Sydney weather as it happened: Protests break out as Scott Morrison visits Lismore; strong wind gusts forecast for Sydney as rain eases

Meanwhile, Hyams Beach on the South Coast – the so-called “whitest beach in the world” – has turned a deep burgundy as red seaweed coats the sand.

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They’ve managed to salvage most of their stock, thanks to good Samaritans, but have lost about 300 kilograms of pet food.

“I am exhausted thinking about it,” he said.

But it’s the community spirit that’s kept him going. People have been turning up all day to purchase the meat and the brothers plan on hosting a community barbeque tomorrow.

“We have blessed community like this,” Dean said. “It’s the old school community - you only read about it, but it’s nice to experience it.

“We are not making money, we are just surviving and keeping them fed.”

Wilberforce local Michelle Lonsdale-Smith, with 19-month-old Isabel in tow, went down to visit the brothers earlier this morning to buy some eggs and mince.

“We decided to go down and get supplies and go down and help them out and support the community,” she said. “It’s a lovely community.”

Forced to close his business during the pandemic, having lost one of his dogs last week and breaking up with his partner, Mr Nicholson had a rough year.

In the search of a new chapter, he was finalising the sale of his home when the floodwaters hit.

The sale of the house is now up in the air, but Mr Nicholson is sure of one thing - he won’t be buying in another flood zone.

“It is what it is. Mother Nature can be cruel at times,” he said.

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“I urge everyone in our flood-affected communities to register for the clean-up services, financial assistance, insurance and legal support, business support and mental health services already being offered as part of our multi-agency response,” Ms Cooke said.

NSW Health is also providing mental health support to flood-affected communities, including by sending a team of mental health clinicians to the Northern Rivers from northern Sydney.

Mr Perrottet returned to northern NSW today and will spend the week in the region as the recovery continues. Earlier this week he vowed to personally ensure past mistakes in disaster zones, like Bega following the Black Summer bushfires, are not repeated.

Flood victims can also access assistance remotely via Service NSW or on 13 77 88.

Recovery centre locations:

• Ballina: Ballina Surf Club, Lighthouse Beach Parade, East Ballina;
• Casino: Casino Community and Cultural Centre, 35 Walker Street, Casino;
• Kyogle: Kyogle Memorial Institute, 199 Summerland Way, Kyogle;
• Lismore: V Block, Southern Cross University, Military Road, East Lismore;
• Mullumbimby: 55 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby; and
• Murwillumbah: Murwillumbah Civic Centre Auditorium, Tumbulgum Road, Murwillumbah.

Asked specifically about the impact of climate change, Mr Morrison says his government does recognise that.

“We are dealing with a different climate to the one we are dealing with before, I think is just an obvious fact [that] in Australia is getting harder to live in because of these disasters,” he said, pointing to the government’s $10 billion reinsurance pool for northern Australia and its commitment to a net zero emissions target by 2050.

But he said the flood mitigation works the area needed “hasn’t been done and has been frustrated over long period of time”.

Defence forces will help remove rubbish but Mr Morrison cautioned it was not a job they could do on their own.

He said the council estimated the job would take about a month and acknowledged doing so would be “a major lift for the “community”.

The Prime Minister said work has already begun on how to protect the Northern Rivers community in the longer term with flood mitigation.

“If further hydrology work is required we will support that with additional funding to get that completed,” he said, adding it would be “more than tens of millions”.

“I can give you an absolute commitment on behalf of the government, we will fund those works together with the state government and local government to make sure people can have confidence about rebuilding here, in the Northern Rivers.”