Coordinated recovery operation gets underway in the Macleay

The multi-agency response consists of the NSW Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue NSW and the Australian Defence Force (ADF).

More than 200 RFS firefighters arrived in Port Macquarie on Wednesday afternoon that have been deployed across the Mid North Coast to assist.

RFS Lower North Coast Superintendent Lachlann Ison said there has been four strike teams allocated to the Macleay.

"The river levels have now peaked and we will now shift to the recovery works over the next few days," he said.

"Four strike teams will be sent to the Macleay, with two of those teams assisting in Smithtown today helping residents in the clean-up."

"They will be helping with building impact assessments and identifying tasks to undertake in the recovery.

"They will also be in the Kempsey CBD removing sandbags and pumping water out of areas that are difficult to drain including carparks."

The RFS will also continue in the effort to ensure isolated residents have access to medical and food supplies over the coming days.

Fire and Rescue NSW have deployed over 250 firefighters to the area who will be on the ground from Nambucca Heads to Taree.

"They will assist in the recovery phase, including hosing out properties and assisting residents in removing debris," Fire and Rescue commissioner Paul Baxter said.

The ADF have also been sent to the area, with over 70 personnel from the 41^st Battalion on the ground across the Mid North Coast.

"In the Macleay we will be helping council fill in pot holes, remove rubbish in Kempsey as well as inspect local school grounds for any flood material," Warrant officer class two from the 41^st Battalion Mark Mather said.

"We will also be assisting in feeding livestock east of Kempsey in the Smithtown area."

The multi-agency clean-up effort will be conducted across the Macleay over the coming days.

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