Updated | Water levels on Woronora and Georges rivers fall below minor flood levels

The flood emergency on the Woronora and Georges rivers is over.

The SES advised on Friday morning that locations along both rivers had fallen below the minor flood levels.

While more heavy rain was forecast, the Woronora River at Woronora Bridge was expected to remain below the minor flood levels (1.50 metres), the statement said.

"The Woronora River at Woronora Bridge peaked at 1.18 metres around 02:30 pm Thursday and is currently at 0.46 metres and falling below the minor flood level."

Update - Thursday 3.30pm

The Woronora River broke its banks only slightly on Thursday before the water level began to drop.

Another challenge will come around midnight when the next high tide is due.

On Thursday morning, the SES directed residents of low lying parts of Woronora and Bonnet Bay to evacuate by 11.30am or risk being trapped by floodwaters.

It appeared most chose to stay in their homes.

George and Mikael Papadopoulos monitored the situation from the balcony of their riverside two-storey home in Liffey Place.

"The river peaked about 8am-9am and that was on the low tide," George said.

"It started falling after that.

"I think the water being released from the dam pushed the high tide away.

"An SES volunteer knocked on our door and said, 'keep a watch on it'.

"High tide tonight will be a bit higher, so it will be interesting to see what happens."

A small number of residents, most of whom were from Woronora Village Tourist Park, evacuated to Club Central Menai, from where accommodation was to be arranged if needed.

Former Sutherland Shire mayor Steve Simpson, who is a director of the club, was present at the time and came and talked to the evacuees, asking if there was anything further they needed.

Mr Simpson told them the club had served as an evacuation centre on several occasions since the 1997 bushfires which occurred only weeks after the new facility opened.

It's the third time in just over a month that the club has acted as an evacuation centre during flooding at Woronora.

The first instance was on March 2 when it was initially placed on standby by the Local Emergency Management Officer (LEMO) and then made an active evacuation centre with welfare officers from NSW Government as well as Police and health care workers also in attendance to set up to receive any evacuees.

The water level did not rise enough to cause any major evacuation, so no people were sent to the club.

On March 8, the club served the role again, due to forecast heavy weather.

The club was to act as an overflow centre if Cabra Vale Diggers was at capacity or if people were unable to reach that location with road closures.

Club central took 13 evacuees overnight from the Panania area with an additional 10 people, with two dogs and a cat, the following day.

In addition, SES teams have visited the club for meals.

Earlier - Thursday 10.30am

The SES has directed residents of low lying parts of Woronora and Bonnet Bay to evacuate by 11.30am or risk being trapped by floodwaters.

Affected properties on the western side of the river are in Manilla Place, Boomi Place, Yanko Close, Prices Circuit between Park Road and Menai Road, Woronora Village Tourist Park and Menai Road Woronora.

On the eastern side, the evacuation order affects Liffey Place, Thames Street and Prince Edward Park Road North of the bridge at the RSL.

The SES said once floodwater reached 1.7 metres at the Woronora Bridge, parts of the suburb would be isolated.

"If you remain in the area after 11:30am, you may be trapped without power, water and other essential services and it may be too dangerous to rescue you.

"Stay with family, friends or at accommodation outside of flood areas. If you are unable to do so, an evacuation centre has been established at Club Central Menai."

The evacuation order for Bonnet bay affects Johnson Close, Arthur Place and properties on Lower Washington Drive backing on to Johnson Close.

"Once floodwater reaches 2 metres at the Woronora Bridge, the area will be isolated," the statement said.

Earlier - Thursday 6am

Residents in low lying parts of Woronora and Bonnet Bay have been told to prepare to evacuate as river levels continue to rise after heavy rain overnight.

The SES said minor to moderate flooding was likely along the Woronora and Georges Rivers.

"A deepening coastal trough has been producing heavy rainfall over Sydney area and the Georges and Woronora catchments since 8pm Wednesday, and is forecast to continue through to Friday," the statement said.

"This rainfall coupled with saturated catchments conditions is causing river level rises on the upstream tributaries along the Georges and Woronora River catchments.

"Further heavy rainfall is forecast which may lead to possible higher rises."

The Woronora River at Woronora Bridge was forecast to reach the minor flood level (1.50m) around 6am Thursday on the high tide, with further rises possible.

The SES, at 5am, advised "residents and businesses within low lying parts of Woronora and Bonnet Bay to prepare to evacuate the following area in the next few hours".

Properties affected by the advice included Thorpe Road, Prince Edward Park Rd, Deepwater Estate, Manilla Place, Boomi Place, Yanko Close, Prices Circuit between Park Road and Menai Road, Arthur Place, Lower Washington Drive, Johnson Close, Woronora Village Tourist Park, Menai Road Woronora, Liffey Place, Thames Street.

Earlier - Wednesday PM

The SES has forecast minor to moderate flooding for the Cooks River Georges RIver and Woronora catchments for Thursday and Friday.

The situation is being actively monitored and updated flood watches and warnings will be issued where necessary over the coming days.

Heavy rainfall is developing over the central and southern NSW coast due to the combination of a low pressure trough and a moist easterly airstream.

This rainfall is expected to intensify over the Illawarra and parts of the South Coast and Southern Tablelands from Wednesday afternoon.

Heavy rainfall will also extend into Metropolitan Sydney and parts of the Central Tablelands and Hunter districts.

Minor to moderate flooding is possible for Central and Southern Coastal Rivers including the Hawkesbury and Nepean Rivers from Thursday into Friday.

Catchments in the flood watch areas are wet from recent rainfall.

A severe weather warning is current for heavy rainfall for the Metropolitan, Illawarra, South Coast and parts of Hunter, Central Tablelands and Southern Tablelands Forecast Districts.

Flooding is possible in the catchments listed from Thursday into Friday. Flood classes (minor, moderate, major) are only defined for catchments where the Bureau provides a flood warning service.

Catchments likely to be affected include:

. Upper Nepean River - Minor to Moderate flooding

. Hawkesbury and Lower Nepean Rivers - Minor to Moderate flooding

. Upper Coxs River - Local Flooding

. Colo River - Minor to Moderate flooding

. Macdonald River - Local Flooding

. Northern Sydney - Local Flooding

. Southern Sydney - Local Flooding

. Parramatta River - Local Flooding

. Cooks River - Minor Flooding

. Georges and Woronora River - Minor Flooding

People low-lying parts of these areas should prepare for flooding by securing or moving

objects outside their homes and taking measures to protect their homes against water damage.

Residents of areas expecting to be flooded should make plans to leave when advised to do

so. Ensure you take pets and valuables with you.

People in areas likely to be impacted by flooding should raise their assets above expected

flood heights.

Plan your route carefully to avoid flooded roads and allow extra travel time.

For emergency help in floods and storms, call the NSW State Emergency Service on 132 500.

In life threatening situations call triple zero (000) immediately.

For more information

. Listen to your local ABC radio station,

. Follow NSWSES on Facebook or at www.ses.nsw.gov.au

. Go to latest Weather and Warnings at www.bom.gov.au/nsw/

. Go to latest Rainfall and River heights at

http://www.bom.gov.au/nsw/flood/greatersydney.shtml

. Visit Road Closures at www.livetraffic.com.au or the LiveTraffic app or phone 131 701.

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