Floodwaters 'will breach levee'

About 4000 residents in the NSW Hunter Valley are being forced to evacuate their homes amid predictions the Hunter River will breach its levee tonight.

The State Emergency Service this afternoon issued an evacuation order for residents of central Maitland, South Maitland and Lorne following revised predictions that floodwaters would peak at five centimetres above the levee by 9pm (AEST).

Residents were being advised to be out of their homes by 8pm, SES spokesman Philip Campbell said.

"The revised flood peak of 11.4 metres is expected by 9pm and that will cause the levee to over-top,'' Mr Campbell said.

About 5000 people in the Maitland and Singleton areas have been told to evacuate since yesterday.

Police were working with the SES to evacuate the threatened areas.

Lower Hunter Police Local Area Commander, Superintendent Desmond Organ assured residents security would be provided to vacant properties.

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