Moree dodged a bullet.
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That was how state MP Adam Marshall described it, after the floodwater started to subside on Friday, while also adding that they were plenty of positives to come out of it.
He said the town had flood water from two different systems upstream hit the town. But they had arrived far enough apart that meant the flooding was not as catastrophic as it had threatened to be.
"We dodged a bullet in a way," Mr Marshall said, "in that the two water peaks didn't coincide, from the different systems."
The first peak, which flowed through the Mehi River on Wednesday had started dropping, before the bigger amount of flood water peaked in Moree on Thursday morning.
"It's just lucky that they didn't happen at the same time, otherwise we would have had something catastrophic.
"As it was we still had about 80 homes inundated and a handful of businesses in the low-lying end of town."
But Mr Marshall, who has spent the past days in Moree and seen the flood first-hand, said it was nothing like the 2012 flood, when more than 100mm of rain fell during a 24-hour period.
"We were better prepared this time and the community has been amazing, people have banded together and heeded the warnings and advice.
"Moree Plains Shire Council, particularly their outdoor staff, and their mayor Katrina (Humphries) have been amazing.
"Now the river has subsided, it's about the eight-metre mark and dropping, it's full bore into recovery."
Council staff and the RMS have already started work to clean down footpaths and remove debris from people's driveways, which Mr Marshall described as a real community effort.
"The big task now is cleaning up as the water subsides and getting a full toll of the damage, and of course gradually getting roads back open."
That will include repairs to some roads.
At the time he spoke to the Moree Champion, Pallamallawa was still cut off by floodwaters, but Mr Marshall said it should not be for much longer.
"The SES are doing a big food drop out there (on Friday afternoon).
"Garah and Ashley are isolated and they've had food dropped out there, but they're pretty right."
Over the weekend, access to Moree is expected to be restored for those communities, but to the west Mungindi will become isolated as the floods reach that part of the region.
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"They will be isolated from the NSW side. You will still be able to get into Mungindi from Queensland," Mr Marshall said.
The Newell Highway south to Narrabri no longer has water over it, and Mr Marshall tipped traffic would be back on that road by Friday night.
Meanwhile, Mr Marshall said it was not all doom and gloom.
"There are a lot of positives to come out of it, no more drought, no more mice, no lives lost, nor injuries sustained and with all the dams and paddocks full of water, we're set for a couple of years of absolute bumper crops," he said.