesses, and warned consumers to take care when following website instructions, including completing CAPTCHAs. The details come weeks after several superannuation firms were targeted in a co-ordinated online attack and less than a year after 12.9 million Australians had private information stolen from health provider MediSecure. In a paper called DarkEngine detailing the campaign, CyberCX said it discovered a group had compromised at least 2353 websites since June 2024, including 79 from Australia, 50 from the United Kingdom, and 34 from Canada. The online criminals targeted hundreds of websites using "search engine optimisation poisoning" to publish hacked versions of a commonly used website management tool, the report said. This allowed them to install malicious code on the websites, including fake CAPTCHA features ordinarily used as a security measure to identify website visitors. The effort and resources put into the phishing campaign suggested the criminals behind it were highly motivated, CyberCX intelligence and public policy director Katherine Mansted said, and would sell whatever credentials they could steal. "They're quite omnivorous - there are sex shops through to kids' education websites," she said. "What their objective is here is to compromise as many ordinary citizens' computers as possible for the purposes of financially motivated crime." Stolen credentials such as personal information, logins and passwords had become the leading cause of online attacks, Ms Mansted said, taking over from email phishing attempts. "What we're seeing is an ongoing professionalisation and industrialisation of the cybercrime ecosystem," Ms Mansted told AAP. "I'd love to say that by outing this particular campaign the harm is stopped but it's not, as this is just an example of what we're seeing more and more of." Individuals who might have had their details stolen in the Dark Engine campaign should change their passwords, employ a password manager, and use multi-factor authentication on accounts when possible. Website visitors should also carefully scrutinise CAPTCHA features that look unprofessional, appear in a pop-up window, or ask users to copy code into a computer's command prompt. Stolen passwords were also used to break into 10 AustralianSuper accounts in April in a theft that cost $750,000, National Cyber Security Co-ordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness confirmed in May. More than 2300 business websites, including dozens in Australia, have been compromised and used to steal consumers' information as part of a year-long, "highly orchestrated phishing campaign", a security firm warns. Almost 80 small and medium-sized Australian businesses have been hacked in the operation, with the websites targeted ranging from a children's education provider to three Queensland strip clubs. Australian online security firm CyberCX revealed details of the attack on Tuesday after alerting compromised businesses, and warned consumers to take care when following website instructions, including completing CAPTCHAs. The details come weeks after several superannuation firms were targeted in a co-ordinated online attack and less than a year after 12.9 million Australians had private information stolen from health provider MediSecure. In a paper called DarkEngine detailing the campaign, CyberCX said it discovered a group had compromised at least 2353 websites since June 2024, including 79 from Australia, 50 from the United Kingdom, and 34 from Canada. The online criminals targeted hundreds of websites using "search engine optimisation poisoning" to publish hacked versions of a commonly used website management tool, the report said. This allowed them to install malicious code on the websites, including fake CAPTCHA features ordinarily used as a security measure to identify website visitors. The effort and resources put into the phishing campaign suggested the criminals behind it were highly motivated, CyberCX intelligence and public policy director Katherine Mansted said, and would sell whatever credentials they could steal. "They're quite omnivorous - there are sex shops through to kids' education websites," she said. "What their objective is here is to compromise as many ordinary citizens' computers as possible for the purposes of financially motivated crime." Stolen credentials such as personal information, logins and passwords had become the leading cause of online attacks, Ms Mansted said, taking over from email phishing attempts. "What we're seeing is an ongoing professionalisation and industrialisation of the cybercrime ecosystem," Ms Mansted told AAP. "I'd love to say that by outing this particular campaign the harm is stopped but it's not, as this is just an example of what we're seeing more and more of." Individuals who might have had their details stolen in the Dark Engine campaign should change their passwords, employ a password manager, and use multi-factor authentication on accounts when possible. Website visitors should also carefully scrutinise CAPTCHA features that look unprofessional, appear in a pop-up window, or ask users to copy code into a computer's command prompt. Stolen passwords were also used to break into 10 AustralianSuper accounts in April in a theft that cost $750,000, National Cyber Security Co-ordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness confirmed in May. More than 2300 business websites, including dozens in Australia, have been compromised and used to steal consumers' information as part of a year-long, "highly orchestrated phishing campaign", a security firm warns. Almost 80 small and medium-sized Australian