Around 200 solders from the 2^nd Combat Engineer Regiment arrived from Brisbane on Friday, March 26 to begin Operation NSW Flood Assist in response to the NSW flooding emergency.

The ADF has set up Emergency Support Force North headquartered in Coffs Harbour and Emergency Support Force South headquartered near Taree.

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Stimson, from the second combat engineer regiment, said troops have felt welcomed and the generosity shown has been fantastic.

"Our purpose is to provide immediate relief to flood effected communities and work with State Emergency Services," Lt Col Stimson said.

"We have established a camp in Wauchope and we use the Army Reserve depots as well in Port Macquarie, Kempsey and Coffs Harbour.

"We have been on the ground in Kempsey and Port Macquarie. The team provided support and transport to communities on the North Shore on March 28.

"We have teams clearing landslips and roads in the western part of the communities, we also have teams supporting farm businesses in northern local government areas to get their businesses operating again."

During the operation soldiers will be removing debris, clearing roads, clearing access to critical infrastructure or essential services. Other activities include sand-bagging, general clean-up duties, moving stores and supporting provision of supplies to isolated communities.

The ADF has set up Emergency Support Force North headquartered in Coffs Harbour and Emergency Support Force South headquartered near Taree.

A recovery phase of the operation will initially concentrate on Kempsey, Port Macquarie/Hastings, Taree/Manning areas.

Lt Col Stimson said the regiment has previously deployed for bushfire assistance operations in southern NSW and supported the nation response to the COVID pandemic.

"We have soldiers and combat engineers skilled in chainsaws, tradesmen such as carpenters, electricians and plumbers," he said.

"We have plant operators skilled with front-end loaders and excavators. We have environmental health technicians who can test water and work with pastoral services.

"We're here for as long as is needed to get the job done. We will work with SES and communities to do what we can."

ADF personnel cleared debris from the Port Macquarie stadium, Port Macquarie central business district, primary schools, businesses, community facilities, beaches, Wauchope CBD and Fernbank Creek on March 27.

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