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March 6th, 2012 
FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda The flood crisis in NSW will hit the budget bottom line and exhaust a state government contingency fund designed to cover disasters, Treasurer Mike Baird says.
Some residents of Wagga Wagga are expected to be allowed back to their homes on Wednesday after the southwestern NSW city’s levee held fast against the flooded Murrumbidgee River on Tuesday night, which peaked at 10.56 metres.
But large parts of the city, particularly its north and east, remain under water and severe flooding is now threatening other Riverina communities, and Forbes, in the state’s central-west.
Mr Baird said the exact cost to the state economy of the flooding, which is expected to continue affecting communities for weeks, remains unclear.
But he said the cost of repairing roads alone will be half a billion dollars.
“The state does provide contingencies in its budget for events like these,” Mr Baird told an Australian Industry Group breakfast in Sydney on Wednesday.
“There’s no doubt we are going to go over those contingencies.
“There will be an impact on the budget but we’re yet to determine (how large an impact).”
Mr Baird said he will be talking in detail to the federal government about assistance.
Prime Minister Julia Gillard is visiting Wagga Wagga on Wednesday to survey the damage.
Meanwhile the Red Cross is warning flood victims to brace themselves for the challenges ahead.
“The aftermath of a natural disaster can be devastating,” Red Cross national emergency services manager Andrew Coghlan said in a statement.
“People need to prepare themselves for the challenge of not only cleaning up and repairing damage to their property but also overcoming the disruption caused to family life and the community.”
Mr Coghlan urged residents to help each other out and to work safely in the potentially hazardous conditions.
More than 100 Red Cross personnel are working in flood-affected parts of NSW and Victoria.
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