Four people dead, one missing in NSW floods as transport warnings revealed for Vivid Sydney opening night

7NEWS

23-05-2025

Deadly flooding continuing across NSW will also affect transport to Vivid Sydney on Friday.
Opening night of the annual festival will go ahead despite the severe weather, but warnings have been issued for those in the state still considering travel.
While weather conditions are improving in some areas, flooding is still expected to affect other parts of the state into the weekend, with the southbound trough set to deliver even more hairy weather to the south coast.
Four people have already died in the floods, and another person is still missing.
A total of 6383 incidents have required help from the NSW SES since the floods began, and 728 rescue missions have been launched, NSW NSES told 7NEWS.com.au.
In the northern areas alone, including the Hunter region and the Mid North Coast and Nambucca Heads, there have already been 1110 incidents, with 5780 in the Metro area which includes the Hawkesbury.
In the last 24 hours, there have been 1887 incidents and 168 rescues.
Travel warning ahead of Vivid Sydney opening
Despite the weather, large crowds are expected in Sydney on Friday night, for the first night of Vivid Sydney
But Transport for NSW Co-ordinator General Howard Collins said: 'I'd ask people to think about the fact that Vivid does go for three weeks.'
'The weather has come down towards Sydney, and that has had an impact on both our roads and our rail network.'
Collins said that while catching the first night of the festival is a great opportunity for Sydney locals, using unimpacted light rail and bus services, several rail services are still affected — he urged those travelling from outer-city areas to consider their plans.
'Services late into the evening may be disrupted because of the previous and certainly ongoing weather issues ... do think about that,' he said.
'Please stay safe, do not travel in flood affected areas ... if you don't need need to travel this afternoon, don't.'
Because road closures and parking restrictions are in place around all the festival precincts, Transport for NSW has urged motorists to remember that 'the city is no place for cars during Vivid Sydney'.
The warning extends beyond those travelling for the festival.
'Floodwater is extremely dangerous, especially for drivers. If the road is flooded, forget it,' it said.
Collins described the weather conditions as 'very dynamic and changing' and said that 'just because you've had a glance at the internet and then set out in your car, the situation may change'.
Some also noted that some road ferries are are closing, including Sackville.
He urged drivers to check the latest Live Traffic updates, and public transport users to check the latest information from Transport for NSW.
Airport line affected
Flooding stopped services on the T8 Airport and South line, the Central Coast & Newcastle Lines.
Services are also impacted by the weather on the T2 Leppington and the T3 Liverpool and Inner West Line, the T4 Eastern Suburbs & Illawarra Lines, the Hunter Line, the Southern Highlands Line and South Coast Lines.
On the T8 line, Sydney Trains chief executive Matt Longland said: 'We've got flooding in the Bexley North area, we've got tracks underwater. The good news is that the water is currently receding.'
The T8 trains are now back running but with limited and slower services.
On the Central Coast & Newcastle Lines, 'we've got flooding through the area around Cockle Creek', and a 'number of minor landslips in the Cardiff areas. There has also been a 'substantial landslip' between Kotara and Cardiff, Longland said.
'It's likely that the Newcastle Line will be affected into the near future, certainly throughout the remainder of today.'
Sandgate has flooded on the Hunter Line, and nine replacement buses are running between Maitland, Dungog and Scone.
Trains between Picton and Moss Vale have also stopped on the Southern Highlands Line due to flooding, and shuttle trains are running between Campbelltown and Picton.
The flow-on delays and the slower speed of services still in operation mean that huge wait times are being experienced by travellers on the network's active lines.
'Please take extra time when travelling, avoid rushing for services,' Longland said.
Flood warnings still in action
Emergency warnings urging people to evacuate their homes, or to seek shelter, still remain for people in many locations across the state.
On the Mid North Coast, warnings are in place from Bellingen in the north to Paterson in the south.
For the Central Coast and Newcastle flood warnings are in place at Wollombi, Bulga, Raymond Terrace, Dora Creek, Yarramalong and Dooralong, Chittaway Point and Tuggerah Lake. Rainfall is expected to ease on Saturday morning.
For the Sydney, Metro and Blue Mountains areas, there is still a real risk of flash flooding in the next 24 hours, with heavy rainfall totals between 60 and 100mm possible.
Warnings are in place for Colo, North Richmond and surrounds, Milperra and surrounds, Liverpool, and Tempe Bridge.
For the Illawarra, South Coast, Southern Tablelands, and Snowy Mountains, heavy rainfall is expected to continue throughout Friday.
Bowral, Braidwood, Bega, Katoomba, Goulburn, Nerriga and Captains Flat could all be affected.
And in Western NSW, minor flooding is expected to continue for several weeks.