03/7 - Residents stranded as floodwaters rise in Australia

About 100 residents of the Bellinger Valley in northern New South Wales are still stranded by floodwaters after several days of wild weather have battered the area.

The Wilsons River near Lismore is near its peak but the local State Emergency Service (SES) does not expect major flooding today.

SES spokesman, Phil Campbell, says minor flooding is expected near the town of Corakai later today.

"Over on the Bellinger River access has been restored to some of the residents at the lower part of the upper Bellinger Valley but some 100 residents are expected to remain isolated for the remainder of Sunday and possibly into the new week."

Mr Campbell says there has been steady rain on the north coast since last night.

"We aren't expecting any rain substantial, enough to cause renewed rises of any consequence in the rivers," he said.

"However there is some quite large waves there and also some quite strong winds and the SES are monitoring the situation, particularly in terms of coastal erosion and urging motorists not to drive through flood waters."

Meanwhile swimmers and boaties are being urged to stay out of the water in northern New South Wales because of heavy rain, flooding and big swells.

The storms have caused local waterways to rise on the mid and north coasts.

Jim Green of New South Wales Maritime says the waters are murky, making it difficult to see floating debris.

He says boaties should seriously reconsider the need to cross coastal bars in the current bad weather conditions.

"Bars at the entrance to the rivers will be quite dangerous with gale warnings," Mr Green said.

"Those conditions with strong winds with increased currents in the river with the run-out tide will make the conditions on bars very dangerous," he said.

"It's probably not a good weekend to go boating, but if people do have to go, please exercise extra caution."