In the 17 hours from noon Monday (26th) until 7am Tuesday (27th) an average of 260mm of rain fell across the Nambucca Valley.

A total of 495mm was the highest recorded rainfall at Bowra Sugarloaf during a 48-hour period (until 4pm Tuesday).

Bowraville received 332mm in the 24 hours until 4pm Tuesday, Taylors Arm 140mm and Girralong 169mm.

Heavy rain since midnight (26th) caused higher than expected rises at Bowraville, cutting access into the town from Rodeo Drive.

Roads across the shire, including Scotts Head, were briefly cut overnight on Tuesday, before receding on Wednesday morning.

State Emergency Services (SES) volunteers were called out to rescue approximately 50 head of cattle stranded on high ground at the Bowraville racecourse, and horses trapped on the wrong side of the creek at North Arm on Tuesday morning.

SES personnel had planned to reach the stranded horses and move them to higher ground with assistance from the flood boat.

However, the job was deemed too risky and the horses were later enticed back on to safe ground with the help of other horses and an offer of feed.

Bowraville farmer Greg Tape said the waters rose very quickly and owners had to quickly move stock away from the river flats on Tuesday morning.

“We have been feeling the dry and wanted a bit of rain for the feed. Everything had started to brown off,”

he said.

“But no one expected the river to rise so quickly – it’s almost as big as the floods earlier in the year.”

SES controller Richard Townend said many houses had sustained water damage as a result of leaking roofs.

Floodwaters or storm had not damaged buildings, and there had been no evacuations or rescues, he said.

While moderate falls had continued throughout Tuesday, Mr Townend said rain had not been enough to concern Macksville residents.

A tree, which fell at Scotts Head on Monday morning, was cleared by Nambucca Council workers.

The Nambucca Valley has approximately 20 SES volunteers.

However, the Valley’s aging population made it increasingly difficult to attract more volunteers.

Mr Townend said volunteers were at about 60 per cent strength on Tuesday.

Volunteers from Coffs Harbour and Kempsey were brought in on Tuesday night to watch the river heights and make sure no banks were broken.

Mr Townend said most bridges were opened on Wednesday morning, but people driving on them were urged to use extreme caution, due to pot-holing and other obstacles that might have been washed onto the roads.

Council workers were busy on Lanes Bridge on Wednesday morning to clear debris and repair major potholes and problems with bridge approaches.

Staff will work to build an estimate of total damage costs over the coming days.