Lismore residents on NSW's North Coast have woken up to stagnant floodwaters filled with floating debris as they begin to clean up the city from the second flood in a month.
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Disability support worker Scott Brizzle showed the floodwaters were quite still on the morning of Thursday, March 31 as the Wilson's River flood level recedes.
"A lot of debris and rubbish have washed up. This is unbelievable. I actually woke up this morning thinking this was a dream for a split second," Mr Broizzle said in a video.
"Talk about deja vu, huh? To be here a month later looking at the exact same thing. I'm speechless."
Heavy rainfall on Tuesday night caused the river to overflow and flood nearby streets in the Lismore CBD, shocking local residents on Wednesday morning.
The intense low pressure system has since moved south towards the Mid North Coast, providing some reprieve for Lismore on Thursday.
The Wilsons River water level peaked at 11.4 metres on Wednesday and is still 10.23 metres as of 1:45pm on Thursday, which is still above the major flood level of 9.7 metres.
The Lismore City Council said the river level is "slowly receding" and has fallen below the height of the levee but will still likely to remain above the major flood level on Thursday.
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Aerial drone footage filmed on Wednesday showed the Wilson River levee overflowing into the city, submerging homes and businesses in brown water.
An ADF vehicle was also filmed making its way through the murky floodwaters in Lismore.
No deaths have been reported in the latest flood but Aged care nurse Anita Brakel remains missing after she disappeared in floodwaters on Tuesday.
Ms Brakel was reported to be trapped in her car by floodwaters near Wyrallah Road at Monaltrie, south of Lismore, on Tuesday night, sparking a desperate search at 9:50pm.
The missing woman is aged 55 and described as being of Asian appearance, 150cm to 160cm tall, thin build, with black and red long hair.
As emergency service operations continue, police are urging anyone who may have seen a 2017 white Holden Captiva station wagon, with NSW registration YHS 51F, in the greater Lismore area to contact police immediately.
Shivé Prema
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
I am a video journalist and host of the Newcastle Herald TikTok account! I spend most of my days filming and editing videos but also like to write articles as well. I'm new to Newcastle, so I like to spend my spare time exploring this city and its many beaches.
