He had already declared Maitland as a natural disaster zone, opening up hardship payments to those the storms have adversely affected.

Disaster zones were announced for 12 local government areas including Cessnock, Dungog, Gosford, Great Lakes, Lake Macquarie, Maitland, Newcastle, Port Stephens, Singleton and Wyong.

The Premier arrived by helicopter to hold the press conference and talk about the immense clean-up effort under way across the region. 

“There is no doubt it’s going to be a very big bill, it is undoubtedly going to be in the hundreds of millions of dollars,” Mr Baird said at the press conference.

“You can’t appreciate the size or the scope of the devastation until you see it. 

“It is nothing short of devastating –homes, cattle, this whole landscape.”

He said the locals he had spoken with wanted to thank the SES and all emergency service workers for their help ­during and after the super storm. 

“The next few days is still going to be tough,” Mr Baird said.

“We are going to face some difficult times as we go through the recovery. 

“There is another front that could be coming in a few days time, so we really want to try to get as much as we possibly can done in the next few days.”

Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison thanked volunteers and emergency services during the press conference. 

She said the area was really hurting and reminded residents not to enter floodwaters.

Local government areas declared natural disasters are eligible for Natural Disaster Assistance Schemes.

There are nine schemes available under the NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements, including personal hardship and distress assistance.  

For full details visit www.emergency.nsw.gov.au.