businesses have been hacked in the operation, with the websites targeted ranging from a children's education provider to three Queensland strip clubs. Australian online security firm CyberCX revealed details of the attack on Tuesday after alerting compromised businesses, and warned consumers to take care when following website instructions, including completing CAPTCHAs. The details come weeks after several superannuation firms were targeted in a co-ordinated online attack and less than a year after 12.9 million Australians had private information stolen from health provider MediSecure. In a paper called DarkEngine detailing the campaign, CyberCX said it discovered a group had compromised at least 2353 websites since June 2024, including 79 from Australia, 50 from the United Kingdom, and 34 from Canada. The online criminals targeted hundreds of websites using "search engine optimisation poisoning" to publish hacked versions of a commonly used website management tool, the report said. This allowed them to install malicious code on the websites, including fake CAPTCHA features ordinarily used as a security measure to identify website visitors. The effort and resources put into the phishing campaign suggested the criminals behind it were highly motivated, CyberCX intelligence and public policy director Katherine Mansted said, and would sell whatever credentials they could steal. "They're quite omnivorous - there are sex shops through to kids' education websites," she said. "What their objective is here is to compromise as many ordinary citizens' computers as possible for the purposes of financially motivated crime." Stolen credentials such as personal information, logins and passwords had become the leading cause of online attacks, Ms Mansted said, taking over from email phishing attempts. "What we're seeing is an ongoing professionalisation and industrialisation of the cybercrime ecosystem," Ms Mansted told AAP. "I'd love to say that by outing this particular campaign the harm is stopped but it's not, as this is just an example of what we're seeing more and more of." Individuals who might have had their details stolen in the Dark Engine campaign should change their passwords, employ a password manager, and use multi-factor authentication on accounts when possible. Website visitors should also carefully scrutinise CAPTCHA features that look unprofessional, appear in a pop-up window, or ask users to copy code into a computer's command prompt. Stolen passwords were also used to break into 10 AustralianSuper accounts in April in a theft that cost $750,000, National Cyber Security Co-ordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness confirmed in May. More than 2300 business websites, including dozens in Australia, have been compromised and used to steal consumers' information as part of a year-long, "highly orchestrated phishing campaign", a security firm warns. Almost 80 small and medium-sized Australian businesses have been hacked in the operation, with the websites targeted ranging from a children's education provider to three Queensland strip clubs. Australian online security firm CyberCX revealed details of the attack on Tuesday after alerting compromised businesses, and warned consumers to take care when following website instructions, including completing CAPTCHAs. The details come weeks after several superannuation firms were targeted in a co-ordinated online attack and less than a year after 12.9 million Australians had private information stolen from health provider MediSecure. In a paper called DarkEngine detailing the campaign, CyberCX said it discovered a group had compromised at least 2353 websites since June 2024, including 79 from Australia, 50 from the United Kingdom, and 34 from Canada. The online criminals targeted hundreds of websites using "search engine optimisation poisoning" to publish hacked versions of a commonly used website management tool, the report said. This allowed them to install malicious code on the websites, including fake CAPTCHA features ordinarily used as a security measure to identify website visitors. The effort and resources put into the phishing campaign suggested the criminals behind it were highly motivated, CyberCX intelligence and public policy director Katherine Mansted said, and would sell whatever credentials they could steal. "They're quite omnivorous - there are sex shops through to kids' education websites," she said. "What their objective is here is to compromise as many ordinary citizens' computers as possible for the purposes of financially motivated crime." Stolen credentials such as personal information, logins and passwords had become the leading cause of online attacks, Ms Mansted said, taking over from email phishing attempts. "What we're seeing is an ongoing professionalisation and industrialisation of the cybercrime ecosystem," Ms Mansted told AAP. "I'd love to say that by outing this particular campaign the harm is stopped but it's not, as this is just an example of what we're seeing more and more of." Individuals who might have had their details stolen in the Dark Engine campaign should change their passwords, employ a password manager, and use multi-factor authentication on accounts when possible. Website visitors should also carefully scrutinise CAPTCHA features that look unprofessional, appear in a pop-up window, or ask users to copy code into a computer's command prompt. Stolen passwords were also used to break into 10 AustralianSuper accounts in April in a theft that cost $750,000, National Cyber Security Co-ordinator Lieutenant General Michelle McGuinness confirmed in May.
