The expected peak of the Macquarie River in Warren has dropped well below the Bureau of Meteorology’s predictions, with a peak of 9.10 metres expected to approach the town later this afternoon. 

SES Western Region officer David Rankine said that while water has been inundating local properties on the river, the town has remained clear of any flood damage so far. 

“There’s quite a good levee system around the community that’s completely protected it. The levee tops out at nearly 11 metres, so there’s a significant amount of water that needs to come down which is far from what’s predicted,” Mr Rankine said. 

Warren Shire Council General Manager Gary Woodman said that the Macquarie River is currently at 9.08 metres, filled further by the Burrendong Dam’s excess water. 

“They’re releasing 45,000 megalitres per day to the Macquarie River for flood mitigation,” Mr Woodman said. 

While rainfall in Warren Town has remained low this week, locals across the Marthaguy area have reported up to 100 millimetres of rainfall in the past 24 hours. This combined with water from the storm in Gilgandra last night could cause a significant flow into the Marthaguy Creek in the coming days.

With little rain predicted for the town for the rest of the week, Mr Rankine is confident it will provide an opportunity for flood levels to recede across the district and that the end is in sight for flood-affected regions. 

“Downstream there is no major flooding so that water will move its way down the Macquarie River catchment and eventually will join up with the Castlereagh River near Brewarrina in a week in a half or two weeks’ time,” Mr Rankine said. 

“We can’t predict what will happen in the next couple of weeks but certainly what we’re seeing today in Warren is the expected peak and that will start to recede over the next few days into the weekend. 

Remaining flood water in the region is expected to travel further into the Macquarie Marshes. 

Mr Woodman warned that remaining flood waters in the region still present a danger, including two SES rescues of vehicles that were caught in water after disobeying road closure signs.

“There have been sever instances of children’s swimming in floodwaters. It is not safe to swim in any flooding water situation under any circumstances,” Mr Woodman said. 

All unsealed roads in the Warren Shire remain closed, as well as some major road closures that can be found on the council website.