Nerves as flood waters rise and rise

The State Emergency Service warned the flood was set to peak at 13.8 metres either last night or this morning after already passing the 'major' level of 13 metres.

An evacuation order was issued to more than 150 properties in the areas of Combo, Glenridding, Dunolly, Whittingham and Scotts Flat and local schools were closed due to the weather risk.

An evacuation centre was established at Singleton Diggers at Singleton Heights.

There was also major flooding on the Wollombi Brook at Bulga and Wollombi, while a moderate flood warning was issued for the Hunter River at Maitland, with that level expected to peak today.

Dunolly's Tim Johnston spent Wednesday walking from his property across Dunolly Ford Bridge checking the water level.

The road had been closed to 'residents only' access.

Mr Johnston said he had two visits from the SES warning them the river was rising and urging them to pack an emergency bag, which he did.

He hadn't needed to evacuate by Wednesday afternoon, but took Tuesday and Wednesday off work "just in case".

He expected his yard would go under when the flood peaked, but was confident his home would be safe as it's on stilts.

"It came up pretty quick," he said. "We've had that much rain, the ground is not absorbing much at the moment. Every bit is going into the river.

"I've definitely been wary of the flood level.

"We only moved here in September, in November the water came up to 12.7 metres and we could see it from our house."

Scotts Flat farmer John Redgrove said he was concerned his corn crop, which had 12 months' worth of feed for his 780 cows, could be destroyed when the flood peaked.

"This level happened in 2007, we were inundated, but that was in winter so no corn was impacted," he said.

"This is the time of year we normally harvest, we're ready to harvest now so it's a concern."

However he was hopeful it wouldn't come to that.

"It's a worrying time but we've been through it all before, I've just got my fingers crossed it isn't too severe."

In town, brothers Trent and Tyson Ellison sandbagged their dad's business, Ranch House Australia, on John Street on Wednesday in case the town's levee bank, which is built to 14.87 metres, spilled.

"Everyone is a bit wary of it coming over," Trent said.

"This is as high as I've ever seen it."

Meanwhile, the village of Wollombi was cut off and the flood waters came close to inundating the local Wollombi Tavern.

"There's lots of road slippages," local resident Susan Leith-Miller said.

"The water over the roads is significant.

"There are lots of people who are surrounded by flood water and can't get out."