The floods of 2022–23 built on a succession of flood events in previous years. The floods in New South Wales occurred on the lands of many First Nations Peoples, including the Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta, Darug and Darkinjung, Wonnarua, Wongaibon, Gamilaraay/ Kamilaroi, Barkindji, Ngiyambaa and Yuwaalaraay peoples.

With multiple successive rain events between March and November 2022, combined with a significantly large catchments and slow-moving peaks, multiple minor to major flood peaks were experienced throughout the Basin in 2022, extending into 2023, as well as in the Murrumbidgee, Macquarie, and Lachlan river catchments.

The first flood warning for the Barwon–Darling River was issued on 14 May 2022, and the final flood warning was issued on 7 March 2023. Already saturated catchments across in southern and western New South Wales were significantly affected, with some places experiencing record amounts of water. A total of 165 warnings were issued between May 2022 and March 2023.

New South Wales experienced 213 continuous days of flood operations between August 2022 and March 2023. There were multiple, and often concurrent IMTs in operation across the state.

Throughout the period, flooding occurred across all major river systems in inland New South Wales. At one point, on 10 November, eight major flood warnings were in place. Major flooding was experienced on areas of the Barwon, Bogan, Darling, Gwydir, Macquarie, Namoi, Lachlan, Murray and Murrumbidgee river systems. Other inland systems experienced minor to major flooding, with flooding also seen east of the ranges in the Hunter and Hawkesbury–Nepean Valley.

A cold front bringing heavy rain, saw the Murrumbidgee River peak at 8.74 m at Wagga Wagga on 9 August. This triggered evacuations in North Wagga and Gumly Gumly. Heavy rains on 31 October caused the Murrumbidgee River to rise faster than anticipated. This resulted in evacuation orders being issued on 2 November for Wagga Wagga including for properties within the levee. Gundagai received its third and highest major flood peak of this event at 9.77 m, with Wagga Wagga also reaching major flooding for the first time at 9.72 m on 4 November.

Further west, on the Lachlan River, Forbes and surrounds were significantly affected between August and November, having recorded six moderate and three major flood peaks, with the second major flood peak at 10.68 m on 17 November being the highest.

Impacts and consequences

Tragically, seven people died during the New South Wales flooding and their deaths are currently subject to Coronial investigation. Overall, over 10,000 damage assessments indicated at least 5,309 properties were damaged, with 3,259 inundated and 3,011 assessed as being uninhabitable. The Insurance Council of Australia report that insurance claims were 3,200 costing $60.2 million.

The NSW Department of Primary Industry has reported a total of over $432.4 million of damage to agriculture state-wide. Over $252.4 million of that was damage to crops with a further $92.8 million of infrastructure damage reported and $4.4 million dollars’ worth of livestock lost.