Assistant Commissioner of Police, Peter Gallagher, assured Dubbo residents that a “robust’’ emergency plan was in place should evacuations and rescues be required.

The Dubbo-based commissioner, one of the most senior ranking policemen in the state, explained yesterday how an emergency plan for the western region - which takes in 64.5 per cent of the state - would work.

“We are prepared,’’ he assured.

“Under the Emergency Services Act we have a robust structure for managing emergencies.

“What we have is a really severe situation developing in NSW, especially west of the Great Dividing Range. We have above-average rainfall, the ground is full, the dams and rivers are full.

“We are just handling each of these matters as they arise.’’

Assistant Commissioner Gallagher said the Local Emergency Operations Command had met about a dozen times over the current flood crisis but that, so far, he had not been called in to wear his “second hat’’ as overall District Commander.

“The SES is the combat agency and we as police support them in that role.’’

The police, SES, local council, DOCS, fire brigade, ambulance and other agencies all work together to solve each incident as it arises.

“What we may see - only may - is more flooding at some of the same locations or other locations,’’ he said, referring to the bands of rain in the 50 to 100mm category forecast for the state this week.

“But we are well prepared.’’

The region’s most senior policeman expressed his concern about the current situation in Dubbo as:

MORE businesses sandbagged their premises last night.

THE Mitchell Highway between Dubbo and Narromine remained closed in both directions.

65m at 3pm in Dubbo yesterday, after reading 9.61m at 8am.

THE Macquarie River rose to 13.8m at Narromine at 4.15pm, after recording a level of 13.63m at 7am yesterday.

BANKS offered help to struggling farms and businesses.

Assistant Commissioner Gallagher praised the effort of the SES during the current crisis, saying the work by local SES controller David Monk had been “sensational’’.

For instance, in Coonamble the SES choppered in a police crew to help with evacuations and then flew the police home again.

He conceded that the initial roadblocks and detours instituted by Dubbo City Council last Thursday night had been confusing, but that now he was happy with the system in place and that it was working.

“Yes, it can be a bottleneck, but at least you can get out of the city.’’

Asked how police would organise an evacuation with only one bridge remaining, Assistant Commissioner Gallagher said there were plans to “continually and gradually move people out.’’

Inspector Brett Smith added that, by its nature, the flood would give the local area command time to move people out.

He also warned people about the dangers of swimming or wading in the fast-flowing and debris-strewn Macquarie River. He indicated that residents should prepare for weeks of floods, road closures and detours as continuing rain bolsters a river swollen by daily spills from the Burrendong Dam. The dam itself was at 148 per cent capacity yesterday, with 120,000 megalitres being released daily over the spillway by State Water. The inflow into the dam was calculated at 80,000 megalitres.

Also yesterday, the SES warned Dubbo residents to be on guard for overland and flash-flooding.

State Emergency Services (SES) region controller David Monk said the water level will decline in the next 24 hours, but mid-week rain could cause the banks to break again later in the week.

“We also expect a lot of localised flooding,” he said. “And have warned property owners to move their stock before the mid-week rain hits.”

Mr Monk said the SES has been issuing warnings to Dubbo business owners about the rising river since last Wednesday, although they don’t expect water will reach Macquarie Street shop fronts.

“We’ve been door-knocking and mainly warned shopkeepers to relocate stock to higher ground,” he said.

The Macquarie River peaked at 12.85 metres near Baroona.

“State Water are expected to increase the output to 130,000 megalitres per day, which should still keep the river at its current rate of around 9 to 9.5 metres,” Mr Monk said.

“The idea is they’re trying to match the rate of fall in the Macquarie River with the dam release,” he said.

It usually takes two full days for water levels to significantly fall, but Mr Monk said every loss is being replenished by flows from the dam, meaning Dubbo could be flood-ridden for a few weeks.

The region controller could not tell the Daily Liberal how many Dubbo evacuations have taken place, but said “I’m sure there’s been several”.

Six evacuations took place in Narromine over the weekend, but all residents were returned to homes yesterday morning.

Nonetheless, Mr Monk said conditions won’t ease for a while and all residents in water surrounded areas should prepare for potential isolation.

“Make sure you have enough food, medication and basic supplies,” he said.

“If there are property owners out there who haven’t moved stock, they need to do it now, not rely on the SES to do it at the last minute,” he said.

The SES spokesman said he’s already received a few calls for assistance from farmers who have not properly organised their livestock.

“Early preparation is essential in these circumstances,” he said.