Floods isolating towns in southern NSW...

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Towns in southern New South Wales have become isolated as floodwaters continue to rise following heavy rain in the area.
State Emergency Service spokesman Phil Campbell says major flooding is expected on the Hume Dam near Albury.
"That'll have significant rural flooding effects and farmers in that area have been asked to lift pumps and equipment to higher ground," he said.
Minor flood warnings have also been issued for the Gwydir River at Gravesend and the town of Mendooran on the Castlereagh River in the state's central west.
Jake Phillips from the weather bureau says a vigorous cold front is currently moving over NSW and damaging winds will gradually develop in the north-east of the state through the night.
"[We're] expecting those winds over the sea to remain very windy [Saturday] up towards gale strengths for most of the day," he said.
Paul Mullins from Tumut Council is readying for more flooding.
"We haven't seen waters like this in decades. At the moment the only way in and out of Tumut is via Talbingo and Cooma," he said.
People on low-lying properties along the Tumut River have also been advised to prepare for flooding and a caravan park at Tumut is being evacuated.
About 30 homes in Holbrook have been evacuated due to rising floodwaters.
Adelong Creek remains high, with the business district of Adelong still under water.
Meanwhile, two CountryLink trains have been evacuated in the state's south-west because of the flooding.
A RailCorp spokesman says a train on its way to Sydney had to stop at Albury while another stopped at Junee because water had inundated train tracks.
Passengers on both trains are staying the night in local accommodation.
Police are also urging people to delay their journeys overnight as all roads in south-western New South Wales are experiencing flooding.
The RTA is urging motorists to delay their journey tonight as numerous roads in south western New South Wales are experiencing flooding with closures on the Hume, Olympic, Sturt and Riverina highways.
Dam threatens residents
Meanwhile, a dam that was threatening to burst near Tumbarumba in southern New South Wales has failed, but authorities say it is not catastrophic.
The Mannus Dam had been leaking from a 10-metre wide and 10-metre deep breach in the wall after water started going over the spillway on Friday night.
An urgent evacuation order was issued to 98 properties downstream.
SES controller James McTavish says it has not been the disaster they feared.
"It would appear that at this stage the Mannus Dam has failed, but rather than a catastrophic failure it was controlled," he said.
"The water is now proceeding down Mannus Creek and will go into the Murray system and we're not expecting it to affect dam levels in the Murray River.
Acknowledgements: MSN News


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