Australia Weather News

Some residents still isolated by floodwaters on the New South Wales far-north coast are asking why they were not given more warning about the wild weather.

About half a metre of rain fell in the Bungawalbyn area, south west of Ballina, over the weekend.

At one stage several hundred people were isolated, and today a helicopter delivered supplies to those running short of food and fuel.

Local Candy Lawrence said no-one knew what to expect.

"We're pretty easy going and fortunately the SES is really helpful, but gee it would be nice to have a little bit more warning so we didn't have to spend public money," she said.

"We can look after ourselves and we can take care of getting our supplies in the right amounts if we know it's coming.

"But if we don't then it's a drain on everybody, really."

State Emergency Service regional controller Jim McCormack said there was no way the extent of the flooding could have been predicted.

"We didn't get the normal warning time on this because it was a unique rain event," he said.

"Planning is difficult.

"We can have all our processes and policies in place but when it happens with the intensity that it did, no-one can be expected to do anything that can prevent it or cope with it in the short term.

"This event, it was still below the minor flood level at the Bungawalbyn Junction, yet a major flood comparable to 2009 out at Bungawalbyn and we weren't fully aware of the extent of that heavy rain."

Ms Lawrence said some of the data locals usually relied on was not available this time.

"Unfortunately they've taken away the rain gauge at Whiporie and they've taken away the river gauge at Myall Creek," she said.

"So the Bureau of Meteorology hasn't got the usual amount of information, which actually makes it really hard for us and the SES to know what's happening."

The ABC has contacted the Bureau of Meteorology for a response.