The rain might have eased temporarily but low-lying areas of Port Macquarie have battened down as high tide approaches at 9pm.
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Major flooding is expected on Settlement Point Road when the Hastings River's first peak of 1.8 metres arrives at 9pm.
And 12 hours later a 1.9m peak is predicted and major flooding is expected.
Police near Port Macquarie Panthers are stopping non-essential traffic from using Settlement Point Rd.
A number of businesses have shut their doors as a precautionary measure after advice from the NSW State Emergency Service.
The Westport Club, on the banks of the Hastings River, shut this afternoon to ensure the safety of its members and staff.
The club's general manager, Anthony Westman, made the decision early this morning to prepare the club and enforce a closure.
“The safety of our members and our staff is our priority, so we have evacuated everyone from the club. All indications are that the Hastings River will break its banks, with flood waters expected to peak at 10pm this evening.
"We have been working throughout the day to try and minimise the impacts of any floodwaters that may enter the club”, Mr Westman said.
The Majestic Cinemas in Port Macquarie's CBD has closed the cinema - from the 7.10pm session onwards, management said.
JUST SOME STATS:
At 4 pm, heavy rain was contracting south of Taree and was widespread across the Hunter, Sydney Metropolitan area and was extending into the Illawarra.
From 9am to 4pm the highest rainfall totals were 95mm at Comboyne Public School, and 69mm at Blackheath in the Blue Mountains.
The highest 24-hour total to 9am Saturday was a record 415mm at Mt Seaview.
Wind gusts today have reached 83 km/hr at North Head and Lucas Heights. Waver rider buoys offshore from Crowdy Head and Sydney have recorded highest waves between 8 to 10 metres.
