NSW towns evacuate as flood threat returns

"I know I speak on behalf of every person in NSW when I say we are thinking of you," Ms Cooke told journalists on Tuesday.

"This latest event on top of the one we experienced a month ago, that unprecedented natural disaster, that saw flooding over two metres beyond the previously set record rush through your communities - this is the last thing you want at this time."

In flood-hit Lismore, the Wilsons River rose several metres on Tuesday morning and is approaching moderate flood levels, with major flooding expected later on Tuesday afternoon.

The Bureau of Meteorology has warned the river level could reach 10.6 metres, near the height of the Lismore levee.

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin swam from her home during flooding in February, while her neighbours rescued her husband she thought had drowned and others clambered into their attics.

She said it has been all hands on deck in her community as the rain and flood threat returned overnight, and the response to evacuation orders issued on Monday was more organised than in February.

"There were SES, army knocking on doors saying evacuate ... but only about 15 per cent of people have gone back to North and South Lismore," Ms Saffin said.

The ruined contents of flooded homes still line Lismore streets as the flood threat returns.

"People's lives are out on the footpaths ... it's going to be everywhere," Ms Saffin said.

"This really was a horrific event ... and it requires a very different response from government."

The current process is not equipped to respond and residents are running into red tape as they try to access support, she said.

Ms Saffin wants a "reconstruction commission" that provides a single point of contact so flood victims are not left dealing with multiple government agencies.

There also needs to be urgent improvements to housing solutions because currently "the implementation is just appalling".

"I get told 'everybody who wants to be housed is being housed', how come yesterday I got a call from a family of seven at the Lismore showgrounds with their baby, their niece, three dogs, and they weren't housed, they were in tents?" Ms Saffin said.

The flood threat returned in northeastern NSW after widespread falls between 100 and 200mm, and up to 251mm at Murwillumbah, BOM senior meteorologist Jonathan How told AAP.

"These are all communities impacted by the recent flooding, but it's not going to be quite as bad as what we did see earlier this month," Mr How said.

Lismore mayor Steve Krieg said on Tuesday morning exhausted residents were suffering from flood fatigue after a month long clean-up effort.

Heavy falls moved north on Tuesday and of "particular concern over the next 24 to 48 hours is the Coffs Harbour area," the bureau's Dean Narramore said.

Grafton, Port Macquarie, Tenterfield and Dorrigo are also in the forecast zone for intense falls.

Some 6600 people have been ordered to evacuate in parts of Tumbulgum, Mullumbimby , Billinudgel, North Lismore, Kyogle and South Lismore, the NSW State Emergency Service told AAP.

A further 9100 people have also been issued evacuation warnings for Condong, South Murwillumbah, Lismore CBD, East Lismore and Girards Hills.

Some 14 flood rescues have been carried out and 462 calls for help were taken in the last 24 hours.