Sky News host Chris Smith says while the clean-up will continue following the flooding across parts of New South Wales, so far “we’ve only seen and heard a tiny snippet” of what “really went on” under that teeming rain.

“What did emerge when the rain stopped across the Nepean and Hawkesbury floodplains, was the realisation that so many buildings, properties, sheds and animal enclosures, had been built illegally,” Mr Smith said.

“More needs to be done to police who’s building structures on these floodplains.

“And even buyback some of those, which are under that 17.3 metre flood level. A buyback system actually exists”.

“Then there’s been this procrastination on raising the walls of Warragamba Dam,” Mr Smith said.

“How about we ignore the doomsayers, and get on with taking practical measures, to prevent flooding disasters,” he said.