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The flooding in Moree is the worst in 35 years.
More than 17,000 people remain isolated across New South Wales as towns downstream from flooded areas in the state's north-west brace themselves for floodwater headed their way.

There is now major flooding at Gunnedah, where the Namoi River is more than eight metres high and rising.

Floodwaters have peaked at Moree and Wee Waa, but more than 2,000 people have spent another night away from their homes.

Thousands of people remain cut off across the state's north, especially around Gunnedah and Wee Waa.

Authorities are now warning that flood peaks are moving downstream towards towns like Mungindi and Walgett.

Several homes and rural properties in Gunnedah have been inundated.

David Webber from the State Emergency Service says residents downstream of the floodwaters are being asked to prepare in advance.

"Over the next two to three weeks we'll be concentrating downstream of areas of Moree and Wee Waa, and as I said there's lots of rural properties within those areas," he said.

"And then further downstream our focus will move towards areas like Mungindi, Walgett, Brewarrina and Bourke; there's still quite a lot of isolations out there in those western areas now."

"Now we're asking those properties to prepare now, to stock up, to lift pumps."

Record floods

The floods represent the worst in 35 years for Moree, with Premier Barry O'Farrell yesterday describing the scenes as "extraordinary".

Phil Campbell from the SES says the Mehi River peaked at just under 11 metres at Moree overnight, but the black soil plains around the area mean floodwaters will be slow to recede.

"So it will be several days at the earliest before those people will be able to return home," he said.

[It's] a similar situation in Wee Wa where the floodwaters there are likely to take several days to drain away because it's very flat out there as well.

"And in that community of around 2,300 are likely to be isolated until at least the middle of next week."

About 300 homes in Moree have been inundated with floodwater.

Debbie Williams from the Moree Chamber of Commerce says residents are frustrated.

"Nobody is being covered for floods and nobody is being insured," she said.

But James McTavish from the SES says residents remain positive despite their concerns for their properties.

"People are, despite the impact in the area, they're actually quite upbeat," he said.

"They are obviously very concerned about their properties. They're very concerned about their community but they're remaining very positive in some very trying circumstances."