A huge flood recovery operation has begun on the Mid North Coast after a clean-up strike force formed comprising the Australian Defence Force, the Rural Fire Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.

The team, led by NSW Deputy Premier and Disaster Recovery Minister John Barilaro, will start work in flood-affected areas pending receding waters and a green light from the SES. It will draw on bushfire-recovery learnings to assist communities as they clean up.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison, federal Minister for Agriculture and Emergency Management David Littleproud, NSW Water Minister Melinda Pavey, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian, Mr Barilaro and SES Commissioner Carlene York travelled to Dunbogan and Wauchope, along the Mid North Coast on Friday.

After greeting volunteers from several emergency service agencies, the group thanked volunteers for their efforts over the past week.

“It is an enormously humbling and proud moment to see the wonderful resilience and character of Australians in times like this,” Mr Morrison said.

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“And just as we have stood with people, whether through COVID, whether through bushfires, whether through drought, floods, tornados or cyclones, we’re of course going to stand here with the people of the Mid North Coast, people of the Hawkesbury, others who have been devastated by these floods.”

From next week, grants of up to $50,000 will be made available for small businesses affected by the floods, and up to $75,000 for primary producers.

Ms Berejiklian said clean-up and recovery efforts could take many months for some communities, but the federal and state governments would support those who needed it.

“No matter where I have gone today, I have been struck by people saying thank you to each other. Even though they are going through the most horrible time,” she said. “That is the kind of spirit that makes us proud.”

Attention is also turning towards a new weather system that may impact the state on Sunday, but the Bureau of Meteorology is not predicting any heavy rainfall.

The system will move through the western parts of the state on Saturday over areas including the Riverina, Southern Tablelands, South Coast and the ACT, with a possible thunderstorm or two.

By Sunday, the system will move towards Sydney, but only 1millimetre of rain is predicted. Cooler temperatures will sweep across the city by Monday.

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National Flood Services Manager (NSW & ACT) at the Bureau of Meteorology Justin Robinson said the flood situation across coastal NSW was easing, but attention would remain on inland parts of the state as water moves down the river systems.

“It’s a sunny weekend, it’s warm weather, and it’s a pretty dangerous combination, having high rivers, swollen rivers, sunny weekend, children playing,” he said. “I just [want] to remind the community to be very, very vigilant of the current flood situation.”

To connect with a customer care specialist for flood assistance, call Service NSW between 7am and 7pm on 13 77 88. The contact centre hours have been extended to include weekends while communities recover.